FUNGUS GNATS 



(Family Mycetophilidce.) 



The flies which belong to this group are known as the fun- 

 gus gnats, from the fact that many of them breed in fungi. 

 These insects are so delicate in structure that they are difficult to 

 collect and study and are not so well known as they should be, 

 although nearly a thousand have been described. More than a 

 hundred species have been described from the United States. 

 They are delicate and as a rule rather slender little flies. The 

 wings are generally clear, but sometimes they are smoky or with 



Fig. 67. Sciaratritici. (After Coquillett.) 



large spots as in those which belong to the genera Platyura, Scio- 

 phila and Mycetophila. The female abdomen is frequently dis- 

 tended and expanded toward the tip, as in Platyura pectoralis 

 Coq. nnd Asindulum montamim Roder. With those species 

 whose larvae live in fungi or decaying wood or other vegetable 

 matter, the larvae are usually slender, cylindrical maggots, more or 

 less worm-like in appearance. Some of them somewhat resemble 



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