486 



DIPTERA 



or coriTcd in. large ixirt irlth hair. Leys slender, claics smedl, 

 with out (Ustinrt empodium, usucdly v:ith only minute lyulvilli. 

 Frohoscis rery long or moderate, antennae three-jointed, terminal 

 joint not distinctly divided, sometimes large, sometimes hair-lihe. 

 This is u very large family, including 1500 species, and is of 

 great importance to both naturalist and economist. Two well- 

 marked t}^3es, formerly treated as distinct families, are included in 

 it — (1) the Bombyliides with very long exserted rostrum, and 

 humped thorax ; and (2) Anthracides, with a short beak, and of 

 more slender and graceful form. None of these flies are l^lood- 

 suckers, they frequent flowers only, and use their long rostrums in 

 a harmless manner. The members of 1 lotli of these groups usually 

 have the wings ornamented with a pattern, which in Anthrax 

 is fre(piently very remarkable ; in botli, the clothing of the body 

 is frequently variegated. Their powers of flight are very great, 

 and the hovering Bomhylius of early spring is endowed with an 

 vmsurpassed capacity for movement, remaining perfectly still on 

 the wing, and darting off with lightning rapidity ; Anthrax is 

 also most rapid on the wing. In Britain we have but few 

 species of Bomljyliidae, Ijut in warm and dry climates they are 

 very numerous. The life-history of these Insects was till recently 



unknown, but that of Argyro- 

 mocha (Anthrax) trifasciata has 

 been described l^y the Frencli 

 naturalist, Fabre, who ascertained 

 that the species is parasitic on the 

 Mason-bee, Chalicodoma muraria, 

 that forms nests of solid mas- 

 onry. He endeavoured to dis- 

 cover the egg, but failed ; the 

 parent -fly oviposits, it appears, 

 by merely dropping a minute 

 egg while flying over the surface 

 of the mass of masonry by which 

 the grubs of the Chalicodoma are 



Fig. 2.32. — Arqyromoeha trifasciata. A, ^ i t. ,^^ i.^ 



Young larva; B, adult larva; C, protected. Ironithis egg there 

 pupa. France. (After Fabre.) is hatched a minute delicate vcr- 



A, dreatly, B, C, slightly niagintied. 



miform larva (Fig. 232, A), in 

 order to obtain its food, it is necessary for this feeble creature to 

 penetrate the masonry ; apparently a hopeless task, the animal 



