B42 coNOPiD^. 



Conops or PhysocejiJiala are Vespa, Odynerus, Osmia, IfaUctus, 

 Fompilus, Sphex and Bemhex; Jllyopa breeds in Andrena aud 

 Vespa ; Zodion in Hylcms ; Stylogaster is probably parasitic on 

 ants {Kciton). The larvae are aniphipneustic, oval or pvriform, 

 with distinct segments, wart-like antennae, mouth-hooklets 

 strongly bent, and the last segment bearing two large round 

 or renifoi'in stigmatic plates arched like a watch-glass; the 

 pnparium is oval or barrel-shaped. Dr. de Meijere published 

 comparatively recently* an elaborate paper on the biology of this 

 family, and this work should be studied by those interested in the 

 subject. Dr. P. Speiser also discussed the bionomics of the family 

 in a paper published in 1910 t. 



The CoNOPiDiE are a restricted group of flies varying in size 

 from moderate to rather small. They are of world-wide distri- 

 bution, but, with the exception of a few species, occur sparingly. 

 The CoNOPiNiE bear considerable resemblance to wasps and to the 

 subfamily CEKiiNiE of Stepiiid^. They are mostly bare, or prac- 

 tically so, while some of the Mtopin.^ are clothed with short 

 pubescence. The insects of this latter subfamily are of more 

 muscoid appearance, and by some recent dipterologists have been 

 included in the MusciDJi, sensu latissimo. The genus Styloyaster, 

 hitherto only recorded from Africa and South America, is less 

 conopoid in general appearance but is, I think, allied to Zodion. 

 In all the genera the species seem variable, and in many cases 

 I have found it impossible to ascertain their limitations. 

 Examples of a number of species, in perfect condition, collected 

 by Colonel Nurse, have formed an important part of the material 

 on which I have worked. 



Table of Subfamilies. 



Ocelli absent ; 3rd antennal joint terminating in a 



distinct, 2-jointed, apical style Conopin^, p. 343. 



Ocelli present; 3rd antennal joint normally ter- 

 minating in a 2-jointed, dorsal, sometimes style- 

 like arista (Pieurocerinella has a true 2-jointed 

 style) Myopin^, p. 367. 



The first subfamily consists of larger species, generally of a 

 more or less wasp-like appearance ; the representatives of the 

 second subfamily have points of resemblance both with Conopinje 

 and with Muscin^, with which latter family they have been 

 sometimes incorrectly united. 



* Tijd. V. Ent. xlvi, p. 144 (1903). 



t Scliriften d. Physik-okonom. Ges. Kouigsbere, Jahreang 50, pp. 177-183 

 (1910). 



