— ii6— 



STRATIOMYIDAE. 



Head large, hemispherical. Antennae situated at or below the 

 middle of the head in profile, short or elongate, the third joint composed 

 of more or less distinct annuli; usually with a more or less differentiated 

 style, or bristle. Eyes bare or pilose; ocelli present. Scutellum often 

 with thickened spine-like points. Abdomen elongate, clavate, oval, or 

 rounded, flattened or convex above, of five or more visible segments. 

 Legs never very stout, often slender, tibiae without spurs (except in some 

 exotic genera). Wings usually with the veins more or less crowded an- 

 teriorly, often on the outer posterior part weak and faint; third longitud- 

 inal vein usually furcate, terminating before the tip of the wing: four or 

 five posterior cells, all open, the posterior veins not seldom more or less 

 rudimentary. * 



Species from three or four to twenty or more millimeters in length, 

 bare or moderate pilose. They are mosdy flower-flies, and are often .found 

 upon vegetation in the vicinity of damp places. Larvae pupigerous, that 

 is the pupae remain within the larval skin till ready to emerge as perfect 

 insects. 



I. — Abdomen with seven visible segments , Beridinae. 



Abdomen with onlj' five or six visible segments 2 



2. — Three posterior veins, all discal Pachygastrinae. 



Four posterior veins, the anterior ones sometimes rudimentary 3 



3. — All the posterior veins discal, the last posterior cell contiguous at its base with 



the discal cell 4 



The last posterior vein arises from the second basal cell, the last posterior cell not 

 contiguous at its base with the discal cell 5 



4. — Third antennal joint with a long, delicately fringed, lamelli form style; usually 



large, more or less elongated species; males dichoptic. {Hennetuncn.) 



Hermetia, Latr. 



Third joint not with such a style; abdomen short, not more than twice as long 



as broad Clitellarinae. 



5. — Antennae with a slender dorsal or terminal bristle Sarginae. 



Antennae never with a slender or long bristle Stratiomyinae. 



(To be continued. ) 



In the article on tlft Sphingicla' in No. 5, the word DUphonoia, wherever it oc- 

 curs," should read DUophonota. 



