46 POPULAR ENTOMOLOGY. 



ORDER XIII. DIPTERA, Aristotle. 



Characters. Wings two, membranous, not capable of being folded; 

 halleres two, small filaments clubbed at the tip ; mouth with a fleshy 

 proboscis forming a canal, enclosing several lancet-like organs; tarsi 

 five-jointed; thorax short and robust; head distinct and attached to 

 the thorax by a very short and narrow neck ; antenna very variable, 

 inserted in the forehead. 



1. Culicidce. Head small ; antennae slender, filiform, as 



long as the thorax, plumose in the male ; rostrum 

 nearly half the length of the insect, and slightly 

 thickened at the tip ; thorax oblong ; body long and 

 slender, on which the wings lie when at rest ; legs 

 long and slender. 



2. Tipulidce. Head small ; antennae variable ; proboscis 



very short ; palpi longer than the proboscis ; body 

 and legs long and slender. 



3. Stratiomidce. Antennae various, of not more than six 



or seven joints, in some species the joints appear fewer 

 in number, and are terminated by a seta or bristle ; 

 mouth mostly rudimental ; wings placed on the body 

 when at rest ; body broad and depressed ; colour prettily 

 variegated. Locality, flowers in damp situations. 



