On the Early Stages of Neopachygaster Maculicornis (Hine) and Berkshiria Aldrichi (Malloch) (Diptera: Stratiomyiidae)1

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Abstract
Although the larva of the Stratiomyiidae have received some attention from entomologists in the past, details of the biology and larval descriptions are extremely sketchy, at least for the North American fauna. The larva of Neopachygaster maculicornis (Hine) has been described by both Malloch (1917) and by Greene (1917). The larva of Berkshiria aldrichi (Malloch) is herein described for the first time. In regard to the description of N. maculicornis, however, Malloch illustrates only the apex of the abdomen and presents but a brief description while Greene presents only a small dorsal view of the whole larva. Neither of the illustrations is particularly accurate nor detailed enough to permit identification. In fact, the descriptions and illustrations by Malloch and Greene of Neopachygaster and that by Peterson (1951) of Zabrachia sp. could apply equally well to either of those two genera or to Berkshiria. Johannsen (1922) did, however, indicate a character which permits the separation of Zabrachia from the other two genera although this is not cited by Peterson. For these reasons, the larva of N. maculicornis will be redescribed and illustrated in addition to the description of the previously unknown larva of B. aldrichi.

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