202 PSYCIIODID^. 



no hairs on the surface oi: tlie wings ; scales practically absent, or 

 confined to a few small ones at the base of the wings. Alula) and 

 anal lobe of wing absent ; squamse absent. Halteres rather large ; 

 clubs oval, with small concolorous scales at the base. 



Range. India, Southern Europe, Northern and Tropical Africa, 

 the southern part of the United States, and Central and South 

 America. 



Life-history * The larva is known to live in crevices in stone 

 walls, preferring those within one or two feet of the ground 

 where some moisture is always obtainable, and it also occurs, 

 according to Grassi, in corners of cellars and in undisturbed heaps 

 of miscellaneous animal, vegetable, and mineral refuse. Yet it 

 seems to have been seldom actually obtained, Mr. R. Newstead, 

 who made a special visit to Malta for the purpose of finding its 

 breeding-places and studying more closely its life-history, having 

 found but two larvae after a most protracted search in all the likely 

 localities in the island. 



The eggs hatch after nine days, but must be kept in a moist 

 atmosphere.t The larva is cylindrical, distinctly caterpillar-like, 

 white or yellowish white, the caudal bristles long and black. The 

 head is broadly pyriform, with various hairs; the anteiiiife ha^e 

 three segments, the first two being very minute ; the mouth large, 

 provided with blunt teeth. The twelve segments of the body after 

 the head bear four or five hairy spines each on each side, and there 

 are two pairs of anal bristles, one pair nearly as long as the body, 

 the other pair very short. Length of body about 2\ miUim. 



The pupa is somewhat S-shaped, viewed laterally; the thorax 

 with large wing-sheaths, apically pointed and well clear of the 

 body, the segments of which are distinctly visible ; the head is 

 elongate and somewhat triangular in outline ; the legs extend a 

 little beyond th.e wing-sheaths, and the dried larval skin with its 

 long anal bristles is attached to the tip of the pupa. 



The species of PMehotomus are quite small, delicate brownish or 

 yellowish moth-like hairy flies, closely resembling other members 

 of this family. From their first recognition they have been known 

 to be blood-suckers, as testified by their generic name. They 

 occur in (he basements of houses, bath-rooms, and out-houses, 

 and are in the habit of attacking the ankles whilst one is sitting 

 at table during the evening. Some species may be wholly sylvan, 

 but probably many can be taken " at light " in their respective 

 localities. Phhbotoimts has been proved to transmit a special 

 three days fever {Pajipatacifieher) in Southern Europe, and this 

 fever is believed to occur also in some parts of Northern India. + 



* The description of the larva and pupa herein offered is compiled from 

 Newstead's account (Bull. Entoiu. Research, ii, p. 47) wliich is most instructive. 



t Newstead's report on the oviposition of P. 2iapcitasii in captivity is most 

 interesting, tlie female lying on her back and ejecting the eggs forcibly to some 

 distance. 



\ See Doerr, Franz and Taussig, "Das Pappatacifieler" (Leipsig and 

 Vienna, 1909), and Wall, Indian Med. Gazette, xlvi, p. 41 (1911). 



