THE MYCETOPHILID^. 129 



anterior border somewhat projecting. Legs tolerably long, anterior 

 ones shortened ; femora strong and thick ; posterior femora very 

 thick; tibis strong, club-shaped, spurred; anterior ones devoid of 

 spines ; posterior with two rows of strong lateral spines ; posterior 

 tarsi with fine spines. Abdomen 6 to 7 jointed ; $ genitalia small. 

 Wings minutely hairy. 



Z. noiata, Stan. 



This is a blackish-brown insect ; head dark brown ; palpi yellow ; 

 antennae brown, with yellow base ; glistening yellowish-gray hairs on 

 the abdomen. Anal segment small, yellowish. Ovipositor and 

 lamella brown. Legs testaceous, the apex of the hind femora brown. 

 Wings with a yellowish-gray tinge ; root and costa yellow, with a 

 discal brown spot. Length, f to li lin. 



This gnat is found in woods and copses, the larvae living in 

 rotten wood. There are the following also found in Britain : 



Valida, Wtz. (Verb. d. Zool. Bot., Cies. xiii., 902-1. 1863.) 

 FictipenniSy Staeg. (Staeger, Kroj., Tidskr. iii., 266-41. 1840). 

 Vara, Staeg., ibid., 42 ; znd paliidosa, Staeg. 



Genus.— .-^s^/A/rt-, Wlk. 



Small dark insects. Head small and oval ; lower than thorax. 

 Palpi small and short. Antennae stout and i6-jointed, not longer 

 than thorax. The thorax is convex. The abdomen is compressed 

 and of moderate length, the anal segment blunt and the hypopygium 

 small. Wings fairly broad. The costa passes beyond the apex of 

 the third longitudinal vein ; fourth and fifth longitudinal veins simple ; 

 sixth rudimentary. Transverse veinlet small, long, and nearly hori- 

 zontal. Metamorphosis unknown. 



A. anomala, Staeg. = A. scatopsoidcs, Wlk. 



This is the only species in this genus, and was first described by 

 Walker. The gnat is black, with grayish wings; yellowish hairs. 

 The head, palpi, and antennse mostly black ; the base of the latter 

 occasionally testaceous. Legs piceous, stout, and long ; hind tibiae 

 with minute spines and fairly long spurs. Tarsi brown. Halteres 

 tawny, with black knobs. Length, about \\ lin. This genus is 

 closely allied to Mycetophila. Appears in May and June. 



Genus. — Acnemia, Wtz. 



Head round ; flat in front; proboscis short; antennae i6-jointed, 

 arched. Eyes oval. Ocelli three, the middle one small ; some- 



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