Av^j; 



725. 

 PLATYCEPHALA PLANIFRONS. 



Order Diptera. Fam. MuscidaB. 



Type of the Geiius, Musca planifrons Fab. 



Platycephala Fall., Meig., Macq., Curt. — Tetanocera Lat. — 

 Oscinis and Musca Fab. 



Antennce inserted in cavities under the edge of the forehead, 

 remote, porrected obliquely, compressed, shorter than the head, 

 6-jointed, basal joint concealed, very short, somewhat cup- 

 shaped, 2nd large, elongate-obovate, truncated obliquely be- 

 neath, pubescent above and below, 3rd rather broader, irregularly 

 ovate, the base truncated obliquely and sinuated, pubescent, 

 •with a semitransparent puncture on the side, 4th joint small, 

 inserted on the back of the 3rd towards the base, 5th as stout 

 and thrice as long, 6th a shortish pubescent seta, stoutish at 

 the base (3). 



Labrum rather short and lanceolate {lb). 



Palpi considerably longer, clavate, slightly pubescent and bristly 

 at the apex (/). 



Lip very large, forming 2 lobes, hairy at the margins {g). 

 Head broader than the thorax, somewhat ovate, wedge-shaped, the an- 

 terior margin being thin and rounded, crown concave and channeled: 

 face 7iearly horizontal, naked, with an oval cavity between the eyes to 

 receive the trophi : eyes remote in both sexes, lateral and oval : 

 ocelli 3, forming a small triangle at the base of the head (2 

 the profile, * underside of head). Thorax oblong : scutel semi- 

 orbicular. Abdomen narrower than the thorax, depressed, lan- 

 ceolate and 6-jointed. Wings longer than the body, decumbent in 

 repose, with 4 longitudinal nervures, the transverse ones on the disc 

 approximating : halteres capitate. Legs, hinder the longest : 

 thighs, posterior incrassated, with a keel beneath, terminating ab- 

 ruptly near the apex : tibiae simple, hinder very much curved at the 

 base: tarsi 5-jointed, basal joint elongated, 4th short, semiovate, 

 5th the broadest ovate-truncate : claws very small : pulvilli bi- 

 \ lobed. 



Planifrons Fab. — Curt. Guide, Gen. 1323. 1. 



In the Author s and other Cabinets. 



There are so many striking characters which separate this 

 group from all others, notwithstanding a general similarity 

 of appearance, that it may be as well to enumerate them. 

 The head is broader than the rest of the body, the crown is 

 hollow, and the forehead projects, forming a shield-like mar- 

 gin ; the abdomen is narrow and shining; the legs are not at 



