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with 4 protuberances. Adults common in rains flitting from leaf to leaf.
About 2,000 species described, about 100 found in India, 10 in
Maharashtra. Clear descriptions not available.
See Ribetro S. (1923). Rec. Ind. Mus. 25:335 Corrections and
amplifications. Dolichopodidae.
Fam. Pipunculidae. Hovering flies with big mobile head. Frequent
flowers and moist herbage. Antennal tip sometimes beaklike. Larvae
parasitic on Homoptera, narrow at head, pupate in soil. Very few species
known, hardly 25 in India, one at Igatpuri. P. limpidipennis. Grey, bare,
head with silvery shimmer, abdomen greenish, a process at the end. L. 2
mm.
Fam. Syrphidae (Hoverflies). (PI. Ill, Fig. 44). Brightly coloured, fairly
big, generally bristleless. Hover over flowers on sunny days, almost
stationery or with jerky movements, quivering wings. Feed on nectar or
pollen. Larvae generally predaceous, feeding on aphids or other
Homoptera on open plants, some in decaying material, some others in
water. The first type flattish, triangular back, thin end, faint green or
brown. Second cylindrical with short respiratory tubes and 3 pairs of
fleshy protuberances on 11th segment. Water living ones rat tailed, body
terminating in a long flexible respiratory process. More than 3,000 species
known about 100 recorded in India, mostly in hills, about 10 in
Maharashtra.
S. balteatus. Orange, 3 stripes on thorax, yellow pubescence. Abdomen
with a black spot and line. L. 8-11, mm. Larvae feed on aphids, Coccids.
S. Indian. Black, 2 greyish stripes on thorax, spots on sides, yellow band
on abdomen. L. 6-7 mm. Feeds voraciously on aphids. E. taphicus.
Yellowish grey with brownish pubescence.
Thorax with 4 stripes, abdomen shining, wings with brownish stigma. L. 9
mm. M. crassus. Black, abdomen bare with yellowish spots. L. 12 mm. S.
rufifacies. Dul! black, hind femora orange an elongated spot on abdomen.
FAUNA 451