DIPTERA. 



481 



AA 



C. Antennal bristle bare near the tip. p. 482. . Sarcophagin^e.. 

 CC. Antennal bristle plumose or pubescent to the tip. 



D. Dorsum of abdomen bristly ; legs usually elongate, p. 482. 



DexiinjE. 

 DD. Abdomen not bristly, except sometimes somewhat so 



near the tip. p. 482 MusciNiE. 



, Cell Ills widely open, not narrowed at the margin of the wing 



(Fig. 589). p. 483 Anthomyiin/E. 



Fig. 589.— Wing of Lispe. 



Subfamily TACHININ^; (Tach-i-ni'nae). 

 The Tachina-flies (Ta-chi 'no). 



The Tachina-flies are often found about flowers and rank 

 vegetation. They are usually short, stout, and bristly, 

 and can be distinguished from 

 the three following subfamilies by 

 the bristle of the antennae being 

 wholly bare. 



The larvae are parasitic, chiefly 

 within caterpillars, and play an ex- 

 ceedingly important part in check- 

 ing the increase of noxious insects. 

 The female fastens her eggs to the 

 skin of a caterpillar (Fig. 590); 

 when the larvae hatch they bore 

 their way into their host and live there till they are full- 

 grown. 



Fig. 590. — Nemorcea leucanice. 

 Larva, adult, pupanum, and eggs 

 upon fore part of an army-worm. 

 (From the author's Report for 

 1879.) 



