Bois”

Sn | vi 43

ae as

CONTENTS

Page

INTRODUCTION. «. . - .- -. Vv TABANIDE *

List or Phares .. . . . se vii CHIROMYZIDE .

. Lertipz* .

Errata ET CORRIGENDA. . . «| . viii XyLOPHAGIDA

CecIpoMYIIDE ...... 1 ACANTHOMERIDE *

MyYcETOPHILIDA * 1, 217 Mypaips&£ *

Bisionipz#* . . .. es. 2, 221 NEMESTRINIDE*.

Simutupa2*® . . . ee eee 5, 223 BoMBYLiIp& *.

BLEPHAROCERIDEH . .. ..-. 5 THEREVIDE *

Cunicipa*. 2... ee es 5, 224 Cyrripa* .

Cuironomipa* . . . « es - 6, 224 AsiLipz* .

PsycHODIDE . .. + es ee: 6 DoxticHoPoDID& fT

TipuLtipz * 6, 225 Empipat... -

RuypHipz#* . . . . 1. we «(20,229 PLaTEs.

Srratiomyip#* . . . . . . . 22, 280

* The Supplement to these families by Prof. S. W. Writisron.

+ The Supplement to this family by Prof. J. M. Atpricz.

‘+ The Supplement to this family by Prof. W. M. Waneter and Mr, A. L. Mexanper.

Page

43,

60, 264

63, 267

68, 267

73, 269

75, 269

162, 297

163, 297

167, 298:

218, 333

214, 366

INTRODUCTION.

Tue first portion of this Volume of Diptera, pp. 1-216, dealing with the Families

Cecidomyiide—Empide, was contributed by Baron C. R. Osten Sacken, and published

in 1886-87. The Supplement, pp. 217-376, is based mainly on the collections made

for us in Mexico, in 1888-89, by Mr. and Mrs. Herbert H. Smith. This large amount

of additional material has been worked out by well-known American Dipterists, the

Families Mycetophilidea—Asilide (there were no additional specimens of Cecidomyiide,

Blepharoceride, Chiromyzide, or Xylophagide) by Professor 8. W. Williston, the

Dolichopodide (of which we had scarcely any representatives previously) by Professor

J. M. Aldrich, and the Empide by Professor W. M. Wheeler and Mr. A. L. Melander.

On pages 377-378 a list of the species recorded from Mexico or Central America

since 1887, and not identified or mentioned in the Supplement, is given, some of

which may possibly prove to have been here described by Prof. Williston under other

names. Amongst these insects is a species of Psychodide, not a single representative

of this family having been received by us. The six coloured Plates have all been

prepared by Mr. Wilson of Cambridge, from drawings made by the late F. M. van

der Wulp, or (the Dolichopodidz) by Mr. J. KE. Collin of Newmarket. The index to

the three Volumes of this subject will be inserted at the end of the last one, when

completed.

Ep.

December 1901.

LIS! OF PLATES.

Plate. | Fig. Page. Plate. | Fig. Page.

Tabanus cribellum, 9 .......... . I. 10 | 52, 258

| MycrrorHitipa. chionostigma, Q ......+.-- - I. 11 | 54, 259

Plesiastina bifasciata, ¢ IV. I 217 pumiloides, 9 ..........--.5- IV. 21 260

| Platyura elegantula, 9 ............ IV. 2 218 || Dichelacera pulchra, 9 ...........- IV. 22 263

Ceroplatus bellulus, ¢ ............ IV. 3 219 ;

Lepripz.

Trrvripa. Atherix concinna, 9 «..........04- IV. 23 266

Epiphragma circinata, gd (wing) ... I, 1 9

Eriocera fasciata, d ......-0.ee eae IV. 4 226 A

brunneipes, ¢ ......... a. IV. 5 227 CANTHOMERID A.

Tanypremna opilio, d ............ I. 2 19 || Acanthomera championi, 9 ... 1 16 67

RayYPHIDA. BomBYLIID Zz.

Olbiogaster sp.?, ¢ «ws. ee ee ee eee IV. 6 229 || Exoprosopa caliptera (wing) ........ I | 12 81

iota (Wing) ..........e eee ee I. 13 | 82, 270

SmarroxsiDe. mane TT) og faa] 88

| Berismyia nigrofemorata, d........ IV. 7 230 || Hyperalonia pilatei, var. (wing) I. 16 90

Merosargus bulbifrons, 2 .......... IV. 8 235 dido (Wing) ....... eee eee ee I. 17 91

concinnatus, d...........6-. IV. 9* 235 latreillel, Sd ............005. I. 18 93

Analcocerus hortulanus, 9 ........ IV. 10 238 Oe II. 1 93

Campeprosopa longicornis T, 9 ...... IV. 11 239 || Stonyx clotho (wing)............-. IT. 2| 95, 274

Hermetia comstocki .............. I. 3 28 clelia (wing &c.) .......-...-. IT. 3 95

crabro we ee eee ee eee I 4 29 || —— melia, Q ...... eee ee ee eee V. 1 274

—— pterocausta ...............- I. 5 33 1) 0: as V. 2 274

[ concinna, 2] ..........-.6. IV. 12 241 || Isopenthes jaennickeana (wing) ..| IL 4 97

p COTTA ee eee IV. 13 242 || Argyramosba seriepunctata (wing) IT. 5 103

Cyphomyia lasiophthalma, d_ ...... IV. 15 244 daphne (wing) .... ....-.... II. 6 104

Euparyphus elongatulust, Q ...... IV. 14 249 | Lepidanthrax disjuncta (wing)...... IT. 7 | 108, 276

Acanthina inornata, 9 ............ IV. 17 249 proboscidea (wing) .......... I, 8 | 109, 276

' Lophoteles pallidipennis§, @ ...... IV. | 16 250 angulus, ¢ (wing) .......... IL. 9 11

Myxosargus scutellatus, Q ........ IV. 18 251 || —— » Var, (WING)... 2... eee II. 10 iii

Cynipimorpha minuta, d .......... IV. 19 252 || Anthrax arethusa ............---- II. 11 | 116, 277

——— pluricella, d........ cece eee a 3 277

|| ——— poecilogaster ...........0505- f. 12 118

TapaniDz. edititia (wing) ........ee. II. | 13 | 119, 278

| Chrysops altivagus, f ............ I. 6 45 selene .... ec cee ee eee ees If. 14 122

. ———, Dee een cee eee I. 7 45 galathea (wing) ..........-. II. 15 123

neglectus, Q.....-.. eee eee IV. 20 256 |} ——- cuniculus .............-. II. 16 125

Tabanus ebrius, 9 (wing &.) ...... I. 8 | 49,258 16: >. Il. 17 127 |

— bifenestratus, 2 (wing &c.).... I. 9 | 52,258 | ——lepidota, d ........--. ee eee Il. 18 | 180, 281

* Wrongly numbered 19 at the bottom of the Plate.

