LIBRARY

DIPTERA 771
ish peninsula and a small part of northern Africa in parts of Morocco, Algeria.
and Tunis whereas those of Vermitigris occur in parts of Sumatra and Borneo.
Species of the genera Atherix Meigen, Rhagio Fab. (= Leptis Fab.), Spaniopsis
White. and Symphoromyia Frauenfeld include blood-sucking species which are
often very annoying to humans. Atherix longipes Bell. (Mexico); A. variegata
Walker; Rhagio scolopacea (Linn.) 13 mm. (Europe, North America); R.
strigosa Meigen (Europe); SPaniopsis longicornis Fergusen, 6 mm. (Australia);
Symphoromyia atripes Bigot, 5.3-8.0 mm. (western North America); S. hirta
Johnson, 6.0-7.5 mm. (Rocky Mountain states); S. kincaidi Aldrich 5.5-6.0
CIl2.
FIG. 281. Wing of Rhagio sp.
mm. (Pacific coast), S. pachyceras Williston, 6-7 mm. (western North America)
are all fierce biters. The last is specially annoying in parts of the Sierra Nevada
Mountains in California at high elevations (Essig, "Some Vacation Biters,"
Pan-Pac. Ent. 4:185-186, 1928).
Nonbiting species occur in some of the above genera as well as in Bolbomyza
Loew, Chrysopilus Macq., Dialysis Walker, Ptiolina Zett., and Spania Meigen.
Family MYDAIDlE (Leach 1815) (My-da'i-dre, from the Greek l.wMw, to be
damp, wet, dripping; because the adults frequent damp places). Mydas
Flies.
A small family of large flies which are characterized by the naked or only
slightly hairy bodies, wide head, four-segmented, clavate antennre with the
apical segment greatly elongated and enlarged; single ocellus, pulvilliform
empodia, and complicated wing venation. The family is chiefly tropical North
and South American, with nine Australian species. It contains some of the
largest members of the order including the Brazilian Mydas heros Perty which is
52 mm. long and has a wing expanse of 85 mm. Mydas luteipennis Loew of
Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico is a large species with brilliant orange wings
that somewhat mimics the tarantula hawk, Pepsis formosa Say, a very formidable
insect that inhabits the same area. Very little is known concerning the
biology of the members, but the known larvre and adults are predacious. The
important genera are Lampromydas Seguy, Mydas Fab., Nomoneura Bezzi, and
Phyllomydas Bigot.