324 
CLASS VII. 
The larve of these flies live parasitically in other insects, many species in 
caterpillars, and, with the ichneumons, are the most serviceable in pre- 
serving a balance in the economy of nature, by restraining the excessive 
multiplication of noxious insects. Many are viviparous. Comp. C. TH. 
Von Stesoup, Veber die weibliche Geschlechtsorgane der Tachinen, WIEG- 
MANN’S Archiv f. Naturgesch. 1838, s. 1g1—201. Some larve leave the 
insect in which they live before changing into pup. 
Sp. Tachina fera, Musca fera L., Panzer Deutschl. Ins. Heft 20, Tab. 18, &e. 
Sub-genera: Hehinomyia Dum¥r., Latr., Macg., Micropalpus 
Mace, Lhryptocera Macg., Trixa Mrtc., Nemorewa Rowin., Maca, 
Senometopia Mace, Hurigaster Macg., Masicera Macg., Metopia 
(Mric. previously) Mace., Lydella Roprn., Macg., Tachina Maca. 
Chrysosoma Macg., Clysia Rosty., Myobia Rosin., Macg., (HZebia, 
Melia, Myobia Rosty.), Zophomyia Maca., Cassidemyia Maca, 
Sericocera Roxsriy., Macg., Philocera Rosty., Melanophora (MEIc. 
previously) Maca. 
Gonia Mic. Antenne with third joint elongate, surpassing the 
two preceding taken together. Seta of antenne triarticulate, geni- 
culate. 
Miltogramma Merce. Antenne with third joint elongate, sur- 
passing the two preceding taken together. Seta of antenne biarti- 
culate, straight. Abdomen oval or conical, in some not setose, 
downy. 
To this genus the observations of C. TH. Von SreponD refer (Observ. 
qued. entomologice de Oxybelo uniglume atque Miltogramma conica. 
Erlange, 1841, 4to); the female of Oxybelus uniglumis, a species of 
hymenopterum, digs for each of her eggs a hole in sandy ground, and 
deposits near it some flies, her booty. In this work she is watched and 
followed by Miltogramma conica, which lurks near the entrance of the hole 
for an opportunity to slip in with her as she enters, and to fix some young 
larvee on the booty, which afterwards penetrate from it into the larva of 
Oxybelus; the reason why the Oxybelus does not drag this Miltogramma 
itself into the hole as food for the larva of her egg, is readily explained by 
this dipterum being viviparous, for then she would have drawn in the 
Trojan horse; and hence these Tachinarie are avoided. LEPELETIER DE 
Sarnt-FarGEAU has made similar observations as well on Oxybelus as on 
Cerceris; Hist. Nat. des Hymen. 1841, 11. pp. 567, 568, 573. 
B.) Conopsarie. Proboscis exsert, in most filiform, in some 
cylindrical or conical. 
* Wings imperfect, very short, unfit for flying. 
Carnus NITZScH. “ 
