392 



PLATYPEZ1D.E. 



7-segineuted in 5 ,* with two-joiuted ovipositor; pubescence 

 sparse, especially in $ . Legs normal ; hiud tarsi with basal joints 

 much dilated; hind tibiae a little dilated towards tip; middle 

 tibiae spurred ; pubescence shght. Wings proportionately very 

 broad ; auxiliary vein ending before middle of wing ; 1st, 2nd, and 

 3rd longitudinal veins slightly sinuous, the last ending near wing- 

 tip ; 4th vein when near wing-margin bending suddenly upwards at 

 a sharp or reflexed angle (with an appendix at the flexure), t the 

 remaining section cuiwed (the concavity hind wards), ending in 

 Mn'ng-margin near tip of 3rd vein, but not meeting it ; Stii and 

 6th veins straight. Three posterior cells ; discal cell long, nar- 

 row ; anal cell shortened, of varying length, always distinctly 

 longer than 2nd basal cell, tip pointed. Anterior cross-vein near 

 base of discal cell ; posterior cross-vein near wing-margin. Alulae 

 rather long; squamae moderately large ; halteres large. 



Range. Europe, North and South America, South Africa, and 

 the Orient. 



Life-history. Some species live in fungi, especially in Boletus. 



327. Platypeza argyrogyna, Meij. 



Pkdypeza argyrogyna, de Meijere, Tijd. v. Ent. 1, p. 2o7 (1907). 

 Platypeza orientalis, Brunetti, Kec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 481(1912). 

 Platypeza obscura, Brunetti, loc. cit. p. 482 (1912). 

 ? Platypeza ylaucesceiis, Walker, Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. iv, p. 117 

 (1860). 



Head in S w-ith eyes varying from red to bright or dull brown 

 in the npper facets, lower ones coffee-brown ; vertical triangle 

 small, greyish ; ocelli very distinct; face greyish or whitish grey ; 

 proboscis brownish yellow, with very large labella marked with 

 black ; palpi yellow ; antennae brownish yellow, 3rd joint with 

 microscopic whitish pubescence ; arista black, yellowish at base ; 



Fig. 39. — Platypeza argyrogyna, Meij., antenna. 



occiput ash-grey or bluish grey, with minute black bristles. In 5 , 

 Irons about one-quarter of head, with parallel sides, dark browmish 

 grey, with very short yellow hairs; antennal 3rd joint yellowish, 

 often more or less darkened at tip ; ocelli bright yellow. Tliorax 



* Exceptionally with only six segments in some European species. 

 1" Some authors speak of the 4th vein as forked, the lower branch seldom 

 reaching the «ing-margin. 



