958 CHARLES PauL ALEXANDER 
The history of the genus Styringomyia is remarkable. It was erected 
by Loew in 1845, being based on the fossil species Styringomyia venusta 
Loew, from African copal. Many years later it was found to be still 
living in the Tropics of both hemispheres. The earliest fossil records 
pertain to the Oligocene of northern Europe (page 765). 
The adult flies have such a curious structure that it seems best to 
remove them from the former tribe Antochini, where they have long been 
placed. Concerning the first living species to be described, the Hawaiian 
S. didyma Grimsh., Perkins (1913: c¢lxxxii) says: 
It sometimes swarms at night around the electric lights, sitting quietly on the walls and 
ceilings, with the body pressed closely to the surface, and the front and middle legs extended 
straight forward in front of the head in a characteristic manner. 
Annandale has made similar observations on the resting positions of S. 
ceylonica Edw., taken in India. He says (cited by Edwards, 1914-15: 207): 
“This species rests on walls with the two anterior pairs of legs stretched 
out straight in front and the posterior pair behind, resembling a stray 
piece of cobweb.” Jacobson has recorded much the same for S. jacobsoni 
Edw. (De Meijere, 1911:41-42, as S. didyma) in Java. The flies are 
attracted to lamps and are almost always to be found in copulation, the 
head of one directed away from the other; while thus engaged, some- 
times one, sometimes the other, will run forward for a short distance, 
producing a peculiar appearance. Munro (in litt.) reports that the habits 
of S. vittata Edw. as observed in eastern Transvaal in late April, 1920, 
are very similar. He writes: “‘ Two specimens taken ‘in cop.’ Settled 
on under side of a twig, heads in opposite directions, front legs of each 
stretched out in front along twig, wings laid flat along abdomen.”’ 
Styringomyia didyma Grimsh. 
1901 Styringomyia didyma Grimsh. Fauna Hawaiiensis, p. 10. 
In Fauna Hawaviensis, Perkins (1913: clxxxii) mentions the breeding 
of Styringomyia didyma by F. W. Terry. Before the reference could be 
investigated by the writer, Mr. Terry died. The following letters from 
O. H. Swezey in regard to the matter were then received. 
In response to a letter sent on February 21, 1915, Mr. Swezey replied 
on March 26 that ‘ no information on the rearing of the species is available 
in Mr. Terry’s notes.” 