T Campeprosoma longicornis on the Plate.

t Euparyphus elegantulus on the Plate.

§ Hophoteles pallidipennis on the Plate.

viii LIST OF PLATES.

Plate. | Fig Page. | Plate. | Fig.

Anthrax eumenes (wing) .......... IT. 19 131 || Deromyia (Diogmites) tau, 2 ...... III. 11

-—— seylla (wing).............. ..| ITIL. 1 132 || Saropogon pulcherrima, ¢.......... VI.

orbitalis, ¢ 1.0... 2.000. weep OW, 4 281 || Taracticus nigrimystaceus, 9 ...... ~Y. 23

—— pleuralis, 9 ........ re V. 5 282 || Lastaurus anthracinus, ¢....... ..-{| IID. 10

livia, Se. cece cece eee eee III. 2 189 || Cophura sodalis, 2 ............ .| I | 18

agrippina, 9.............06- III. 3 139 pulchella, 2 ......... Lee eeee V. 24

Anisotamia fasciata, 9 ............ v. 6 284 || Atonia brevistylata, Q ............ VI.

Apheebantus cyclops, d ......... | ILD. 4 146 |) Aphestia mexicana, Q ...... vee VI.

Bombylius io, dw... eee eee V. 7 285 || Laphria ichneumon, 9 ............ III.

dolorosus, ¢ ....... ween eee Vv. 8 286 || Nusa sexpunctata, d..........--. VI. :

Pantarbes pusio, 6 6... eee eee Ill. | 15 153 || Mallophora fautrix, 2 ....... woeeef TID 1

Eclimus (@) auripilus .............. IIT. 5 161 || Erax splendens, Sg ...... veces VI. ;

8; Qo vee eee e eee V. 9 295 dolichogaster, ¢ ............, WIL

Sphenoidoptera varipennis, Q i.e... V. 10 296 || Proctacanthus exquisitus, Q........ Il. 1

Amphicosmus cincturus, gd ........ V. 11 296 :

DoticHoPpopipz.

Crrtip2. Polymedon argentatus, 3 (wing) - VI.

Ocnwa grossa ............... ....e{ IID. 7 163 nimius, ¢* ...... veceeeeeee] > WIE

Philopota lugubris, ¢ ......... ae Vv. 12 297 , @ (bead) ............} VI.

Hercostomus flavipes, f (wing)......| VI. io

Pelastoneurus hamatus, ¢ (wing&c.)..| VI. :

ASILID 2. bigeminatus, ¢ (wing)........| VWI. | 18

Leptogaster triungulata, ¢ ........ V. 13 299 punctipennis+, d (wing)......| VI. | 14

macropygialis, j ........ Vv. 14 301 || Paraclius humeralis, ¢ (abdomen) ..| VI. 10

| Dicranus jaliscoensis, ¢ — Leena V. 15 302 venustus, ¢ (wing) ..........{ VI. 11

' Ospriocerus diversus, 9 ........ .. V. 16 303 || Sarcionus flavicoxa t, ¢ (wing &.)..| VI. 15

Holopogon pulcher, ¢ ............] V. 18 306 || Phylarchus tripartitus, 2 (wing)....| VI. 16

violaceus, 9 eee e eae veel OV, 17 306 || Syntormon quadratus, ¢ (wing &c.) || VI. | 18

.Townsendia minuta, g ............ Vv. 19 307 || Parasyntormon wheeleri, ¢ (antenna)| VI. 19 -

Psilocurus caudatus, g............ Vv. 20° 308 || Sympyenus angustipennis, J (wing) « VI. 20

‘Damalis occidentalis, g............ Vv. 21 309 coxalis, G ......e.e eee . VI. 21

Triclis argentifacies, ¢ ............ V. 22 310 || Psilopus ciliipes, 3 (middle leg) . VI. i} 224

Deromyia (Diogmites) sallei, g .....| IIT. 8 | 174,311 || ——— nobilissimus, ¢ ............{ VWI 23 |

)Memnon ............ ITI. 9 174 | Gnamptopsilopus ciliipennis, 3 (wing)} VI. 24 |

* Incorrectly marked ¢ on the Plate. ~ Pecilobothrus fluvicoxa on the Plate.

+ Pelastoneurus variegatus on the Plate.

ERRATA ET CORRIGENDA.

Page Line

5 Erase the whole of line 8.

22 24 After Xylomyia insert Rondani,

41 32 for stramineus read stamineus.

BIOLOGIA CENTRALI-AMERICANA. |

ZOOLOGIA. |

Class INSECTA.

Order DIPTERA.

Fam. CECIDOMYIDA.

ASPHONDYLIA.

Asphondylia, Loew, Dipt. Beitr. iv. p. 21 (1850).

A single species of this genus is the only member of the family Cecidomyide as yet

described from within our borders.

1. Asphondylia monacha.

Asphondylia monacha, O. Sacken, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. ii. p. 300 (1869), iii. p. 347°.

Hab. Nort America, Brooklyn, L. I.1W—Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

A single specimen is in Mr. Morrison’s collection. I used to breed this species from

galls of Solidago altissima in the State of New York.

Fam. MYCETOPHILIDA.

SCIARA.

Sciara, Meigen, in Ill. Mag. f. Insektenk. ii. p. 263 (1803).

1. Seiara americana.

Sciara americana, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 68; Schiner, Reise d. Novara, Zool. iii.

Abth. i. p. 11.

Hab. Guatema.a, Zapote, Capetillo (Champion); Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt); Costa

Rica, Irazu (fogers).—Co.tomBia; Braziu.

A dozen specimens from the above Central-American localities agree quite well with

Wiedemann’s description as completed by Schiner, who may be right in supposing that

S. atra, Macq., S. cognata and S. precipua, Walk., all refer to the same species.

~S. cognata, Walk., the type of which I examined in the British Museum, struck me as

the same. It seems to be a common species in Central and South America. 8. atra,

Bell., which I have compared, is identical with my S. americana. Arribalzaga includes

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., July 1886. b

2 DIPTERA.

S. atra, Macq., amongst the species occurring in the Argentine Republic, but he

considers it distinct from S. americana (cf. Arrib. Catalogo &c. p. 118).

