• pipuxcri.us. o 



occiput ; frons and face very narrow, generally linear ; the 

 extremely large eyes normally contiguous in J for a considerable 

 distance, but sometimes for a short distance only or even very 

 narrowly separated ; always separated in $ by a comparatively 

 narrow frons ; all facets large, those in front still larger in S and 

 in tlie 2 sometimes larger still. Anteiiiuc moderately long, 

 3-ji)inted ; 1st joint very short ; 2nd rather short, irregularl}' 

 cup-shaped ; ;h-d more or less i)oint'ed or beak-shaped, especially 

 in 5 ; arista long, with a basal joint, bare, thickened at base. 

 Thorax subquadrate, rarely slightly pubescent, occasionally with 

 a few distinct bristles ; scutelhnn generally with microscopic 

 marginal bristles. Ahdomeii normally cylindrical, about as long- 

 as thorax, curving downwards more or less, 5-segmented, apart 

 from the genital organs ; hypopygium of male large, exposed ; 

 ovipositor of $ long and pointed, curved under the venter. Legs 

 simple, but offering good specific distinctions, generally bare, 

 except for some microscopic bristles on apical half of under side of 

 some of the femora, and also some pubescence or ciliations behind 

 the femora. Wings with characteristic venation : auxiliary, 1st 

 and 2ad longitudinal veins long, ending between middle of costa 

 and well before wing-tip; 8rd vein simple, curving mai'kedly 

 upwards about its middle and ending at wing-tip ; 4tli vein 

 simple, curving markedly downwards near end of discal cell and 

 then rapidly upwards again, so that the 1st posterior cell is very 

 broad in the middle, tliough (piite narrow at base and narrowly 

 open at the tip ; anterior cross-vein before, at, or beyond middle 

 of discal cell, offering good characters for separating the species 

 into groups ; 5th vein fo''ked, forming the whole hinder side of 

 the discal cell, which is closed by the discal cross-vein ; posterior 

 cross-vein i^resent, short, near base of discal cell, the lower branch 

 closing anal cell, wliich is always elongate, pointed at tip, reaching 

 nearly to wing-border. Alulae and squamae very small. 



llange. AVorld-wide. 



Pipunculus is a genus of small dark flies, generally bare or with 

 but slight pubescence or small bristles except for the microscopic 

 ones below the femora. They are usually black, but often \vith 

 parts of the legs, or, more rarely, bands or markings on the 

 abdomen, pale. The species fall into several groups, characterized 

 by differences in venation, form of antenna;, and the structure of 

 the legs and genitalia. 



lAfe-history : see under description of the family. 



TaJde of Sf/cciis*. 



J. .Stijt^ma present, even if weak 2. 



Stigma entirely absent 17. 



2. Fourth lonp:itiulinal vein with a distinct [p. 7. 



iippondix fi/)jie)iilirii/fifiis, iJnni., 



Fourth lon^'iiiidiiial vein witliimt trace of an 



appendix 3. 



•'». FeniDra penerally mainly black 4. 



Femora wholly yellow l-'i 



* For table of Oriental species see Brim., Reo. Iiid. Mils, vii, p. 484. 



