4 Platypezidae. 



characterised by a series of filaments all round the margin, and also 

 on dorsum; in Callimyia the lateral filaments are long and feathered 

 or serrate, and tliey are numerous as there are two at the side of 

 each segment, on the anterior segments and the last still more; 

 the dorsal filaments are here small, spine-like, and six in a transverse 

 row on the segments; in Platypeza the filaments are smaller, not 

 serrate and iess numerous, as there is only one lateral on each, or 

 at all events on most segments; also long dorsal filaments may here 

 be present, two on each segment, forming two longitudinal rows; 

 sometimes all the filaments are here short and spine-like, so that the 

 larva loses its characteristic appearance. In most described larvæ 

 of Platypeza only two dorsal filaments on each segment are mentioned, 

 but there may be, and are perhaps always, four, The filaments are 

 no doubt here, as in other larvæ, of sensorial function. The larva 

 consists of twelve segments, the head included ; there are prothoracic 

 and above on last segment posterior spiracles. Above the mouth 

 opening are small maxillary palpi and longer upwards small antennæ. 

 There are two ventrally dentate mouth hooks, sitting on a pharyngeal 

 skeleton of common shape. Head and prothorax are situated below 

 the front end, and this seems characteristic for these larvæ, and thus 

 only ten segments are seen from above, the mesothoracic being the 

 first. The pupa has no protruding anterior spiracles. By the opening 

 of the puparium an upper piece is detached, comprising meso- and 

 metathorax and first abdominal segment (see under Callimyia)', 

 the piece is often only detached at the sides and remains connected 

 with the puparium behind. — The larvæ live in various fungi. 



The Platypezidae are a small family, and the species are small 

 or smallish. They occur in woods on leaves of bushes; of some species 

 the males are recorded to hover in the air. They are characteristic 

 in colour and in, that male and female are generally rather different 

 in this respect; the males are as a rule dark, often velvet black, 

 the female lighter, grey with black markings. Some species are more 

 or Iess yellow, especially in female, and with silvery spots and bands. 

 The family seems related to Syrphidae and Pipunculidae, but seems 

 also to show affinities to the Orthorrhapha, through Lonchoptera 

 perhaps especially to Dolichopodidae. It seems really to besomewhat 

 intermediate, the frons of the female having in most of the genera 

 fronto-orbital bristles, and in Callimyia there seems even to be an 

 indication of a frontal stripe, as also mentioned by de Meijere (Tijdschr. 

 V. Entom. 54, 1911, 247), and also an indication of a lunula seems 