2. Sciara gigantea. |

Sciara gigantea, Macq. Dipt. Ex. Suppl. i. p. 19.

Hab. Guatemata, San Juan in Vera Paz (Champion) ; Costa Rica, Irazu (Rogers).

The two Irazu specimens were taken in copula.

Besides these two species, only four Mycetophilide have been recorded from Mexico,

and none from other parts of Central America :—

Leja punctata, Bellardi, Saggio &c. Append. fig. 3.

Sctophila popocatepetli, Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 11.

Sciara unicolor, Say, Compl. Wr. i. p. 251.

rotundipennis, (Macq. ?) Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 13.

Fam. BIBIONIDA.

PLECIA.

Plecia, Wiedemann, Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 72 (1828).

1. Plecia plagiata.

Plecia plagiata, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 75; Schiner, Reise d. Novara, Zool. iii. Abth.

1. p. 22.

Plecia heteroptera, Macq. Dipt. Ex. Suppl. i. p. 21, t. 2. £.10, 2 (apud Schiner).

Plecia vittata, Bellardi, Saggio &c. App. 7, f.4, $ (apud Schiner).

Hab. Guatemata, San Gerénimo (Champion); Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson) ;

Panama, Bugaba (Champion).—CoLomBIA.

That the specimens before me belong to P. vittata, Bellardi, seems certain; that

P. plagiata, Wiedem., is the same as P. heteroptera, Macq., rests on the authority of

Schiner, who compared an author’s type of P. heteroptera witb the type in Wiedemann’s

collection. In the short description of P. heteroptera Macquart says :—“ like plagiata ;

second posterior cell closed.” The latter is an inaccuracy of expression; Macquart

meant the marginal cell. P. similis, Rondani (Ann. Bol. 1850), may perhaps likewise.

belong here.—Eleven specimens, including both sexes.

2. Plecia rostellata.

Plecia rostellata, Loew, Berl. ent. Zeit. 1858, p. 109, t. 1. f. 11 (wing).

Plecia rostrata, Bellardi, Saggio &c.1i. p. 15 [apud Schiner, Reise d. Novara, Zool. iii. Abth. i.

p- 21]".

Hab. Mexico!; Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson).

The synonymy adopted by Schiner seems very probable; he is right in observing that

PLECIA.—BIBIO. 3

the black middle line of the scutellum is not always present, and that the pale reddish

colour at the base of the antenne is variable in its extent. A male and two females.

3. Plecia ruficollis.

Plecia ruficollis, (Fabr.) Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 72; Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 15°.

Hab. Nort America, Florida }.—Mexico !.—Sovutn AMeErica!.

The specimens thus named in Prof. Bellardi’s collection are very like P. rostellata,

but the rostrum is short, the antenne altogether black, &c., in conformity with the

description ; the wings of the female are much narrower and smaller, and the branch of

the third vein much less oblique than in P. rostrata, Bell.

4. Plecia bicolor.

Plecia bicolor, Bellardi, Saggio &c. 1. p. 16°.

Hab. Mexico}, Presidio (Forrer).

I refer to this species two female specimens from Presidio. The mesonotum is red,

the collar blackish, the rostrum long, &c. I have not compared them with the types.

BIBIO.

Bibio, Geoffroy, Hist. Nat. des Ins. ii. p. 571 (1762).

1. Bibio 2

Hab. Costa Rica, Irazu 6000 to 7000 feet (Rogers).

Asingle female. Itagrees with B. dubius, Bellardi, Saggio &c. p. 18 (Mexico), except

the words “stigmate fusco,” the stigma being hardly darker. The types in Prof.

Bellardi’s collection, four females, are difficult to examine under the dust and mould

that cover them; three of the specimens have the wings darker than mine.

2. Bibio ——?

Hab. Costa Rica, Irazu (Rogers).

A single female. It agrees with B. superfluus, Schiner, Reise d. Novara, Zool. ii.

Abth. i. p. 20 (Colombia, South America), except that the anterior cross-vein is shorter

than the handle of the cubital fork (about two thirds of it); the metanotum is but

little darker than the rest of the thorax. It is strange that Schiner should have

suggested its possible identity with B. thoracicus, Say, as Say distinctly says that “ the

collar, scutel, and metathorax are black.”

3. Bibio —— ?

Hab. Costa Rica, Irazu (Rogers).

A single male. It is altogether black, but may nevertheless belong to the preceding

species, |

4 DIPTERA.

4, Bibio albipennis.

Bibio albipennis, Say, Compl. Writings, ii. p. 69; Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 80.

Hab. Nortu America, Atlantic States 1—MeExico, Northern Sonora (JJorrison).

I am in doubt whether six males and two females from Northern Sonora belong to

this species or to Bibio hirtus, Loew, Centur. v. 2 (California). I have before me

several male specimens from Yosemite valley, the long, shaggy hairs of which agree ©

with Loew’s description of B. hirtus, but much less with the specimens from Sonora.

The wings of the latter are distinctly greyish, while Loew says of B. hirtus, 2, “ale

non cineree.” For this reason I prefer to identify the specimens from Sonora with

B. albipennis. :

5. Bibio xanthopus.

Bibio xanthopus, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 80°.

Hab. Norta America, Atlantic States 1—Merxico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

A single male. As I have no specimens from the Atlantic States before me, | am

not quite certain about the identification.

DILOPHUS.

Dilophus, Meigen, in Illiger’s Magaz. ii. p. 264 (1803).

1. Dilophus melanarius.

Dilophus melanarius, v. d. Wulp, Tijdschr. &. xxiv. p. 146 -

Hab. Mexico}.

Van der Wulp’s specimens were from Mexico. Four females from Irazu, Rio Sucio,

and Cache in Costa Rica (Rogers) agree with the above-quoted description; the identi-

fication, however, of black Dilophi is always difficult and subject to doubt. :

2. Dilophus —— ?

Hab. Nicaraeua, Chontales (Janson).

Two specimens from the above locality differ from the preceding species in the head

being still longer, and the wings dark yellowish-brown, less blackish. Other differences

may perhaps be discovered in better preserved specimens.

