388 



LONCHOI'TERID.IO 



segment tlie longest ; bristles present but no pubescence ; genitalia 

 in d prominent, closely applied to the venter, with two lamellae. 



Legs rather long, with iine bristles ; pulvilli very small, en)podia 

 absent. 



Whu/s comparatively long, tip pointed ; venation abnormal ; 

 auxiliary and 1st longitudinal veins very short ; 2nd and 3rd 

 veins ending near together towards wing-tip; 4th and 5tli united 

 for a considerable distance ; 4th vein forked ; Gth vein sexually 

 abnormal ; anterior cross-vein very near base ot" wing, oblique ; 

 discal cell tlierefore very long and open (or may be regarded as 

 absent) ; the two basal cells and the anal cell all very short, sub- 

 equal ; alulae absent ; squamae very small. 



Fig. 37. — Lonchop'er:i hitea, Panz. 



Life-liistory , The larvae possess a head and ten body-segments,, 

 the last one possibly fornied of two segments anastomosed ; tliey 

 live in decomposing vegetable matter ; metamorphoses unknown. 

 The perfect insects occur on leaves and low bushes, in grass, and 

 near streams. 



The aftiuities of this family have been questioned, but they seent 

 best placed near the Dolichopodid.t;, Only one genus, Loncho- 

 jyiera, is known. Cadremct, Walk., with one species from Celebes 

 is doubtfully referred to this family. 



Genus LONCHOPTERA, 2Jg. 



Lo7ic7iopter(i, Meigen, Illi"-. Mag. ii, p. 272 (1808). 



Dipsd, Fall(5n, Specim. eiitomol. p. 20 (1810) ; Dipt. Suec. Phvtoni.. 



p. 1 (1823J. 

 Lonchopteryx, Stephens, Syst. Cat. Brit. Ins. p. 2.")9 (1829), 



Genotype, Lonchoj)tera latea, Panz. (Europe) ; by Curtis's 

 designatioai (183y). 



The family characters apply wholly to this genus. The venation 

 possesses the striking character, which is unique throughout the 



