4 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. i2j 



characteristics of the immature stages in classification. Using 

 Schiner's classification (1868) based on adults, Brauer demonstrated 

 that the immature stages of Diptera could be used as a check against 

 an already existing system of classification. Although Brauer did 

 not organize the Stratiomyidae into its component genera, he did 

 recognize that the Stratiomyidae, Tabanidae, Rhagionidae (Leptidae), 

 and Coenomyidae were closely allied and placed them in the tribe 

 Cyclocera imder the Orthorrhapha-Brachycera. 



Brauer (1883) once again reviewed the characters of dipterous 

 larvae and, on the basis of differences in head capsules, established 

 a new classification in which the Stratiomyidae and Xylophagidae 

 were considered as separate families but were placed together in the 

 Notacantha. In the same paper, Brauer divided the Stratiomyidae 

 into its various genera and listed the larval characters for each genus. 



Austen (1899) presented a clear and concise review of the problem 

 regarding the classification of Solva, subsequent to which the majority 

 of dipterists have considered the genus to be located in the Xylomyinae 

 (Solvinae), a subfamily within the Stratiomyidae (for further details, 

 see page 13). 



Malloch (1917) was the first person to arrange systematically 

 the North American Startiomyidae on the basis of larvae. As might 

 be expected, numerous genera were omitted since many larvae had as 

 yet not been described. 



Johannsen (1922, 1935) continued the work of Malloch. He added 

 several new descriptions of larvae and supplied much of the data on 

 biology that we have today. 



The most recent contribution to the classification of stratiomyid 

 larvae has come from Willi Hennig. In his outstanding work "Die 

 Larvenformen der Dipteren" (1952) the species are listed for each 

 genus and their distribution given by zoogeographical region. In 

 addition, he has included biological notes for nearly all the species 

 mentioned. 



Biology 



The follo\ving discussion comprises a review of the literature on 

 the biology of the Stratiomyidae along the lines of a general life 

 history, A\dth each study of a particular stage included under its 

 respective heading. 



Irwin-Smith (1920, 1921) was the first to achieve some success 

 in rearing in a laboratory the complete fife cycle of a species. Al- 

 though she was able to obtain a cycle from larva to larva, she was 

 unable to determine the duration of the larval stage. More recently, 

 Furman, Young, and Catts (1959) reported that newly hatched larvae 

 of Hermetia illucens require 2 weeks or longer to attain full growth 