The following other Bibionide from Mexico have been recorded (there are none —

from other parts of Central America) :— :

Bibio canadensis, (Macq. ?) Bellardi, Saggio &c. i, p. 18.

criorrhinus, Bellardi, 1. c. i. p. 17.

— fuligineus, Bellardi, 1. c. i. p. 19.

SIMULIUM.—CULEX. 5

Bibio piceus, Bellardi, 1. c. i. p. 17.

dubius, Bellardi, 1. c. i. p. 18.

Dilophus orbatus, (Say) Bellardi, 1. c. i. p. 19.

maculatus, Bellardi, 1. c. i. p. 19, t. i. f. 5.

—— minutus, Bellardi, 1. c. App. p. 7.

stygius, Say, Compl. Wr. ii. p. 352.

Plecia nigerrima, Bellardi, 1. c. i. p. 14.

heros, Say, Compl. Wy. ii. p. 352 (Penthetria).

ruficollis, (Fabr., Wiedem., &c.) Bellardi, 1. c. i. p. 16.

Fam. SIMULIDZ.

SIMULIUM.

Simulium, Latreille, Hist. Natur. des Crust. et des Ins. i. (1802).

The following are the only species of this group described from within our boun-

daries; they are all from Mexico :—

Simulium cinereum et mexicanum, Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. pp. 18, 14; and

Append. p. 7.

ochraceum, Walker, Trans. Ent. Soc. n. ser. v. p. 332.

Fam. BLEPHAROCERIDA.

PALTOSTOMA.

Paitostoma, Schiner, Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, 1866, p. 931.

1. Paltostoma superbiens.

Paltostoma superbiens, Schiner, Reise d. Novara, Zool. iii. Abth. i. p. 28, t. 2. fig. 4°.

Hab. t Muxico (coll. Bellardi).—Sovurn AMERIca !.

I am not quite sure of the identity of the Mexican specimens, which I saw in Turin,

with those from South America. Compare Osten Sacken, Catal. Dipt. N. Am. 1878,

p. 17.

Fam. CULICIDA.

CULEX.

Culer, Linnzus, Fauna Suecica (1735).

1. Culex annulatus.

Culex annulatus, (Fabr.) Meigen, Syst. Beschr. eur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 4; O. Sacken, Catal. Dipt.

N. Am. 1878, p. 18%.

6 DIPTERA.

Hab. Nortu-western Norru-America!.—Mexico, Ciudad in Durango 8100 feet

(Forrer).—EvRore.

A single female specimen from Ciudad agrees very well with this species.

MEGARRHINA.

Megarhinus, Rob. Desvoidy, Essai &c. in the Mém. de la Soc. d’ Hist. Nat. de Paris, iii. p. 412

(1827).

Megarrhina, Macquart and later authors.

1. Megarrhina —— ?

Hab. Panama, San Miguel in the Pearl Islands (Champion).

Two males. The fourth joint of the hind tarsi is white, except at the tip.

Culicide previously described from Mexico (there are none from Central America) :—

Culex bigot, Beliardi, Saggio &c. App. 3, f. 1.

—— mexicanus, Bellardi, 1. c. 1. p. 5.

—— posticatus, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. pp. 9, 16.

Families CHIRONOMIDA and PSYCHODIDZ.

I do not find any insects of these families recorded from Central America, nor are there

any in the collections before me.

Fam. TIPULIDE.

TEUCHOLABIS.

Teucholabis, O. Sacken, Proc. Acad. Phil. 1859, p. 222; id. Monogr. &c. iv. p. 129 (1868).

1. Teucholabis molesta, sp. n.,¢.

Black, shining, the collar, scutellum, and a few thoracic spots bright yellow; abdomen with yellowish cross-

bands; wings hyaline.

Length 5 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Orizaba (Sumichrast).

Thorax shining black ; collar, the humeral and prescutellar callosities, the scutellum,

a triangular spot in the middle of the thoracic suture, another spot on the pleura above

the middle and the hind coxe, and a longitudinal stripe in the middle of the sternum

between the coxe, yellow; halteres with a yellow knob, the stem brownish. Abdomen

blackish above, with yellow cross-bands; on the ventral side these cross-bands are

broader; male forceps black. Head black; palpi and antenne dark brown, the

underside of the scapus of the latter a little paler. Legs brownish-yellow ; knees, the

TEUCHOLABIS. 7

the tips of tibie and the tarsi, infuscated. Wings hyaline, the veins brown; stigma

small, brown. Venation like Monogr. &c. iv. tab. 1. f.12; only the prefurca a little

more arcuate ; the remainder of the second vein more straight, the marginal cross-vein

in a line with the other central cross-veins.

Four males in Prof. Bellardi’s collection.

The specimens are not in good condition, and for this reason the description is not so

complete as it should be, especially as regards the head, abdomen, and pleure.

N.B.—Limnobia morionelia, Schiner, Reise d. Novara, Zool. iii. Abth. i. p. 47 (South

America), is a Teucholabis; it may perhaps be the same species as 7’, molesta.

2. Teucholabis gracilis, sp. n.,¢.

Slender, the rostrum prolonged ; thorax yellowish-red, with three confluent black stripes; scutellum, metanotum,

and abdomen black, with a strong metallic violet-blue reflection ; abdominal incisures reddish-yellow ; wings

hyaline.

Length 9-10 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Orizaba (Sumichrast).

Antenne and palpi brown; rostrum and front black with a violet reflection ; posterior

and inferior part of the head reddish (the heads of both specimens are injured). Thorax

reddish-yellow ; three confluent black stripes occupy nearly the whole mesonotum, the

intermediate one extends over the collar, the lateral ones reach posteriorly beyond

the thoracic suture, towards the scntellum, leaving a reddish interval between them ;

metanotum and scutellum metallic black, with a violet reflection; halteres brown.

Abdomen metallic black, with violet reflections; incisures of the segments reddish-

yellow ; the same reddish colour appears on the ventral side, near the base of the

abdomen, and also on the segments preceding the male forceps, the latter black and

hairy. Legs brown; coxe and base of the femora reddish-yellow. Wings hyaline,

rather narrow, with very dark veins; stigma small, brown, not longer than broad,

bisected by the marginal cross-vein; central cross-veins and origin of second vein

slightly clouded with brown. ‘The venation differs somewhat from that of 7. complexa

figured by me in Monogr. &c. iv. tab. 1. f.12; the proximal ends of the submarginal and

discal cells are on the same line, but the small cross-vein between them is a little nearer

the apex, so that the first posterior cell is shorter; the great cross-vein is removed from

the discal cell to a distance equal to its own length.

