8o6 



THE DIPTERA 



Palpomyia Mergele. 

 Synonym. — Xylocrypta Kieffer. 



Ceratopogonincs with bare wings and five radial cells. Rg present; media 

 simple; some or all the femora spinose underneath; pulvilli and empodia 

 wanting. 



Four subgenera: Alasion Rondani, 1857; Sphceromyas Stephens, 1829, 

 Serromyia Mergele, 181 8; Heteromyia Say, 1825. 



Family Psychodid^. 



Definition. — OrtJwrrhapha nematocera without ocelli, and with 

 body densely covered with coarse hairs. Thorax without trans- 

 verse suture. Antennae long, sixteen- jointed. Wings very broad 

 and hairy. No discoidal cell. Legs long, tibiae without spurs. 



Remarks. — ^The members of this family are small, sometimes very 

 small midges, with the bodies and wings thickly covered with hairs 

 and scales, which give them a most characteristic appearance. They 

 are found all over the world, and have a preference for damp, 

 shady places, while their larvae have been found in damp places — 

 in cracks in rocks, old walls, etc. ; in rotting vegetation, liquid filth, 

 and water. The blood-sucking genera are: Phlebofomus and 

 Sycorax belonging to the Phlebotominae, and possibly one in the 

 Psychodinae. 



The Psychodidae are classified into two subfamilies:- — 



(1) PsychoMncB. — Psychodidae, in which the second longitudinal 

 vein gives ofi its first branch in the root of the wing. The female 

 has a horny ovipositor, while the male has two claspers. 



(2) PhlehotomincB. — Psychodidae, in which the second longi- 

 tudinal vein branches after it has passed well into the body of the 

 wing. The female has not got a horny ovipositor, while the male 

 has three claspers. 



Subfamily Psychodin^. 



The genera Pm'cowa SiXid Psychoda and their allies belong to this 

 subfamily. As a rule it is stated that these flies are not blood- 

 suckers, but Howlett states that an Indian species occasionally 

 sucks blood. 



Subfamily Phlebotomin^. 



This subfamily is of importance not merely because it contains 

 blood-sucking flies, but because the genus Phleboiomus is accused 

 of spreading the 'Three Days' Fever.' The two blood-sucking 

 genera may be distinguished as follows: — 



(1) Two simple veins between the forks of the second and fourth 

 longitudinal veins — Phle ho tomiis. 



(2) One simple vein between the forks of the second and fourth 

 longitudinal veins. Seventh longitudinal vein very short ^ — Sycorax. 



Phlebotomus Rondani, 1840. 

 Morphology.— Phlebotominae, with mouth-parts formed for pierc- 

 ing and sucking, palpi of five joints, antennae long, filiform, composed 



