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Full grown larva cylindrical or slightly flattened, a small retractile head,
predaceous. About 2,000 species described more than 100 recorded in
India. Inhabit dry and unpromising areas. Adult flight rapid.
Hyperalonia spp. Black to reddish, bright yellow hair, bands on abdomen
in one species. L. 9-12 mm. Exoprosopa spp. mostly black with red and
yellow marking and hairs. L. 7-18 mm. Argyramoeba spp. Black with
yellow or white hair and spots and bands. L. 5-11 mm. A. afra. Blackish,
yellow and white scales, 2 white bands on abdomen, oblique band on
wings. L. 5-7 mm. B. wulpi. Black, yellow and black hairs, 2 white spots
on thorax. Abdomen with silvery white scales, (female small reddish
yellow hairs, 2 white spots on each side) Wings smoky brown. L. 4-5 mm.
G. argentifrons. Black, face whitish, white hair on sides of abdomen. L. 3-
4 mm.
Fam. Empidae. Small, 2-5 mm, rather bristly, distinct neck, small round
head, homy proboscis projecting. Legs spined or thickened. Grey,
yellowish or dark, thin long abdomen. Suck flower or insect juices. Dance
in air, inhabit moist situations. Larvae in earth or humus, predaceous,
transverse swellings on ventral side. About 2,600 species known, less than
100 recorded in India, mostly in the Himalayan region and hills, about 5 in
Maharashtra.
A. pallipes. Black, antennae and bristles yellow, wings yellowish at base.
L. 5 mm. E. variegata. Thorax brick red, blackish at base of wings,
abdomen yellowish with a black band. L. 2 mm.
Fam. Dolichopodidae. Small, thin with long legs, metallic green or blue,
short thick proboscis, antennae with two visible joints. Wings generally
clouded or with dark markings. Thorax flat, rows of bristles along the
back, inhabit generally moist situations. A few on sea shores. Predaceous
on soft bodied insects in adult stage. Some walk on water. Larvae in soil or
decaying material or aquatic. Some predaceous on Coleopterous larvae or
pupae. Elongate, cylindrical, swellings on abdomenal segments, last one
FAUNA 450