DIPTERA 843 



cell M3 is present but closed by the coalescence of veins M3 and Cui 



7?. 



M^+Cu, 



Fig. 1092. — Wing of Apiocera. 



at the margin of the wing; and the medial cross-vein is present, 

 empodia are wanting. The larvee are unknown. 



The 



Fig. 1093. — Do- 

 lichopus lo- 

 batus . 



Family DOLICHOPODID^ 



The Long-legged Flies 



These flies are of small or mediimi size and usually bright metallic 

 green or blue in color. The legs are much longer than is usual in the 

 families belonging to the series of short-horned flies 

 (Fig. 1093). This suggested the name Doltchopus, 

 which means long-footed, for the typical genus; and 

 from this the family name is derived. It should be 

 remembered however, that these flies are long-legged 

 in comparison with the allied families, and not in 

 comparison with crane-flies and midges. 



The members of this family are easily distin- 

 guished as such by the peculiar venation of the wings, 

 the most characteristic features of which are the 

 following: cells M and ist M2 are rarely if ever separated by a com- 

 plete vein; the basal part of vein M3 being either atrophied Fig. 

 1094) or represented by a short spur (Fig. 1095) ; veins R2+3 andR4+5 

 separate near the base of the wing, and there is usually at the point 

 of separation a more or less knot-shaped swelling; the cross-vein r-m, 

 when present, is near this swelling, so that cell R is very short. 



The members of this family have three ocelli; the antennae are 

 three-jointed; the second segment of the antennas is sometimes ves- 

 tigial and the third segment bears an arista; the palpi are one-jointed; 

 and the empodia are not pulvilliform. 



The adults are predacious and hunt for smaller flies and other 

 soft-bodied insects. They are usually found in damp places, covered 

 with rank vegetation. Some species occur chiefly on the leaves of 

 aquatic plants, and about dams and waterfalls ; and some are able to 

 run over the surface of water. Others occur in dry places. 