Two males in Prof. Bellardi’s collection in Turin.

This is the form of Teucholabis alluded to by me in Monogr. &c. iv. p. 132, line 6

from top.—The species may perhaps be the same as 7. (Rhamphidia) chalybeiventris,

Loew, Wien. entom. Monatschr. 1861, p. 33 (Cuba); but the thorax of the latter is

described simply as “ melleus, sub-badius,” while 7. gracilis has the scutellum and meta-

notum black; the abdomen also is much darker.

8 DIPTERA.

PARATROPESA.

Paratropesa, Schiner, Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, xvi. p. 932 (1866) ; Reise d. Novara, Zool. itt.

Abth. i. p. 44, t. 2. f. 2.

1. Paratropesa preeusta, sp. n.,3 2.

Head and thorax reddish-yellow, the latter with three dark stripes; wings yellowish, with a brown, incomplete

cross-band in the middle, the apex pale brown. .

Length of the body, 8-9 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Jalapa (Bilimek), Orizaba (Sumichrast).

Head reddish-yellow; palpi and the flagellum of the antenne brownish. Thorax

reddish-yellow, with three black stripes; the intermediate one not encroaching upon

the collar anteriorly, the lateral ones connected in front of the scutellum (in one of the

specimens the stripes are reddish-brown); scutellum yellow; metathorax black in the

middle, yellow on the sides; the greater part of the pleurge and pectus black; stem of

the halteres brownish, the knob yellow. Front coxe and femora reddish-yellow, except

the distal third of the latter, which is black; front tibie and tarsi brownish, darker

towards their tips; middle legs (including the coxe) reddish-ferruginous ; tarsi brown,

except the basal joint, which is more reddish; hind coxe black; hind femora and

tibie reddish-ferruginous; hind tarsi dark brown. Abdomen in the male black at the

base, as far as the middle of the second segment, the remainder reddish-yellow, with a

black cross-band on each segment, the genitals black; in the female the black prevails

over the yellow so much that the abdomen may be described as black, with yellow hind

margins to the segments, the ovipositor is ferruginous. Wings tinged with yellow; a

brown cross-band between the tip of the first longitudinal vein and the great cross-vein,

a faint cloud connecting it with the hind margin; a pale brown shadow occupies the tip

of the wing: it is bounded by the perpendicular branch of the second vein, the cross-

veins at the end of the discal cell, and the last of the three veins issuing from that

cell. A male and a female in the Museum in Vienna; a male in Bellardi’s collection.

LIMNOPHILA.

Limnophila, Macquart, Hist. Nat. Dipt. i. 1884; O. Sacken, Proc. Acad. Phil. 1859, p. 231;

Monogr. &c. iv. p. 196.

1. Limnophila luteipennis.

Limnophila luteipennis, O. Sacken, Monogr. &c. iv. p. 217, t. 2. f. 10, & t. 4. f. 25°.

Hab. Unitep States}, from Canada to California.—Mexico, Northern Sonora

(Morrison).

2. Limnophila tenuipes.

Limnophila tenuipes, (Say) O. Sacken, Monogr. &c. iv. p. 2101.

Hab. Unitep States! and Canaba, common.—Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

A single male.

EPIPHRAGMA. 9

EPIPHRAGMA.

Epiphragma, O. Sacken, Proc. Acad. Phil. 1859, p. 288; Monogr. &c. iv. p. 193.

1. Epiphragma circinata, sp.n., ¢. (Tab. I. fig. 1, wing.)

Antenne of the male with elongated, almost linear, joints to the flagellum, clothed with a short and very dense

microscopic pubescence ; ocellar spots on the wings like those of the European £. picta, only the spotless

intervals existing in the latter are much smaller here.

Length (¢ ) 11-12 millim.

Hab. Costa Rica, Irazu 6000 to 7000 feet (Rogers).

Antenne brown, the first joint of the flagellum yellow; proportionally longer than

in the normal species of the genus; bent backwards they would reach the end of the

second abdominal segment ; joints of the flagellum, except the first, long, linear, almost

imperceptibly incrassate at the base, where a few verticillate hairs are inserted; the

dense, erect, microscopic pubescence begins with the second joint of the flagellum (it is

very probable, from analogy, that in the female the antenne are shorter, and without

microscopic pubescence). Head, including the rostrum and palpi, brown. Front very

narrow (only one third as wide as in E. picta, 3). Collar brown in front, brownish-

yellow posteriorly; mesonotum reddish-brown, with a dark brown middle stripe

expanding into a triangle in front; its sides, between the suture and the humerus,

brown; metanotum and pleure brown, mixed with yellowish, the latter distinctly

yellowish sericeous between the front and middle coxe; halteres rather long, brown,

the tip of the knob pale. Abdomen linear (narrower than in £. picta), brown, brownish-

yellow at the base; hind margins of the segments yellowish, a yellowish transverse line

nearly in the middle of each segment (not all the segments show it distinctly). Coxe

yellow, the extreme base darker (the rest of the legs broken). Wings greyish, sub-.

hyaline, with a dense pale brown pattern, the ocelli of which are arranged very much

like those of E. picta; only the pupils of the ocelli on the distal half of the wing are

larger, and there is more brown around the ocellus having the base of the second

posterior cell for its centre, especially between it and the costa. Head, thorax, and

abdomen much less hairy than in £. picta.

A single male.

N.B.—The presence of the supernumerary subcostal cross-vein and the coloration of

the wings prove that this is an Epiphragma; the ventral segment, preceding the male

forceps, is fornicate, just as it is in EL. picta. But this species differs from the normal

ones in the structure of the male antenne, which are longer, with more linear joints,

and with a microscopic pubescence. The venation is almost exactly like that of

E. picta (cf. Curtis, Brit. Entom., Dipt. t. 50, Lomn. ocellaris). In £. solatrix

(O. Sack. Monogr. N. Am. Dipt. iv. t. 2. £8) the petiole of the first submarginal

cell is much shorter. The “transverse impressed line” on the abdominal segments

mentioned by me among the characters of the genus (/. c. p. 194) is represented here

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., Judy 1886. . Cc

10 DIPTERA.

by the yellow lines described above; I do not see that they are interrupted in the

middle.

ERIOCERA.

