1 



14 DIPTERA 



15. Genus COMMOPTERA, Brues 



Commoptera. Urues. The .\nier. Xatui. Vol. 35. |). 344 (1901). 



Characteps. — Small and rather stoul species \\ ith reduced wings. Head oval, with vcr\- large! 

 but shallow antennal cavities. Eyes small, about lialf as large as usual ; ocelii present. Palpi slender, 

 bristly. Proboscis stout, short. .\ntennai rounded, a little pointed at the tip, where the apical arista is 

 inserted. Front short and l)road, the anterior trontal bristles porrect. Hesides these there is onl\- a single 

 ocellar row of four. Cheeks each with a single bristle. Thorax nearh- square, the scutellum present, with 

 two bristles ; dorsocentral macrochaeta» wanting. Wings short. less than twice as long as the thorax, 

 with long costal bristles; costa reaching to the tip of the wing, where it meets the simple third vein. 

 Abdomen membranous except for four small dorsal plates, the last of which contains the gland oiiening. 

 Legs moderate. 



Geographical distribution of species. — The single species is known only in the fcmale sex. 

 It occurs in Texas, as a myrmecophile in the nests of Sole>iof>sis geminata, Fabricius. 



1. C. soleiiopsidis, Brues, The Amer. Nalur. \ol. 35. p. 344 (igoil [V . S. A. : Texas). 



16. Genus PSYLLOMYIA, Loew 



Psyllomyia. i.oew, \A"ien. Ent. Mon. \'ol. i. p. 54 (1857). 



Characters. — Head swollen. lentiform. Eyes extrenieh' small, placed on the sides of the head. 

 Ocelli absent. 1'ronth with a row of four ocellar bristles only. Cheeks each with a downwardh" directed 

 one. .AntennsE oval, with a strongly pubescent arista inserted near the tip. Palpi rather slender, bristly. 

 Proboscis very long. twice thc head height and geniculate near the base. Thorax rounded, with bristles 

 along the sides, but withoul an\' dorsocentrals ur an\ on the scutellum. .\bdomen heavilv chitinized. Legs 

 stout, especially thc femora. bare. Four postenor tibife with spurs. Wings abbreviated. leather\', resting 

 upon the dorsum of the abdomcn, a littlc longer than the thorax, with indications of three veiy thick 

 longitudinal rib-like veins. These are beset with black biistles. Halteres \er\- small. 



Geographical distribution of species. — The single species lives in the nests of the South 

 African ant Dorylns. Only the female has been described. 



I. P. testacea, Loew, Wien. Enl. Mun. \ "ol. i, y. 34 (18571 (South .MVica). 



17. Genus PULIOIPHORA, Dahl 



Puliciphora. Dahr. /ool. Anz. \'ol. 20, p. 410 (1897^. 

 Stethopathus. Wandolleck. /ool. Jahrb. Abth. f. Sysl. p. 424 (1898). 

 Pachyneurella. Hrues, Trans. .Amer. Ent. ,Soc. \'ol. 2<). p. 382(19041. 



Characters. — Male. Small, rather slendei species. Head small, the front wule, with two or thiee 

 rows of bristles. Anterior frontal bristles proclinate. Third antennal joint nearly round, witli an aj^ical 

 arisla inserted on a distinct point. Palpi bristly. Legs slendcr, tlie tibiae bare and even the spurs very 

 minute. Third vein of wings simple, not furcate at apex. Mediastinal vein distinct. I'"our light veins 

 present. Costal vein ciliated vvith fine hairs, not bristles. .\nal angle of wing without an\- bristles. 



