SXKATIOMi:iD,T£. 17 



Family STRATIOMYID.E. 



Head hemispherical or flattened, rather short, usually about as 

 broad as thorax, generally bare. Eyes contiguous in S (occasion- 

 ally very narrowly separated, Saryus, etc.), wide apart in $ ; if 

 hairy in 6 , nearly always bare in $ ; sometimes upper facets 

 enlarged in 6 , all facets equal in 5 ; posterior orbits often very- 

 broad and conspicuous, irons seldom prominent, but lower part 

 of head forming a conspicuous snout in some genera {Kemotelns) ; 

 three distinct ocelli. Proboscis usually short and fleshy, some- 

 times rudimentary, occasionally long aud thin {Nemotelus), rarely 

 conspicuous ; palpi 1- to 3-jointed, inconspicuous. Antennae 

 porrect, approximate at base, sliowing, perhaps, greater diversity 

 of form than in any other family of Diptera, 3-jointed ; 3rd joint 

 aunulii ted, forming apparently several (up 1o eight) animlations ; 

 an apical style, often \ ery large, or an apical or subapioal arista 

 often present. 



Tliorux generally quadrangular or roughly oblong or oval, more 

 or less pubescent, moderately or considerably arched ; scutellum 

 semicircular or broadened, unarmed or with 2, 4, 6, or 8 spines, 

 occasionally produced into a prominent erect blunt cone or spine 

 (Monacanthomijia, Oeratothi/rea). A strong spine on each side of 

 thorax in some genera {Ej)hi2')pium, Nefjritomyia). 



Abdomen of Ave to seven, sometimes eight, segments ; of very 

 varied shape, globular, much broader than thorax {Fachi/c/aste') , 

 Acanthina, Cyphomyia) ; broader and shorter than thorax (C'tt^eiia) ; 

 quadrate {IStratiomyia, Odontomyia) ; oblong or oval, and about as 

 long as thorax (Evaza, Tinda, and many others) ; or very elongate, 

 linear, cylindrical, or flattened {^aryus, Hermetia.^ Stratio- 

 sjihecomyia). Genital organs usuall}^ inconspicuous. 



Leys normally of moderate length and strength, or rather weak ; 

 destitute ot bristles or spines (except for a serration below hind 

 femora in some Xi'lomyin.!) ; generally bare or with pubescence 

 mainly coniined to the feuiora; tibiae uuspurred, except in 

 Xylomiin.?!; aud some BERiN.i:. 



Wings generally with the characteristic venation of the family 

 (except XvLOMYiN.i; aud IjEiun^); anterior veins (subcostal, Isi, 

 2ad, and 3rd longitudinals) crowded together in fore part of wing- 

 and the posterior \eins very faint, often not reaching wing-margin. 

 In typical genera costa not reaching wing-tip, ambient vein 

 absent ; 3rd vein simple or forked, fork occurring at some distance 

 beyond discal cell, both branches ending in costa before wing-tip ; 

 discal cell always present, lower side often formed of upper branch 

 of 5th vein, in which case posterior cross-vein absent ; anterior 

 cross-vein present, not distally further than middle of discal cell, 

 joining, except in Sahgix.i:, 3rd vein to discal cell. In Clitel- 

 LAKiix.i;, 2ud veiu apparently anastomosed with 3rd or mav be 

 considered absent. In Sai!Gin.t;, anterior cross-vein joining 

 prsefurca and discal cell, as 2nd vein originates much later than 



c 



