636 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Family SIMULIDiE. 



Rather undersized chunky flies, known as "black flies," dark in color, the 

 thorax well developed and somewhat produced forward so as to partially con- 

 ceal the small head from above. Though the head is small in proportion to the 

 insect, the mouth parts are exceedingly well developed and furnished with a 

 formidable array of lancets for puncturing and bloodsucking. The wings are 

 short and broad, the venation obscure except along the front margin. 



These flies are horrible pests locally, not so much in our State as in some 

 others west and north, the "buffalo gnat" of the Mississippi Valley region 

 and "black fly " of the north woods being excellent examples. 



In New Jersey some species are pests in the Orange Mountains and north- 

 ward, getting into the ears of horses, or even occasionally of man. 



The larvae are aquatic and live in running water. 



SIMULIUM Latr. 



S. venustum Say. "Black fly," Orange Mts., Caldwell, VII (Cr), Clemen- 

 ton, V, 30, Delaware Water Gap, VII, 11. 



S. invenustum Walk. Clementon, IV, 15 (Jn), Orange Mts. (Sm), Passaic 

 (US Dept Ag). 



S. vittatum Zett. Orange Mts. (Sm). 



S. meridionale Riley. Passaic (U S Ag). 



Family RHYPHIDiE. 



These are known as "false crane flies," differing in the smaller size and 

 broader, spotted wings. They often come into houses, and the larvse live in 

 water, rotten wood or excrementitious matter. They are of no economic 

 importance. 



RHYPHUS Latr. 



R. alternatus Say. Morris Plains, VI, 25, Clementon, V, 30, Riverton, III, 



20 (Jn), Caldwell (Cr). 

 R. punctatus Meig. Westville (Jn), Monmouth County (Sm), Camden, XII, 



8 (Kp), Palisades (Love). 



Family LEPTIDiE. 



Termed " snipe flies " by Prof. Comstock because of the general form of body 

 in many species. The thorax is rather globular, the abdomen pointed, the head 

 moderately large, antennge short, mouth parts prolonged into a beak ojecting 



