SAPROMYZnXE. 123 



28. Wing-markings radiating 29 



Wing-markings not radiating TEPHRITIS Latreille. 



29. The whole or nearly the whole surface of the wing with unioolorous 



reticulation . EUARESTA Loew. 



A star-shaped black picture at the apex of the wing, the remaining sur- 

 face immaculate, or with a very few spots, or at the most with an 

 obsolete reticulation. ..... URELLIA Desvoidy. 



45. SAPROMYZID^E. 



Small species, seldom more than 7 millim. in length. Head 

 as broad or a little broader than the thorax ; front with one 

 or two bristles on each side anteriorly to those of the vertex. 

 Antennae usually short and porrect, sometimes the third joint 

 elongated. Face without vibrissse on the oral margin. Abdo- 

 men short-ovate. Legs never elongate. Auxiliary vein of 

 the wings present; cross-veins never approximated; basal 

 cells small, but complete. 



I include in this family the Sapromyzidse and Lonchseidae 

 of Loew, though the characters are perhaps sufficient to jus- 

 tify their separation. The larvae of Sapromyza live in decay- 

 ing vegetable matter; they are slender, with two distinct 

 mouth booklets, the entire body, except the anterior segments, 

 roughened by very small bristles. The segments are distinctly 

 constricted, the penultimate segment with four conical pro- 

 cesses in a transverse row, the terminal segment with two 

 three jointed processes, between which is the cylindrical, stig- 

 matic tube. In Lonchcea there are no conical processes on the 

 penultimate segment, and the stigmatic tubes or processes are 

 small and wart-like. 



TABLE OF GENERA. 



1. Tibiae without preapical bristle; front with a single fronto-orbital bris- 

 tle; ovipositor flattened and horny (Lonchreinft). ... 2 

 Tibiae with a distinct preapk-al bristle; two fronto-orbital bristles; ovi- 

 positor not horny, ending tube-like (Supromyzin<e).* . . 3 



* Chaetoccelia Giglio-Tos (Mexico) has three fronto-orbital bristles, the 

 anal cell rudimentary; arista pubescent, the face short, flat and vertical. 