Lt. fb,

Eriocera, Macquart, Dipt. Exoteie dey 4 (1838) ; O. Sacken, Proc. Acad. Phil. 1859, p. 243 ;

Monogr. &c. iv. p. 244. :

Analytical Table of the Eriocere from Mexico and Central America. |

Wings unicolorous (without differently coloured bands or spots).

Abdomen yellow, with a black band before the tip.

Head black . . . . 1 we ee ee ee ee ee 1 mesovantha, sp. n.

Head yellow . Loe ee .

Prevailing colour of the abdomen black.

Thorax red above.

2. zonata, sp. 0D.

Frontal tubercle red; scutellum black. . . . . . . 8. hemorrhoa, sp. n.

Frontal tubercle black; scutellum red. . . . . . . 4 erythrea, sp. n.

Thorax black.

Frontal tubercle red. . . . . . - ee ee es) 65 gracilis, sp. n.

Frontal tubercle black . . . . . . . . . . . . 6. pretiosa, sp. n.

Thorax metallic blue . . . . . . . eee ee ee 0. dessepsi, sp. n.

1. Eriocera mesoxantha, sp.n., ¢.

Head black; thorax black above, except the interval between the suture and collar, which is red, with a dark

longitudinal line; abdomen yellow, segments 6 and 7 black ; wings pale brownish.

Length 15 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Orizaba (Sumichrast).

Head black; antenne brownish ; frontal tubercle very little prominent. ‘Thorax

partly black, partly yellowish-red ; the latter colour occupies the interval between the

suture and the collar, but is interrupted in the middle by a longitudinal dark line;

the lower part of the pleure, the pectus, and the coxe are also yellow; halteres with

brown knobs. Abdomen yellow; extreme base and segments 6 and 7 black (the tip of |

the abdomen is damaged by mould, and thus the colour of the genitals is not visible).

Legs (only the right middle leg is attached) black, the extreme base of the femora yellow.

Wings of a uniform pale brownish tinge ; a small stigmatic spot a little darker brown ;

tip of the auxiliary vein opposite the proximal end of the first submarginal cell; there _ 2

are four posterior cells.

A single male (coll. Bellardt).

2. Eriocera zonata, sp.n.,3 ¢.

Prevailing colour yellow; thorax with three black stripes ; abdomen with a black cross-band before the tip;

wings pale brownish-yellow.

Length: ¢, about 15 millim.; 9, about 22 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Orizaba (Sumichrast).

ERIOCERA. | 11

Head, including the rostrum and antenne, yellow; palpi brown. Besides the three

black stripes on the thorax there are some blackish and brownish marks on the pleure.

Knobs of the halteres brown, the stem yellow. The posterior half of the first abdominal

segment is black; in the male the posterior half of segment 5 and the whole of segments

6 and 7 are also black, in the female the posterior half of segment 5 and segment 6 only ;

the rest of the abdomen, and the genitals, yellow. Legs yellow, the tips of the femora

black ; tips of the tibie, and the tarsi entirely, brown. Wings with a pale yellowish-

brown tinge, more yellowish along the costa; the tip of the auxiliary vein does not

reach much beyond the proximal end of the second posterior cell; this tip is incurved

towards the first vein ; there are four posterior cells; the great cross-vein anterior to the

middle of the discal cell.

A male and a female (coll. Bellardi).

N.B.—This description was made several years ago, and I have not now the types

before me. A female specimen from Zapote, Guatemala (Champion), agrees with it ;

but the four basal joints of the antenne only are yellow, the rest black. The stout

auxiliary vein shows the same peculiar course; it seems to end in the first vein, but

has a delicate cross-vein at the tip, connecting it with the costa. Two specimens from

Irazu, Costa Rica (Rogers), show the same characters, but in one of them the whole

abdomen is blackish (in the other specimen it is broken).

3. Eriocera hemorrhoa, sp. n., 3 2.

Black, except the frontal tubercle, the part of the thoracic dorsum anterior to the suture, and the tip of the

abdomen, which are orange; wings fuliginous.

Length: ¢, 14-17 millim.; 9, 17-20 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Orizaba (Sumichrast).

There is but little to be added to the diagnosis:—The orange colour on the thorax

occupies the whole of the space between the suture and the collar. The abdomen is

velvety-black, but the anterior half of each segment, above, is bluish-black and shining ;

in the male the third and fourth segments show traces of reddish-yellow at the base ; the

last segment is orange. Halteres and legs black. The tip of the auxiliary vein is

nearly opposite the proximal end of the first submarginal cell; the great cross-vein

anterior to the middle of the discal cell, sometimes at its base; there are four posterior

cells. |

Three males and as many females (coll. Bellardi). A female in M. Bigot’s

collection. |

4, Eriocera erythrea, sp.n., ¢ @.

Black, the thoracic dorsum, including the scutellum, orange ; wings faliginous.

Length: g, 13 millim.; 9, 17 millim.

Had. Guatemata, San Gerdénimo (Champion).

Head, including the antenne and palpi, black; front slightly greyish-pruinose. Thorax

12 DIPTERA.

orange-coloured above, including the scutellum; metanotum brown, with a faint

reddish line in the middle; pleure blackish-brown, except the portion in front of the

root of the wings, which is reddish; halteres and legs brownish-black. Abdomen

black, with a bluish metallic reflection ; genitals black. Wings brown, darker along

the costa; tip of the auxiliary vein nearly opposite the proximal end of the first sub-

marginal cell ; great cross-vein in one specimen opposite the middle of the discal cell,

in the other nearer its end; there are four posterior cells.

A male and a female.

5. Eriocera gracilis, sp. n., 3. |

Rather slender, black ; frontal tubercle orange ; base of the abdominal segments 3-5 reddish; wings pale fuligi-

nous; costa darker.

Length 15-16 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Orizaba (Sumichrast).

The thorax is somewhat hoary on the sides, but faintly shining on the dorsum ;

abdomen more slender than in other Eriocer@, shining, with bluish reflections, the posterior

half of segments 1-4 somewhat opaque, the basal half of segments 3-5 yellowish-red ;

halteres and legs black. Wings pale fuliginous, darker along the costa; the tip of the

auxiliary vein does not quite reach the first submarginal cell; the great cross-vein

anterior to the middle of the discal cell ; there are four posterior cells.

A male (coll. Bellardt).

N.B.—It may be that the yellowish-red colour at the base of some of the abdominal

segments does not exist in the female; such, at least, is the case in EL. hemorrhoa.

