444 THE ANIMAL PARASITES OF MAN 



There are two main sections (i) Pangonince in which the hind tibiae have 



spurs at the tip, and (2) the Tabanince in which the hind tibiae have no spurs. 

 The chief annoying genera are told by the following characters : 



Proboscis very long ; hind tibiae with spurs at the tip . . . . Pangonia. 



Proboscis short ; wings with dusky markings ; ocelli present . . Chrysops. 



Hind tibiae without spurs : thorax and abdomen with irri- 



descent tomentum ; all tibiae dilated . . : ,. .. Hadrus. 



Thorax and abdomen without tomentum ; third joint of anten- 

 nae without well developed basal process ; wings mottled 

 and overlap . . . . . . . . . . . . ... Hcematopota. 



Eyes bare ; last joint of antennae notched in crescent form . . Tabanus. 



Eyes pubescent ; a small ocelligerous tubercle present. . . . . Therioplectus. 



No ocelligerous tubercle .. > i .. .. .. . Atylotus. 



Great numbers of these flies bite man in all climates. The Pangonia 



can pierce even through thick clothing. Chrysops and H&matopota pro- 



FIG. 289. The Stinging Fly (Stomoxys calcitrans, Linn.). 



duce most pain in man when biting. A common Haematopota is H. pluviahs 

 or the ' Brimp ' found in Europe. It bites men severely. H. crassicornis is also 

 sometimes annoying. 1 



Family Asilidcz or Wolf Flies. 



These flies are of little importance in regard to the subject dealt with 

 in this book ; but I have had notes sent concerning the biting habits of 

 one or more species belonging to this family.. 



Asilidce, or Wolf -flies, are easily told by the following characters : 

 Large or moderate sized flies, thickly hairy ; head separated from thorax 

 by a narrow neck ; eyes separated in both sexes ; proboscis firm and horny, 

 adapted for piercing ; abdomen long, pointed, and composed of eight seg- 

 ments. Legs strong and bristly, of moderate length. Wings sometimes 

 mottled, lying parallel over the abdomen when at rest. There are nearly 

 3,000 species. They live mostly upon insects, but some are said to bite 

 animals and man. They are, however, of little importance in this respect. 



1 Second Report Economic Zoology, p. 15, 1903, Theobald. 



