BOMBYLIir).^. 173 



Family BOMBYLIID.^. 



Head rounded or transverse, generally narrower than, some- 

 times as wide as, rarely wider tlian thorax, and set closely on it; 

 frons and face not sunk between the eyes, occiput generally en- 

 larged posteriorly, except in Systropin.i: ; ocelli present. Eyes 

 bare, usually contiguous or subcontiguous in the J , but in 

 Anthracix.t; always considerably separated in both sexes, but 

 sometimes more so in the 5 ; in Systkopinje contiguous in both 

 sexes. Probosris generally very long, slender, and porrect, in 

 some genera and in Axtheacin.t: short and thicker ; labella small 

 or very small, rarely of moderate size ; palpi with one or two 

 joints, often inconspicuous. Antennae porrect, anproximate or 

 remote at base ; 3rd joint not annulated, but in some species with 

 a sutui'e near the base of the joint ; style generally present, even 

 if minute, sometimes with a constriction in the middle; some- 

 times it is replaced by a pencil of stiff hairs (Arc/yramceha). 



Thorax in Bombylius and some other groups of genera with 

 dense furry pubescence, often thicker and scale-like about the 

 wing-roots ; cha^totactic bristles frequently present. In An- 

 TiTRACiN.i; clusters of distinct scales often present, generally 

 about the wing-roots, and when abundant the furry pubescence 

 usually less dense. Metapleiu'fe generally densely pubescent, but 

 hypopleurse usually bare. Scutellum generally clothed like the 

 thorax, sometimes with bristly hairs or with scales ; metanotum 

 small, hidden. 



Abdomen in BombyliijVT.i; " almost globular and clothed with 

 dense furry pubescence, intermingled with which may be some 

 longer straggling hairs ; or (ANTiiRACiN.^i) more elongate, with 

 almost parallel sides and less furry pubescence on at least the 

 disc ; or {CyUenia, Midio) with strong hind-marginal bristles ; or 

 {Systropus) very elongate, slender, and bare ; the 6th to the 8th 

 segments often difficult to trace under the furry pubescence " 

 (Verrcdl). Genitalia inconspicuous ; in the J sometimes turned to 

 one side ; in AisfTHRACiN.E the ovipositor in many species with a 

 circlet of spines.*" 



Legs generally rather long, slender, and v^•eak, used for alighting 

 only. Thickened bristles "■ like little sticks " occur sometimes on 

 the femora, especially on the hind pair; rows of inconspicuous 

 spicules on the tibiae, in Toxopliora replaced by stick-like bristles ; 

 tibiae generally with an apical circlet of bi'istles ; tarsi with 

 numerous short bristles ; pulvilli two, often vestigial, empodia 

 minute, claws of moderate size or small, or the front pair only 

 smaller than the others. 



* It. has not always been possible to examine the genitalia satisfactorily. 

 In such cases I have assumed the sex from the comparative width and shape 

 of the frons. 



