958 Charles Paul Alexander 



The history of the genus Styringomyia is remarkable. It was erected 

 by Loew in 1845, being based on the fossil species Styringomyia venusta 

 Locw, from African copal. Many years later it was found to be still 

 living in the Tropics of both hemispheres. The earliest fossil records 

 pertain to the Oligocene of northern Europe (page 765). 



The adult flies have such a curious structure that it seems best to 

 remove them from the former tribe Antochini, where they have long been 

 placed. Concerning the first living species to be described, the Hawaiian 

 S. didy ma Grimsh., Perkins (1913:clxxxii) says: 



It sometimes swarms at night aroimd the electric lights, sitting quietly on the walls and 

 ceilings, with the body pressed closely to the surface, and the front and middle lege extended 

 straight forward in front of the head in a characteristic manner. 



Annandale has made similar observations on the resting positions of S. 

 ceylonica Edw., taken in India. He says (cited by Edwards, 1914-15 : 207) : 

 *' This species rests on walls with the two anterior pairs of legs stretched 

 out straight in front and the posterior pair behind, resembling a stray 

 piece of cobweb." Jacobson has recorded much the same for S. jacobsoni 

 Edw. (De Meijere, 1911:41^2, as S. didyma) in Java. The flies are 

 attracted to lamps and are almost always to be found in copulation, the 

 head of one directed away from the other; while thus engaged, some- 

 times one, sometimes the other, will run forward for a short distance, 

 producing a peculiar appearance. Munro {in litt) reports that the habits 

 of S. vittata Edw. as observed in eastern Transvaal in late April, 1920, 

 are very similar. He writes: "Two specimens taken 'in cop.' Settled 

 on under side of a twig, heads in opposite directions, front legs of each 

 stretched out in front along twig, wings laid flat along abdomen." 



Styringomyia didyma Grimsh. 



1901 Styringomyia didyma Grimah. Fauna Hawaiiensis, p. 10. 



In Fauna Hawaiiensis, Perkins (1913:clxxxii) mentions the breeding 

 of Styringomyia didyma by F. W. Terry. Before the reference could be 

 investigated by the writer, Mr. Terry died. The following letters from 

 0. H. Swezey in regard to the matter were then received. 



In response to a letter sent on February 21, 1915, Mr. Swezey replied 

 on March 26 that " no information on the rearing of the species is available 

 in Mr. Terry's notes." 



