PHYCODROMIDiE. 
637 
SCIOMYZIM. 
Sub-costa distinctly separate from Radius. Wings rather long, usually 
with dark markings. No vibrissce. Head rounded, often broader 
than the thorax. Preapical bristles on tibice. 
Little is known about the habits and life-histories of the members 
of this family but they do not seem to be of any economic importance. 
They are mostly small sluggishly- 
moving flies, found in damp grass 
or in the neighbourhood of water, 
the body often coloured dirty brown 
and wings much spotted with dark 
brown. The abdomen is often rather 
long, and has six segments visible. 
The larvae are mostly aquatic, feed¬ 
ing on water-plants. One genus, 
Sepedon (see Brunetti, Ind. Mus. 
Records) is conspicuous and unlike 
those whose general appearance is 
described above (fig. 421). Most of these latter belong to the genus 
Tetanocera and constitute the bulk of the family, which has been mono¬ 
graphed by Hendel ( Sciomyzidce , Verhand. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien., 1902). 
About a hundred and fifty European species are known ; the known 
Indian species belong to the genera Dryomyza, Sciomyza, Tetanocera , 
and Sepedon. 
Fig. 421— Sciomyzid (Sepedon) x 2 
Phycodromim. 
Small dark-coloured flies, the whole body noticeably flattened. Face and 
front very bristly. Preapical bristle on all the tibice. Sub-costa 
distinct; basals and anal cell present. 
These curious little flies all live on the sea-shore, generally among 
the line of sea-weed and other refuse left by the high tide. Their larvae 
are presumably scavengers, but I do not find any reference to their life- 
histories. The adult flies have a slight superficial resemblance to small 
Hippoboscidce, owing to their flat shape and stout legs, and perhaps to 
some Borboridce, but these are hardly likely to be confused. There are 
only about a dozen European species, but the individuals are often very 
numerous in the abovementioned localities. None are recorded from 
India. 
