FAM. MYCETOPHILID/E 
3 
gate, flattened in front or somewhat rounded, placed low relatively to the thorax, front in both sexes 
broad; either nearly bare or microscopic pilose. The proboscis is usuall}' shoit and retracted, in a few 
genera much elongated. The palpi are three or four jointed,, usually incurved, the first joint always very 
short. The eyes are round or oval in outline, often notched out around the base of the antennae, short 
pilose. There are usually two or three ocelli, rarely are they absent. The middle ocellus, when preseiit, 
is always on the center line; the laterals may be closely contiguous to the eye margin or widely remote 
from it. When three ocelli are present they may be placed in the form of a triangle on the front or 
arranged in a curved line. The middle ocellus is frequently very small. The antennae are 2 + lo to 
2 -\- i5 jointed, the basal joints differentiated from the others, the first two cylindrical or cupuliform, the 
flagellar joints usually cj'linclrical, though sometimes moniliform, and very short pilose. 
The thorax is oval, more or less highly arched, without transverse suture, the metanotum highl}^ 
arched, sometimes almost vertical, the mesonotum and pleura pilose and frequently more or less setose; 
the small scutellum often with several long setae. 
The abdomen is six to nine segmented, c}'lindrical, conical, or oval and laterally compressed, 
constricted at the base, the male with rather complex caudal appendages ( PI. 7, Fig. 1-20), the 
female with a short oviduct with terminal lamellae; abdominal hairs and setae usually quite short and 
inconspicuous. 
The coxaj are verj^ strong and much elongated except in two or tliree genera; the femora moie or 
less thickened, laterally compressed, often setose; the tibiae usual!}- slender, the fore pair with one long 
and one short terminal spur, rarely wanting; the middle and hind pairs usually with two spurs each 
and with from one to four longitudinal rows of setfe outwardly and sometimes with a row on the flexor 
surface; seldom are the setae wanting; the tarsi frequently with ciliated plantae, tarsal claws with teeth. 
The wings are usually oval, more or less constricted at the base, hairj^ or more frequently micros- 
copically setulose, and without the cell first (discal cell). While the venation is quite varied it may 
be resolved into four principal types (shown in PI. 2, Fig. I -4-) from which all the others may readily 
be derived. The most generalized (hypothetical) form is shown in PI. 2, Fig. I, dift'ering from 
Palaeoplatytiva (PI. 3, Fig. 7) which is represented by both fossil and recent forms in no wise. Only 
Pachynema and Thiras (fossil) have a greater number of veins and these two genera are of doubtful 
relationship. 
Below is given the Comstock- Needham terminoh^gy of wing venation which is used in the 
following text, together with the equivalent terms of the Schinerian system. 
Costa (C ) ^ Costa. 
Sci = Subcosta. 
Scj = Subcostal crossvein. 
R: 
= First longitudinal vein. 
Radial sector (Rs) j 
Rz-t-j 
R4+5 
= Anterior branch of third vein. 
■= Posterior branch of the third longitudinal vein 
Media .... 
(M) 
= Fourth longitudinal vein. 
Cubitus 
(Cu) 
= Fifth longitudinal vein. 
Anal veins. 
(A) 
= Anal vein and axillarj' vein. 
Crossveins. 
Subcostal (see above, Sc-z) = Subcostal. 
Radio-Medial (R-M). . = Anterior crossvein. 
Medio-cubital (M-Cu) . = Posterior crossvein. 
In this system the cells are given the names of the section of the vein immediatel)' in front of it; 
thus the cell behind the costa is called the costal cell (or C), the cell behind the basal section of the 
Subcosta (Sc) 
