600 
DIFI'ERA. 
the all-important egg or grub on which their life depends. While they 
have nothing to do but eat, both alike suffer a degradation of form and 
a loss of activity, which latter is in each case partially regained in order 
to permit of the final changes to the perfect insect. Such life-histories 
as these offer a fascinating subject for study, and for this India, owing 
to the abundance of the flies, should afford excellent opportunities. Fig. 
391 shows the clay cell of one of the common Hymenoptera of India 
(Sceliphron madraspatanum) which has been penetrated by Anthracine 
larvae (Hyperalonia sphynx). The pupa-cases of the fly, still sticking in 
the clay wall, show the big spines which enable the pupa to burst out of 
its cell when the insect is ready to emerge. A remarkable genus found 
in the hills, very unlike most of the other Bombyliids, is Systropus, figured 
on PI. LXIII, fig. 4 ; their resemblance to thin-bodied Hymenoptera, 
especially when they are flying, is extremely close. Another very curious 
genus, Empidideicus, is represented by a minute fly occasionally found 
in grass at Pusa, in which the proboscis is so long and thick as to have the 
appearance of an elephant’s trunk. A list of Indian genera and species 
is given by Brunetti (Indian Museum Records). 
Apiocerid^e. 
Two or three genera of rare flies, whose systematic position is 
doubtful. They may be Asilidce or Mydaidce. They are not known 
from India. 
Scenopinid^e. 
Rather small bare black flies. 3rd joint of antennce simple and elongate. 
Noarista. Ocelli present. Eyes usually touching in the male. Abdo¬ 
men of seven segments , rather flat. ls£ posterior cell narrowed or closed. 
These flies are rather uncommon in the plains, and form a very small 
family, all of one genus Scenopinus, of no particular interest. One species 
(PI. LXIII, fig. 10) is not rare in the hills, and looks rather like a small 
black Stratiomyid, but from ■ his family the venation and the absence 
of spines or serrations on the scutellum give enough distinction. The 
larvse are very slender, and each segment but one has a deep groove round 
it so that it looks like two segments. They are found in various 
situations, (e.g., under carpets and in decaying fungi), and are supposed 
to be predaceous, but little is known about them. They are much like 
the larvse of Therevidce. We figure a specimen of S. indicus which was 
bred from a pupa found in decaying wood at Pusa. 
