641. 

 SCIOPHILA SYLVATICA. 



Order Diptera. Fam. Tipulidse. 



Type of the Genus, Sciophila hirta Hgg. 



ScioPHiLA Hgg., Meig., Macq., Curt. — Platyura Meig. — Asindu- 

 lum Lat. 



Antennee inserted close to the internal margin of the eyes, 

 longer than the head and thorax, porrected, pubescent, com- 

 pressed and 16-jointed ; 2 basal joints small, somewhat obconic, 

 the following oblong, slightly tapering towards the apex, the 

 terminal joint conical (3). 



Trophi short, excepting the Palpi, which are as long as the 

 head, incurved, slender, slightly pubescent and 4-jointed, 2 

 basal joints short, 2nd longer, 3rd twice as long, slender and 

 flexible (2,/). 

 Head subglobose ; face narrow: eyes large lateral and ovate, slightly 

 emarginate on the inside, at the insertion of the antennee: ocelli 3, 

 more or less in a depressed triangle on the crown of the head, the 

 anterior one the smallest : (2* upper side, 2 f the face, 2 the pro- 

 file). Thorax larger than the head, subglobose. Abdomen subfu- 

 siform or clavate, sometimes compressed in the males, with the apex 

 bilobed. Wings a little longer than the body, parallel and incum- 

 bent, with 2 or 3 longitudinal costal nervures, an areolet and 2 long 

 furcate nervures (9).- halteres capitate, hegs generally long, thighs 

 shorter than the tibiae which are spurred at the apex, hinder pair 

 very long and sometimes bristly, as well as the intermediate : tarsi 

 longer than the tibia, except in the hinder pair, slender, 5 -jointed, 

 basal joint very long : claws minute. 



Sylvatica Curt. Guide, Gen. 1171. 16. 



In the Author's Cabinet. 



The appearance of the fungivorous Gnats being influenced 

 by the moisture of the atmosphere, which is so essential to 

 the generation of the vegetables on which the larvae feed, we 

 meet with them in woods and even at our windows at late and 

 early periods, and in wet seasons and in humid situations du- 

 ring the greater })art of the year. The Sciophilae are admi- 

 rably characterized by the minute aehrolet in the wings. I am 

 now able to record 16 British species, all of which have been 

 found near London, excepting S. rufa ; but not having seen 

 Nos. 10 and 11 it is possible that they may be placed in a 

 Section not quite agreeing with the wings relerred to. 



