THE FLIES THAT CAUSE MYIASIS IX MAX 119 



eluded by Curran in the Muscidae, do not fall within the scope of this 

 work. Seguy's treatment in the "Genera Insectorum" is somewhat 

 broader than that of this paper, since he includes the Glossinidae 



and Gasterophilidae. Some writers have also included the Calli- 

 phoridae in this family. 



The family includes mostly dull-colored flies of medium to small 

 size. The characters are variable: yet the family may rather readily 

 be distinguished from the other Calypteratae. The lack of a postscu- 

 tellum will readily distinguish it from the Larvaevoridae ( Tachi- 

 nidae) ; the well developed mouth parts will distinguish it from the 

 Oestridae. Gasterophilidae. Hypodermatidae. and Cuterebridae ; the 

 lack of hypopleural bristles, or. in the few cases in which these are 

 developed (none of the mviasis-producing species), the widely open 

 apical cell, will distinguish it from the Calliphoridae and Sarco- 

 phagidae. The arista may be bare, pubescent, pectinate, or plumose; 

 the eyes are widely separated in the female, moderately widely sepa- 

 rated to contiguous in the male: the calypters are at least moderately 

 well developed ; the mesonotal suture and the postalar callus are well 

 developed; the apical cell may vary from widely open to almost 

 closed. 



The females are usualy oviparous, though sometimes larviparous. 

 Development is rapid. The larvae are usually of the ordinary muscoid 

 or maggot type, the body being conico-cylindrical. greatly attenuated 

 anteriorly; some larvae, such as Fannia, vary greatly from this type. 

 The anterior spiracles typically end in a number of fingerlike processes 

 arranged in a row: the posterior spiracles, in the third stage, are 

 typically rounded to oval, often strongly sclerotized. with or without 

 a peritreme. sometimes on tubercles but never in a depression or cavity. 



The Jiabits of the larvae are varied. Many are plant feeders, some 

 are scavengers, some carnivorous, some parasitic or pseudoparasitic 

 on invertebrates, and some parasites or scavengers in the nests of birds. 

 Myiasis of man is more or less accidental, although it occurs frequently 

 enough in the genera Musea, Muscina, and Fonnla to be considered of 

 some importance. 



The family is treated in the "Genera Insectorum" by Seguy {137). 



KEY TO GENERA 



ADULTS 



1. Anal rein attaining the posterior margin of the wing as a fold; under 



surface of scutellum with a number of fine erect hairs 2 



Anal vein long or short, but not reaching the posterior margin of the wing 

 even as a fold: under surface of scutellum bare 4 



2. Proplenra hairy in the middle; grayish species with prominent velvety 



black markings on the thorax and abdomen Anthomyia Meigen 



Propleura bare: uniformly grayish or dull blackish species ^ 3 



3. Epistoma strongly produced beyond the vibrissa] angle 



Paregle Schnabl and Dziedzicki 

 Epistoma scarcely or not at all produced beyond the vibrissa] angle 



Hylemya Robineau-1 >esvoidy 



4. Arista bare or short pubescent ."> 



Arista long-haired, at least above 8 



5. Presternum thickly pilsoe: vein m^ 2 strongly bowed forward and ending 



before the wing apex (cf. Muscina pascuorum, fig. 7s. /,* | 



Synthesiomyia Brauer and Bergenstamm 

 Presternum bare; vein nh+a ending beyond the wing apex . 6 



