EMPIS, 89 



Genus I. EMPIS. 



EMPIS, Mq. zw. iii. 15 (1822). Asilus p., L. Empis p., L. ; Dg. ; 

 Fb. ; Shr. ; Fin. Empis et Paehymerina, Mq. 



Corpus majoris, mediae, aut minoris magnitudinis, oblongum, saepe 

 pilosum, parum nitidum. Color niger, raro testaceus. Caput 

 rotundum. Proboscis tenuis, capite multo longior. Antennae 5- 

 articulatae, porrectae, capitis longitudine ; articulus tertius conicus, 

 compressus, quinto longior ; quartus brevissimus ; quintus setiformis. 

 Thorax ovatus. Alae longae, obtusae ; vena tertia cubitalis furcata ; 

 areola discoidalis venas 3 in marginem interiorem emittens. Pedes 

 plerumque simplices, non incrassati ; posteriores elorigati ; coxae 

 femoribus breviores. 



Mas. Oculi contigui. Abdomen cylindricum; anus obtusus, saepe 

 filatim appendiculatus aut vesiculosus. Pedes quam in foemina ple- 

 rumque longiores. 



Fcem. Oculi remoti. Proboscis quam in mare saepe longior. Abdomen 

 oblongum, apice acuminatum. Femora posteriora interdum pennata. 

 Body of large, middle, or small size, oblong, often hairy, seldom 

 shining, black, rarely testaceous. Head round, small, somewhat con- 

 tracted behind. Ocelli 3. Proboscis much longer than the head, 

 slender, perpendicular or inclined downward, most often applied to 

 the breast. Labrum arched, as long as the labium, or rather shorter. 

 Lingua slender, as long as the labrum. Maxillas bristly, shorter than 

 the labrum. Palpi clavate, short, recurved, hairy. Labium almost 

 cylindrical. Antennae 5-jointed, porrect, approximate at the base, as 

 long as the head; first and second joints bristly; first cylindrical; 

 second cyathiform, about half the length of the first ; third subulate, 

 compressed, longer than the fifth ; fourth very short ; fifth stylate. 

 Thorax oval. Wings rather long, obtuse, very finely pubescent, incum- 

 bent, parallel ; cubital vein forked, costal vein vanishing about the tip 

 of the wing ; discoidal areolet emitting 3 veins to the interior border. 

 Halteres uncovered. Abdomen with 7 segments, with rows of punc- 

 tures along the sides, sometimes four on each segment. Legs slender, 

 of various structure ; coxa shorter than the femora. 



Male. Eyes contiguous. Abdomen cylindrical, obtuse, and often 

 with long curved filaments at the tip, which is sometimes tumid. Legs 

 generally longer than those of the female. 



Fern. Eyes parted by a narrow front. Proboscis often longer than 

 that of the male. Abdomen oblong, acuminated at the tip, with an 

 articulated oviduct. Hind femora sometimes feathered. 



These insects inhabit woods, hedges, fields, moors, and other 

 localities, where they find their prey, which chiefly consists of 

 small Diptera ; they also feed on the lesser Ephemerida, and the 



VOL, I. N 



