46 POPULAR ENTOMOLOGY. 



Oeder XIII. DIPTERA, Aristotle, 



Characters, — Wings two, membranous, not capable of being 

 folded ; halteres two, small filaments clubbed at the tip ; mouth 

 with a fleshy proboscis forming a canal, enclosing several lancet- 

 like organs ; tarsi five-jointed ; thorax short and robust ; head 

 distinct and attached to the thorax by a very short and narrow 

 neck ; antennce very variable, inserted in the forehead. 



1. Culicidce. — Head small; autennse slender^ filiform, as 



long as the thorax, plumose in the male; rostrum 

 nearly half the length of the insect, and slightly 

 thickened at the tip ; thorax oblong ; body long and 

 slender, on which the wings lie when at rest ; legs long 

 and slender. 



2. Tiptdid(B. — Head small; antennse variable; proboscis very 



short ; palpi longer than the proboscis ; body and legs 

 long and slender. 



3. Stratiomidm. — Antennse various, of not more than six or 



seven joints, in some species the joints appear fewer in 

 number, and are terminated by a seta or bristle ; mouth 

 mostly radimental; wings placed on the body when at 

 rest ; body broad and depressed ; colour prettily varie- 

 gated. Locality, flowers in damp situations. 



