2 DIPTERA 



Schiner's aiTiingcmcnl n\ his Fauna Aitstriaca (1^64) was ihc basis of the later classification ot the 

 famil}- until the appearance of Becker's magnificient monograph of the European species in igoi. (Die 

 Phoridtii iii Adli. Zool.-lwt. Gts. Wini. \'c)l. i [1901]). 



In America Loew descril)e(l six sj^ecies in his Ctntiiriae (1SG6); Aldrich fnur in the Canadian 

 Entoiiwhtiriat for 1892; Coquillett several in the same periodical for iSq.S. The next ycar a few froni thc 

 West Indies were added b\- Aldrich. 



(_Hiite recenth- ihc Xoilli Anierican species were revised and nionotjraplied b\' ISrucs in volume j() 

 of the T yansactions of the Americaii Entomological Society for 1903-04. At thal time 1 divided the family into 

 twentv-two genera. In the present paper, twcntv-three valid t^enera are recognized. This arrangement 

 makes the classification more in agreemcnt with the \aluc of generic divisions in other families 

 of I )iplcra. 



It is probable that Wandollcckia may prove identical to Piiliciphora, and that Platyphora and Aeiiig- 

 inatias are thc sexes of one species. Ecitomyia, Xanioiwtinn and Acoiitistoptera are similar in some respects, 

 and ma\' perhaps be still morc so when the males of the latter two are discovered. Pallura hitherto put in 

 tlic IMioriiUc. 1 strongly suspcct to be a l^orboride. Tcriniiuxcnici and the closel\- allied Tcrmitomyia are 

 considered bj' Wasmann as of family valuc 1 cannot agrec with tliis and liope to sliow in a forthcounng 

 (laper thc close similarity lictwccn the de\elopment of this ,i;roup aiul thc other Phoridac. 



Family Characters. — Phorida- are probably the most rcadil\' recognized famih' among all the 

 I)iptcr,i. \part fioui the wingless forms. they j^ossess such a ])eculiar and constant t\'pe of wing venation 

 that thc\' ma\- be rcadih" rccognized at a glancc. The following are thc niorc important frunily characlcrs: 



Sm.ill or minute species with a luinchbaclccd appcarance. Ilead small. hemispherical or rather 

 flattened; front broad in both sexes, usually bearing thrcc or four transverse rows of bristles; lace very 

 short, concave. Oral opening largc, the ]>alpi wcll deveioped and projecting, usually with strong bristles. 

 Eves ncvcr verv large, often much rcduccd in tlic wingless torms ; ocelli alwavs ])reseiit in tlie wiiiged 

 forms. .\iitcnna' of peculiar form ; ihc lliiid juinl large aiRi concealing the others, spheroid or pointed, 

 with a loiig, nearlv bare sub-doi sal or apical arista. Thorax usualh' largc and arched above, the scutellum 

 rarely abscnt. .\bdomen short, more or less slender and nairowed bchind in the male; in the feinale 

 more o\al in shape and pointed at thc ti]). (jcnitalia ol thc malc usualU piominent, oltcn large. Those 

 of thc fcuialc small and projecting. In a few genera the o\ipositor is liard, cliitinizcd aiid projccting. 

 Legs well developed; coxa; stout, the anterior ones veiy long niid fi(>c at the base; femora stout; the 

 posterior pair often swollen or flattened; tibia' generally with a few strong bristles. sometimes bare. 

 Wings usuallv laige, but sometimes very small or cntircly absent iii thc female. Witen present, they 

 have a series of two heav\- vcins antcrioily which leacii oiily half-way to tlie apex of thc wiiig, aiid tliiee 

 or four imich lighter ones whicli riin (jblitjuch' across the disc ol tlic wiiig. 



Generic Characters. — Ihe most important cliaraclcis toi the delinition ot gencra arc lo be 

 fouiul III llic pieseiicc 01 abscncc of stroiig macroch;ctic on thc tibicC, the jiosition of the frontal bristles 

 and ihe vcnation of the wings, especialh' w itli icgard to thc biaiicliiiiL; of llie third \cin. Thc rcduction 

 of thc wings aiul thc rcinaikablc clongatioii ol lllc o\ipositoi aie iiujiorlant Ui\ tlie rcco^nitioii of 

 soine gcncra. 



Habits. — The liabils of the ditferent mcmbcrs ni tlic laiiiily arc so v.u icd, lli.it thcy caii haidly 

 bc passed over wilhout mention. The greater majority feed iipon decaying plaiit and animal matter in 

 the larval stage. One is known to bc parasitic iii thc egg-cases of s))i(Iers. .\ consideiable nuinbcr live 

 exclusivelj' in ant nests. Soine are commcnsals, like one spccies of Metopiiia, others are paiasiles like 

 A/>oce/>halus whilc the relation of others is not understood. Two geneia livc iii thc nests of Terniites. 



Classification. — It is iinpossible at present to divide the t'amil\' into clearh- defined sub- 

 families or tribes. Thc following tablc will scive lo distiuguish thc various geiicra. 



