410 MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 



FAMILY NYCTERIBIIDAE 



Head somewhat oval and when at rest folded back into a groove on the 

 dorsum of the thorax ; antennae short consisting of two segments, the 

 terminal one oval with bristles inserted on tubercles. Eyes and ocelli 

 when present rudimentary. Thorax depressed laterally ; a fan-shaped 

 comb of bristles, the ctenidia, inserted in a hollow at the anterior end of 

 the thorax. Abdomen in the female weakly chitinised ; in the male the 

 dorsal and ventral plates are well developed ; there is usually a row of 

 strong bristles on the ventral border of the first segment. Legs long; 

 femora broad, tibiae club-shaped and metatarsi very long or short. 



The flies belonging to this family are extremely aberrant. All the 

 species are apterous, and on account of their general appearance are 

 commonly called ' Spider flies '. All are parasitic on bats. They 

 may be recognized by the spider-like manner in which they run over 

 the body of the bat when it is handled. Practically nothing is known 

 regarding their methods of reproduction. According to Chatton a 

 species of Cyclopoda, C. sykesi is infected with Crithidia nycteribiae. 

 The family is widely distributed. 



SPEISER'S KEY TO THE GENERA 



1 . First ventral segment without ctenidia ; all the metatarsi are 



short, as long as the three following segments together. 

 The dorsal head wall is arched like a hood over the 



mouth parts and antennae Archinycteribia. 



First ventral segment with ctenidia ; all the metatarsi more 

 or less elongated, only a little shorter to a little longer 

 than the tibiae, and for the most part much longer than 

 the tarsal segments taken together. The dorsal head 

 wall is not arched over the mouth parts and antennae . . . . 2 



2. The tibiae are not ringed and have on their ventral edge 



near the distal end three rows of strong bristles. The 



anterior coxae are seldom longer than broad ...... 3 



Tibiae with two or three clear rings ........ 4 



3. Head with eyes and one ocellus. Abdomen and legs with 



long brush-like bristles Penicillidia. 



Head without eyes. Bristles never brush-like . . . Nycteribia. 



4. Tibiae with three rings. Eyes and two ocelli . . . Cyclopedia. 

 Tibiae with two rings. Eyes but no ocelli .... Eucampsipodia. 



FAMILY STREBLIDAE 



Head of moderate size, not flexed on the dorsum of thorax ; neck freely 

 moveable. Eyes when present small ; ocelli wanting. Antennae two- 

 jointed, inserted in pits ; second segment with one or more bristles. Palpi 



