FAMILY BOMBYLIIDAE 
BEE FLIES 
These flies are moderately large, densely hairy, and look like 
bees. The adults are nectar and pollen feeders. The larvae of 
certain species are parasitic on the larvae of other insects, es- 
pecially of the orders Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, and Coleoptera. 
Others feed on the egg pods of grasshoppers. 
FAMILY EMPIDIDAE 
DANCE FLIES 
Members of this family are commonly known as dance flies be- 
cause of their habit of flying up and down, up and down, in 
Swarms in the woods, along streams, or on the shores of ponds 
and lakes. The fiies range in length from 1 to about 15 mm. and 
probably are all predatory, mostly on small Diptera. The larvae 
live in damp earth, in decaying wood or other vegetation, under 
the bark of trees, or in the water. They are probably all predators. 
Tachydromia sp. has been reared from white pine leaders infested 
with the white pine weevil. 
FAMILY DOLICHOPODIDAE 
LONG-LEGGED FLIES 
Members of this family are very small, long-legged flies, rarely 
more than 10 mm. long. Adults are predacious on other insects 
and are found on the foliage or trunks of trees, or on damp earth, 
usually in swamps or along lightly shaded streams. Most of the 
larvae appear to be aquatic, but those of a few species occur 
under the bark of trees where they feed on other insects. Doli- . 
chopus vittatus Loew has been reared from beetle infested hick- 
ory, and Medetera sp. from beetle infested larch. 
FAMILY PIPUNCULIDAE 
BIG-HEADED FLIES 
Pipunculids are small, dark flies with large heads composed 
mostly of large approximated eyes. The larvae are small, ellip- 
tical, thick, depressed, naked, and narrowed at each end. They are 
parasitic on various families of Homoptera, especially the 
Cicadellidae. 
FAMILY SYRPHIDAE 
FLOWER FLIES 
This is one of the largest families in the order Diptera, and it 
is almost entirely beneficial to man (516). The adults are strongly 
attracted to flowers and play important roles in the cross-pollina- 
tion of plants and trees. The larvae of many species feed on and 
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