96 HANDBOOK OF ANTS, BEES, ETC. 



The species of Rhyphus may often be found resting on leaves 

 in damp situations, they may also be seen on windows, and 

 occasionally " dancing in the air. 



They are generally brown, yellow, or grey insects of small 

 size. 



Tribe 11. — Brachycera. 



These insects are generally of much larger size, and more robust 

 in appearance than those contained in the previous tribe. They 

 are divided into twenty-two families. 



Fig. 133. — Stratiomys Chameleon. 



Family 13, Xylophagidce, — The XylophagidcB are thick-looking 

 insects. The head is as broad as the thorax. The legs, which are 

 long and slender, are quite naked. The larvcB live in rotten wood, 

 and the flies may often be seen at rest on the trunks of trees. 



Fig. 134. — Sargus Cuprarius (Mag.) 



Family 14, Cmnomyiidce. — In this family the head is narrower 

 than the thorax ; otherwise they closely resemble the previous 

 family. The typical European species is Cmwmyia ferrugijiea, 

 which measures about three-quarters of an inch in length, and in 

 colour varies from rusty-yellow to black. The larva, feed inside 

 the trunks of rotten poplars. 



Fajiiily 15, Stratiomyiidce. — These are rather slender flies, varying 

 from half to one inch in length. They are usually found resting 

 on low plants. Many species frequent cow-dung and manure, etc. 



