142 Tachinidae. 



attracting to the flies. L. bufonivora attacks Bufo vulgaris; it deposits 

 the eggs on the host, and then the larva generally penetrates into 

 eyes and nostrils and from here proceeds farther in and often quite 

 destroys the host, and it would seem as if this is at all events its 

 main way of feeding. Sometimes Lucilia deposits on sleeping persons 

 in ears or nostrils (see below under sericata) and gives rise to more 

 or less serious accidents; the larvæ have also sometimes, like other 

 Calliphorine larvæ, been present in the intestine, and are then quitted 

 with excrements or by vomiting. 



Of the genus 8 European species are rather well known, and 

 besides two more are recorded; 6 have hitherto been found in 

 Denmark. 



As remarked above the species are all similar and of metallic 

 colour. The males have as a rule second abdominal segment dark, 

 blackish or dark blue, but this is less pronounced in the females. 

 Here, as in other metallic coloured flies, as Dolichopodids, the colour 

 varies somewhat during the life of the specimen; the newly emerged 

 specimens are cyan blue, then the colour passes into green and 

 further into a golden or even coppery colour. As Pandellé correctly 

 remarks the copper-coloured specimens have generally the wings 

 more or less worn. 



Tahle of Species. 



1. Third abdominal segment with a pair (or more) of marginal 

 bristles 2. 



■ — • Third segment without bristles 3. 



2. Three postsutural acrostichals 1. silvarum. 



— Only two postsutural acrostichals (generally) 2. bufonivora. 



3. Three postsutural acrostichals; squamular piece at base 



of costa yellow; subcostal sclerite without bristles 3. sericata. 



— Only two postsutural acrostichals; squamular piece at base 



of costa black; subcostal sclerite with bristles 4. 



4. Frontal stripe in male distinct in whole length; upper 

 forceps curved ventrally, arms of lower forceps with the 

 end angularly bent; frons in female as broad as or broader 



than the eye and cheeks broader than orbits 4. simulatrix. 



- — Orbits in male quite or nearly touching; upper forceps 

 nearly straight, arms of lower forceps not angularly bent 

 at end ; frons in female (caesar) not as broad as the eye, and 

 cheeks not or slightly broader than orbits 5. 



5. Hypopygium large with partly bristly hairs; upper forceps 

 with the dorsal margin curved inwards on middle; arms 



of lower forceps claw-shaped, somewhat pointed 5. caesar. 



