CYRTrN^— 1. ACROCERA 457 



CYRTINiE. 



Prothorax not forming a dorsal shield in front of the mesonotum. 

 Third joint of the antennae (usually ?) short and with an apical arista 

 (figs. 263, 265) or hair-like rays (fig. 262). 



No other characters have been recorded as distinctive of this subfamily, but 

 Pterodontia has been sometimes included in the Panojmioi ; I consider however that 

 the structure of its antennae accords better with the Cyrtince, and its venation is 

 also more in accord. 



The Gyrtince (with the inclusion of Pterodontia) in Kertesz's Katalog 

 include five genera and thirty-one species, but, while all the genera are 

 distinct, it is probable that at least fifteen of the so-called species are 

 synonyms or varieties. Only Oncodes and Acrocera have been recorded 

 away from the Mediterranean region, and of the two genera three species 

 are known to occur in the southern half of England, though it is probable 

 that one or two more may still be found. 



1. ACROCERA. 



Fia. 26G.— Acrocera globulvs S- x 10- 



Acrocera Meigen, Illig. Mag., ii., 266 (1803). 



Antennse placed at the extreme top of the head, ending in 

 a long thin arista. Venation very much reduced. Proboscis 

 absent, or very short and stumpy. 



Head of the male larger than that of the female, almost all eyes except for the 

 rather large broad triangular vertical space, the tiny mouth part, and the inflated 

 back of the head ; head broad ovate when seen from above, but circular when seen 

 from in front ; mouth parts very small and almost at the bottom of the head ■ proboscis 

 short and withdrawn ; back of the head rather inflated but close to the thorax and 

 consequently the neck barely visible ; ocelli three. Eyes bare, touching beneath the 

 antennse quite down to the tiny mouth part. Antennse inserted in the_ front part of 

 the vertical triangle, apparently two-jointed because the basal joint is concealed : 

 next joint apparently orbicular, and the last joint long ovate with a long thin apical 

 arista. 