6. Eriocera pretiosa, sp. n., 3.

Altogether black, mostly opaque, the abdomen more shining ; wings brownish, darker along the costa.

Length 12 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Orizaba (Sumichrast).

Head altogether black, opaque; front bituberculate, the ordinary tubercle being

bisected by a deep incision in the middle. On the thorax three stripes are visible,

which are deeper black and more opaque than the rest of the surface; their intervals,

especially backwards, are slightly clothed with a yellowish-brown pollen ; pleure with

a similar, very fine, pollen; halteres brown. Abdomen black, moderately shining,

with slight bluish reflections; the posterior half of the intermediate segments each with

a more opaque cross-band of ill-defined outline, not touching the hinder margin.

Legs black. Wings brownish, darker along the costa; stigma not darker than the

rest; the tip of the auxiliary vein is nearly opposite the middle of the distance between

the distal ends of the two submarginal cells; there are four posterior cells.

A single male (coll. Bellardt).

ERIOCERA.—TIPULA. 13

N.B.—This species cannot be E. nigra, Walk., because the latter has some yellow at

the base of the wings. . tenebrosa, Walk., from South America, is too badly described

for recognition. -

7. Eriocera lessepsi, sp. n.,¢ .

Metallic blue ; head orange-red ; wings unicolorous, brown.

Length 10-12 millim.

- Hab. PANAMA.

Front, vertex, and first joint of the antenne orange-red ; the latter has a brown line

on the side; antenne (except the first joint) black, if bent backwards they would reach

the root of the wings; underside of the head brownish. Thorax and coxe deep

metallic blue ; abdomen velvety-black, the posterior margins of the segments metallic

blue; the forceps of the male reddish-brown. Wings uniformly brown; legs black,

with slight metallic reflections ; there are four posterior cells; the venation is the same as

in E. hemorrhoa, only the petiole of the fork which includes the first submarginal cell

is not more than half as long as that cell.

A single male (coll. Bigot).

N.B.—The described specimen is in bad condition, and, especially the thoracic dorsum,

is partly concealed under a patch of dust; nevertheless there will be no difficulty in

recognizing the species.

TIPULA.

Tipula, Linnzus, Syst. Nat. (1735).

1. Tipula monilifera (2).

Tipula monilifera, Loew, Linn. Entom. v. p. 404, t. 2. ff. 26, 27°.

Hab. Costa Rica, Irazu (Rogers).—Brazi.!.

I refer, with doubt, to this species a male and a female from Irazu, Costa Rica

(Rogers). They agree with Dr. Loew’s species from Brazil in the unusual structure of

the antennee and, very nearly, in the colouring of the body and wings; but, besides small

discrepancies in the coloration of the body, the wings do not show the longitudinal

hyaline band running from the discal cell towards the apex, as figured by Loew;

instead of it, there is only a small hyaline spot at the distal end of the first posterior

cell, and another at the proximal end of the second.

A third specimen from the same locality, a male, has the coloration of the wings

still more different, although the body seems to be the same. We have here either

several closely conflicting species or else a very variable one.

The specimens are not well preserved enough to make it worth while to draw up a

more detailed description. In the Berlin Museum I have seen specimens of the same

group determined as 7’. spilota, Wiedem. (Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. p. 553, 2; Brazil).

14 DIPTERA.

2. Tipula virgo, sp.n.,¢ ¢. |

Of the same group as the European 7. oleracea (‘‘ Tipulee costate,” Schummel)—that is, with infuscated costal

cells and a limpid stripe behind them, along the basal and marginal cells to the apex ; colour grey, shape

much more slender than 7’. oleracea; the same structure of the male forceps.

Length: ¢,12 millim.; 9,13 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Ciudad in Durango 8100 feet (Forrer).

Head and rostrum light grey; front with a brownish shade, in the middle of which

there is an indistinct brown line extending to the vertex; palpi black. Antenne black,

bent backwards they would reach (in the male) about the middle of the second abdo-

minal segment; joints of the flagellum, beginning with the second, binodate, the

distal node being a little larger ; in the female they would hardly reach the end of the —

thorax, and the nodes of the flagellum are less marked. The portion of the mesonotum

occupied by the usual stripes is pale brownish, the outline of the stripes being bordered

by darker brown; the triangular intermediate stripe is bisected by a longitudinal, brown —

line. The portion of the mesonotum behind the suture, the scutellum, the metanotum,

and the pleure are light greyish, almost hoary ; the membranous parts on both sides of |

the roots of the wings are pale yellowish. Abdomen grey, paler along the lateral

margins ; male genitals with whitish foliaceous appendages ; base of the ovipositor dark

brown. Halteres with brown knobs. Legs brown, the femora reddish at the base.

Wings greyish-hyaline, brownish along the costa, as far as the stigma ; a limpid, whitish,

longitudinal stripe runs behind the brown costal margin, occupying nearly the whole

first and second basal cells except the distal end of the latter, as well as the sub-

marginal and first posterior cells; it stops a little before reaching the apex.

Three males, one female.

N.B.—The brown lines on the mesonotum are sometimes very indistinct.

3. Tipula

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

Group of 7. lunata. Nine males, one female.

4. Tipula ——?

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

Group of 7. lunata. Three males, one female.

5. Tipula

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

Group of T. bella, Loew, T. strepens, Loew. A single male.

TIPULA.—PACHYRRHINA. 15

6. Tipula craverii (?).

Tipula craverii, Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 7, t. 1. f.17.

Hab. Mexico 1, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

The specimens from Sonora seem to belong to this species. I have seen the types

in Prof. Bellardi’s collection (two specimens in very indifferent condition, the one a

male, the other without abdomen, but, judging by the antenna, apparently a female),

and I am not able to make up my mind whether they belong to the same species as

my specimens or not. The wings certainly belong to the same type of marmorate

pattern ; but there are, I believe, several conflicting species with that same pattern

in Central America and in California. My specimens are smaller, the antenne are

more uniformly coloured, &c.

A specimen from Guatemala shows two distinct brown rings on the femora, of which

there is not a trace in the specimens from Sonora; there are also some slight differ-

ences in the pale spots on the wings.

Bellardi does not mention the conspicuous brown stripe on the pleure.

PACHYRRHINA.

Pachyrhina, Macquart, Hist. Nat. Dipt. i. p. 88 (1834).

Analytical Table of the Pachyrrhine from Mexico and Central America.

Thoracic stripes black. .

