THE 
AMERICAN NATURALIST 
Vor. XXXV. May, rgot. No. 413. 
TWO NEW MYRMECOPHILOUS GENERA OF 
ABERRANT PHORIDZE FROM TEXAS! 
CHARLES THOMAS BRUES. 
THE discovery of two new genera of myrmecophilous diptera 
allied to the Stethopathidz, in Texas, is entirely unexpected. 
That a family of wingless Diptera hitherto represented by a 
small group of genera in the Old World should suddenly appear 
in North America is, to say the least, a very unusual occurrence. 
The new genera are also very interesting from a taxonomic 
point of view, as they show very clearly the affinities of the 
Stethopathidze and Phoride, which have hitherto appeared 
Somewhat doubtful. 
Last October, while collecting ants in one of the pecan 
Sroves upon the outskirts of Austin, Texas, Dr. Wheeler of 
the University of Texas found in a nest of Solenopsis geminata 
Fabr. several specimens of a peculiar dipteron with rudimen- 
tary wings. Upon closer examination they seemed to be 
Phoridze, although their habitus was extremely like that of the 
Stethopathidz, from which they were easily distinguished by 
their halteres and small wings. 
1 E. VENUS 
Contributions from the Zoblogical Laboratory of the University of Texas, No. 15. 
