DIPTERA 



137 



infested regions. Members of this family will be known 

 to beginners rather 

 by habits than by 



structures. 



89. Bee-flies 

 (Bombyliidce), and 

 the Soldier-flies 

 (Stratiomyiidce), 

 frequent flowers. 

 The latter are not 

 always abundant, 

 but are often notice- 

 able on account of 

 their bright color 

 markings. Yellow 

 and green bands 

 and stripes are 

 common in this 

 family. The sol- 

 dier-flies are of 

 small to medium 

 size. Their larvae 

 are usually aquatic. 

 The bee-flies pre- 

 sent many varia- 

 tions. Some species 

 are quite hairy, 

 many have very 

 long beaks and feed 

 on nectar. Banded 

 wings are also char- 

 acteristic of many 

 bee-flies. The habit 



h. 



FIG. 102. Types of Flies (Diptera). Natural 

 size. 



a, Syrphidce; b, Tachinidce; c, Puparium of Ta- 

 china-fly: d, Bee-flies (Bombyliidce); e, Muscidce; f, 

 Snipe-flies (Leptidce) ; g, House-fly, and h, Stable-fly 

 (Muscidce). 



