482 THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



Subfamily Sarcophagin^ (Sar-coph-a-gi'nae). 



The Flesh-flies. 



These flies resemble those of the preceding subfamily in 

 general appearance, but differ in having the bristle of the 

 antenna plumose or hairy at the base ; the outer end of the 

 bristle is bare. They are called flesh-flies because many of 

 them lay their eggs on the bodies of dead animals, resem- 

 bling in habits the Blow-fly, which belongs to the sub- 

 family Muscinae. The larvae of other species live in dung, 

 in decaying vegetable matter, and in fruits. 



Subfamily Dexiin^ (Dex-i-i'nae). 



The Nimble-flies, 



In this subfamily the bristle of the antenna is plumose 

 or bristly to the tip, and the dorsum of the abdomen is 

 bristly. The legs are usually long. These flies are much 

 less common than the members of the allied subfamilies ; the 

 larvae of some of the species, at least, are parasitic. 



Subfamily MUSCIN^ (Mus-ci'nae). 



The Typical Muscids {Mus'cids\ 



With these flies, as in the preceding subfamily, the bris- 

 tle of the antenna is pubescent or plumose to the tip; but 

 the abdomen is not bristly except near the tip. Here be- 

 long many of the best-known members of the Muscidae; 

 among the more important ones are the following : — 



The House-fly, Musca domestica (Mus'ca do-mes'ti-ca). — 

 This is the most familiar representative of the order Diptera, 

 as it abounds in our dwellings. It lays its eggs in horse- 

 manure, a single female laying from one hundred and twenty 

 to one hundred and sixty eggs ; the larvae become full- 

 grown in from five to seven days, having molted twice ; the 

 pupa state lasts from five to seven days. 



The Stable-fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (Sto-mox'ys cal'ci- 

 trans). — This species resemble the House-fly in appearance ; 



