ON INDIAN PARASITIC FLIES. 379 
sexes are well developed, are enlarged to an enormous extent in the 
females. The proboscis is concealed and nothing of the head is 
visible in some species except the antennae and the globular 
eyes. The head reaches its maximum development among Diptera 
in this family, and being balanced on a point, a high degree of mobi- 
lity is attained. It is clear that vision is principally depended on in 
finding a host for the egg. 
Secondly, legs and feet are unusually well developed and strong. 
The feet are furnished with large laminate pulvilli and slender elon- 
gated claws. The fact that in some species they are larger in the 
female than in the male shows that they are implements to serve the 
female in her egg-laying; for when she pounces on her victim she 
graps and holds it, remaining perched upon its back, until her purpose 
is effected. Lastly, the ovipositor of the female is a noteworthy 
feature. It is strong and prominent, forming a sharp recurved, 
piercing-organ. The egg-laying is effected with great rapidity. It 
seems to be established that some flies will attack different species 
of leaf-hopper but whether hosts from different families, e.g., Fulgo- 
ride or Zasside@ are used by the same Pipunculid species is uncertain. 
Both adult leaf-hoppers and nymphs are subject to attack. 
Out of the egg emerges a small, thick, oval larva which feeds on 
the living tissues of the host, without killing it, and which may some- 
times be seen through the cuticle. The Pipunculid larva ultimately 
leaves its host, to pupate buried in the soil or attached to a leaf of 
the tree on which the leaf-hopper fed. Although a shapeless ace- 
phalous maggot it is capable of great extension and contraction. 
By which means, and by rolling movements, it is able to make enough 
_ progress to find a place suitable for pupation. When the larva of 
Pipunculus leaves the host it usually escapes at the junction of the 
thorax and abdomen and this rupture of the leaf-hopper proves 
fatal to the host.* The pupa is black or brown and of the normal 
dipterous type. The life history of this interesting family deserves 
much closer study for we have a dipterous family which in behaviour 
and habits approaches in several respects the highly specialized 
parasitic Hymenoptera. Little is known in India of the family as 
a whole but Brunetti has described some Indian species and the 
family is one which would well repay collectors. 
Conopide. This is another comparatively small family but one 
with a wide geographical distribution. The larvae have a remark- 
able parasitic career. The adults frequent flowers, fly rather slowly, 
* Some details on life history will be found in ‘ Leaf-Hoppers and their Natural 
Enemies (Part IV. Pipunculide) By R. C. L. Perkins, Honolulu 1905. The Eu- 
ropean Pipunculide have been monographed by R. Becker, Berliner Ent. Zeitsch. 
(1897) Vol. 42 p. 25. With an excellent plate of the forms of ovipositor. The larva 
is described by F. Brauer “ Die Zweifliigler des Kaiserl. Mus. zu Wien.’’ Denks 
Kais. Ak. der Wiss. Wien (1883) Vol. 47 p. 32. All the above works contain refer- 
ences to earlier papers. 
