EMPIS. 89 



Genus I. EMPIS. 



Empis, Mq. zw. iii. 15 (1822). Asilus p., L. Empis p., L. ; Dg, ; 

 Fb. ; Shr. ; Fin. Empis et PacJiymerma, Mq. 



Corpus majoris, mediae, aut minoris magnitudinis, oblougum, saepe 

 pilosum, parura nitidum. Color niger, raro testaceus. Caput 

 rotunduin. Proboscis tenuis, cajnte imilto longior. Antennfe 5- 

 articulatcB, porrectfe, capitis longitudine ; ariiculus tertius conicus, 

 compressus, quiuto longior ; quartus brevissimus ; quintus setiformis. 

 Thorax ovatus. Ala^ longte, obtusse ; vena tertia cuhitalis f areata ; 

 areola discoidalis venas 3 in marginera interiorem emittens. Pedes 

 plerumqiie simplices, non incrassati ; posteriores elongati ; coxce 

 femoribus breviores. 

 Mas. Oculi contigui. Abdomen cylindricum ; anus obtusus, sa3pe 

 filatim appendiculatus aut vesiculosus. Pedes qnam in fcemina ple- 

 nmique longiores. 

 Fcem. Ocidi reraoti. Proboscis quam in mare saepe longior. Abdomen 

 oblongum, apice acuminatum. Femora posteriora interdum pennata. 

 Body of large, middle, or small size, oblong, often hairy, seldom 

 shining, black, rarely testaceous. Head round, siuall, somewhat con- 

 tracted behind. Ocelli 3. Proboscis much longer than the head, 

 slender, perpendicular or inclined downward, most often applied to 

 the breast. Labrmn arched, as long as the labium, or rather shorter. 

 Lingua slender, as long as the labrum. I\laxilla3 Ijristly, shorter than 

 the. labrum. Palpi clavate, short, recurved, hairy. Labium almost 

 cylindrical. Antenna3 5-jointed, porrect, approximate at the base, as 

 long as the head ; first and second joints bristly ; first cylindrical ; 

 secoud cyathiform, about half the length of the first ; third subulate, 

 compressed, longer than the fifth ; fourth very short ; fifth stylate. 

 Thorax oval. Wings rather long, obtuse, very finely pubescent, incum- 

 bent, parallel ; cubital vein forked, costal veiu vanishing about the tip 

 of the wing ; discoidal areolet emitting 3 veins to the interior border. 

 Halteres uncovered. Abdomen with 7 segments, with rows of punc- 

 tures along the sides, sometimes four on each segment. Legs slender, 

 of various structure ; coxce shorter than the femora. 



Male. Eyes contiguous. Abdomen cylindrical, obtuse, and often 

 with long curved filaments at the tip, which is sometimes tumid. Legs 

 generally longer than those of the female. 



Fern. Eyes parted by a nan'ow front. Proboscis often longer than 

 that of the male. Abdomen oblong, acuminated at the tip, with an 

 articulated oviduct. Hind femora sometimes feathered. 



These insects inhabit woods, hedges, fields, moors, and other 

 localities, vi^here they find their prey, which chiefly consists of 

 small Diptera ; they also feed on the lesser Ephemeridce, and the 



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