957 
ON INDIAN PARASITIC FLIES. 
BY 
Harold Russell, f.l.s., f.z.s. 
PART III. 
With 3 Plates, 
{Continued from page 718 of this Volume.) 
IV. 
THE PUPtPARA. 
The Pupipara are a remarkable group of flies, with numerous Indian 
representatives, whose structure has been greatly modified in 
accordance with their parasitic habits. The Diptera already described 
are all parasites in the larval stage. In the Pupipara the adult perfect 
flies are parasites which feed upon the blood of their hosts. All the 
species of the three families, Hippoboscidce, NycteribiidcB and Streblidce, 
are ectoparasites of warm-blooded vertebrates. They cling persis- 
tently to their hosts and seek to crawl in between the hairs or feathers. 
They are small to moderatel)'' large flies. Some forms are Avinged, 
others wmgless. The winged forms rarely fly long distances, but 
use these organs of locomotion to pass from one part of the host’s 
body to another, or occasionally, to fly from one host to another in the 
neighbourhood. The wings may be well developed, rudimentary 
or entirely wanting. In some species, though the wings may at 
first be well developed, they are subsequently shed, the insect, on 
reaching a host, having no further use for them. 
The legs, on the other hand, as might be excepted in parasitic insects, 
are highly developed. They may be either short, strong and stout, 
as in Hippoboscids, or, on the other hand, as in the Nycteribiids, which 
are bat parasites, long, prehensile and slender. The claws are always 
adapted for clinging to the host and in some forms are toothed 
and provided with necessary spurs. The body is usually more or less 
dorso-ventrally compressed, which is another modification frequently 
found in parasitic insects. As a rule the segmentation of the abdomen 
is indistinct and its integument is of a leathery consistence. Some 
forms also are furnished with combs, or rows of spines, which are also 
organs associated with a parasitic life on mammals or birds. 
The name Pupipara is really a misnomer, but it is a recognised 
name and long established. The eggs hatch in the body of the female 
fly. The larvae are retained within the maternal body and are there 
nourished by special glands. When fully mature and ready to pupate 
they are deposited on the ground or in the abodes and nests of their 
hosts. Only one larva is produced at a time and on leaving the body 
