402 DIPTERA. 



carpets, and is remarkahle for the double segmented appearance 

 of all the abdominal segments, except the last one, so that the 

 body, exclusiA^e of the head, seems as if twenty-jointed instead 

 of liaving but twelve joints. The head is conical, one-third 

 longer than broad, and of a reddish brown color, while the 

 body is white. It is .65 of an inch in length. The larva is 

 also said to live in rotten wood, and is too scarce to be destrac- 

 tive to carpets. The fl}^ is black, Avith a metallic hue, and 

 with pale feet. 



The genus Platypeza also represents the Platypezidm of 

 Meigen, the antennae of which have an apical bristle, with the 

 male genital armor (hypopygium) turned sjnnmetrically under 

 the abdomen. The middle tibiae are provided with spurs, and 

 the empodium is wanting. The larva is flat, with rigid curved 

 bristles along the side. It lives in rotten mushrooms. 



Jf^rd" ■- Empid/E Leach. The species of this famil}^ closely- resemble 



the Asilidae in their long body, incumbent wings, and rapaci- 

 ous, carnivorous habits. The first joint of the antennje is not 

 much shortened, and the third joint has an apical or dorsal 

 bristle, while the empodium is usually membranaceous and of a 

 linear form. The head is small, spherical, the eyes united in 

 the male ; the proboscis is hornj', without a distinct tongue, 

 and bent upon the breast. The slender larvae, whose segments 

 arc much constricted, arc found in garden mould. The sj)ecies 

 hover in swarms over standing water, flying backwards and for- 

 wards as if by a cominoil impulse. They appear very earlj^ in 

 the spring, or in autumn. The genera Hybos and Tacliydromia 

 represent small groups which iire closely allied to Empis. 



DoLicPiopoDiDJE L-atreille. Loew has characterized this 

 well marked family as generally comprising metallic green, 

 brisk and restless Diptera of small or medium size, predatory 

 on other insects, and living principally in damp situations ; the 

 larvae living imder ground or in decaying wood. The head is 

 hemispherical, the e^'cs large and hairy, the antennae are 

 stretched straight out, with a two-jointed bristle. The probos- 

 cis is short and stout, concealed above by the single jointed, 

 usually scale-shaped palpi, with a wide opening which can be 



