TRYPETID.E. 
631 
disease germs, but we have only occasionally found them numerous in 
and about cooking-places. 
Micropezim. 
Fairly large flies, the body and legs generally very long and slender, the face 
retreating in profile. Sub-costa present or absent , anal cell present. 1st 
posterior cell usually narrowed or closed. Wings often marked or spotted. 
Very little is known about these curious and ungainly-looking flies, 
although a considerable number of species have been described, of which 
some half a dozen are recorded as having 
been met with in India. Nothing 
seems to have been known hitherto 
of the life-history of any member of the 
family, but fig. 416 shows the larva and 
pupa of a Calobata (PL LXVIL fig. 9), 
which has been bred from the decaying 
roots of ginger plants which had been 
attacked by a fungus-disease. The 
elongated reddish pupae were frequent¬ 
ly found deep in the root, lying in long 
tunnels eaten by the larva, and along 
these tunnels the imago made its way 
to the surface on emerging. The flies 
Fig. 416 -Larva and PupaU Calob- are generally found in rather damp 
ata from Ginger, x 8. shady places, sitting and walking about 
on leaves and grass-stems, and they have the habit of holding the forelegs 
straight out in front of the head like antennae, somewhat as in Chirono- 
midce and some Ortalidce. There is a structure on the front femora which 
may possibly be some kind of sense-organ and be connected with this habit. 
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Trypetid^e. 
Flies of moderate or rather small size , often more or less marked with 
yellow . No distinct vibrissce. Head hemispherical, front broad with 
lower fronto-orbital bristles near eye-margins. Female ovipositor 
usually projecting. Sub-costa runs into costa more or less at right 
angles, and is often faintly defined near the point of junction. Anal 
cell distinct, its hind corner generally drawn out to a sharp point. 
No preapical bristles on tibiae. Wings generally with dark markings. 
Economically this is a very important family, as it includes several 
serious pests of fruit and vegetables. 