Lateral thoracic stripes straight . . . ... . . . . 1. ordinaria, sp. n.

Lateral thoracic stripes incurved towards the dorso-pleural suture.

Lateral thoracic stripes with a velvety-black opaque spot at

the end.

Antennal flagellum altogether black . . . . . . . 2. nigrolutea, Bell.

Antennal flagellum not altogether black. . . . . . 3. consularis, sp. n.

Lateral thoracic stripes without a velvety-black opaque spot at

the end, shining . . . ~~... .. «64 6usta, sp. n.

Thoracic stripes ferrugmous . ........ .. . . . 5. ferruginea, Fabr.

The following species are not included in this Table: P. mexicana, Macq., and

P. affinis, Bellardi.

Of P. affinis I have seen the type, a single specimen without abdomen.

Owing to its dusty condition I cannot say positively whether its lateral thoracic stripes

are velvety-black at the end; I believe they are not. These stripes being incurved, the

species would find its place near P. usta, from which it is easily distinguished by its

yellow pleura, spotted with lemon-yellow.

16 DIPTERA.

1. Pachyrrhina ordinaria, sp. n., ¢ ¢.

Head orange-yellow above; rostrum with a more or less distinct brown spot above ; an arrow-shaped shining

plack spot on the vertex, the point of which is drawn out in a line towards the front ; a small black or

brown mark on the inner orbit of each eye. Antenne black, the first and third joints reddish or brownish at

the base ; in some specimens, principally females, the two basal joints are altogether yellow. Thorax yellow,

with uniformly deep black shining stripes ; the lateral ones straight, not incurved towards the dorso-

pleural suture ; a brown line (sometimes obsolete) on each side of the collar; a similar line above the

dorso-pleural suture, a little in front of the root of the wing; pleure sulphur-yellow, with yolk-yellow

spots; scutellum yellow ; metanotum sulphur-yellow on the sides, reddish or brownish-yellow in the

middle. Abdomen reddish-yellow, with a more or less broad black dorsal stripe (in some specimens it is

uninterrupted, in others it is broken up at the incisures into a series of spots, which are often triangular),

and a trace of a black ora brown stripe on the lateral margins ; genitals reddish-yellow. Legs more or less

brownish or reddish-brown, except the coxe and the proximal half of the femora ; sometimes the femora

are altogether reddish-yellow, except at the tip. Halteres pale brownish. Wings greyish-hyaline ;

stigma pale, brownish-grey ; second posterior cell coarctate at the base, sometimes even short-petiolate.

Length: ¢,10-11 millim.; 9, 12-13 millim. ,

Had. Mexico, Ciudad in Durango (Forrer). Three males, two females.

2. Pachyrrhina nigrolutea.

Pachyrrhina nigrolutea, Bellardi, Saggio &c. 1. p. 11.

Head orange-coloured above, with a broad arrow-shaped shining black spot in the middle (the point of which is

not drawn out in aline), and some black marks on the inner orbit, of the eyes; rostrum yellow, with a broad

black stripe above, not touching the base of the rostrum; antenne black, the first joint more or less reddish.

Thorax yellow, with the usual black shining stripes; the lateral ones are incurved towards the dorso-

pleural suture, where they assume an opaque, velvety-black colour ; both ends of the mesothoracic suture,

above the root of the wings, are marked with the same velvety-black, which, in a favourable light, can be

seen on the black shining ground of the posterior end of the lateral thoracic stripes; the pleure are

yellow, with a number of black spots and stripes; a large black angular spot above the sterno-pleural

suture, its upper lobe pointing towards the root of the wing; a black stripe along the mesopleural suture

runs from the root of the wing downwards ; its lower end is connected on one side with the angular spot,

and on the other with a large horseshoe-shaped black or brown spot running round the yellow metapleura ;

the posterior end of the latter spot expands round the point of insertion of the haltere and bifurcates beyond

it, sending one branch to the middle coxa, the other to the hind one; a large black spot on the sternum,

between the front and middle coxw, and a similar smaller one between the middle and hind coxe, both

encroach upon the extreme base of the coxe; scutellum black; metanotum black in the middle, yellow

on the sides; knob of the halteres bright yellow. First segment of the abdomen reddish-yellow, with a

narrow black hind margin; second segment reddish-yellow on its anterior portion, the remainder black ;

the following segments are like the second, the yellow and black thus forming alternate cross-bands, the

yellow ones being narrower. Wings with a pale yellowish-brown tinge, more yellow on the costal cells ;

stigma pale brown ; second posterior cell subsessile or short-petiolate, attenuate at the base.

Length (2) 11-12 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Orizaba (Sumichrast) ; Costa Rica, Rio Sucio, Irazu 6000 to 7000

feet (Logers).

The yellow tinge of the costal cells is the characteristic mark of this species. I have

compared Professor Bellardi’s types, and give a somewhat fuller description.

PACHYRRHINA. 17

3. Pachyrrhina consularis, sp. n., ¢.

Pachyrhina (Tipula) elegans (Wiedem.?, non Fabr.!), Schiner, Reise d. Novara, Zool. iii. Abth. i.

p. 847.

Head, including the rostrum, pale orange-yellow; the latter with a brown mark (almost obsolete in some

specimens) on the upper side; a broad, deep black, shining spot on the vertex, the point of which is a little

less than a right angle, and not drawn out in a stripe; asmall dark brown mark on the inner orbit of each

eye ; antennex yellowish, darker towards the tip, the second joint and the bases of the joints beyond the fourth

slightly infuscated ; palpi yellowish, brownish towards the tip. Thorax yellow, with uniformly deep black,

shining stripes; the lateral ones strongly curved towards the dorso-pleural suture, their tip being velvety-

black and opaque ; collar yellow in the middle, black on the sides; scutellum black; metanotum yellow,

with a black stripe in the middle triangularly expanding towards the posterior margin; on the pleura

the following black or dark brown spots are visible: a large one, above the sterno-pleural suture, occupies

the lower half of the mesopleura, its upper angle pointing towards the root of the wing; an elongated one

along the mesopleural suture ; one between the front and middle coxee, and another between the middle and

hind coxe ; a large horseshoe-shaped spot running round the yellow metapleura, and having the haltere

inserted on its posterior end. Abdomen yellow, segments 1-6 with black posterior margins; on the first

segment the margin is rather narrow and of nearly equal breadth; on the other segments the margins,

narrow on the sides, expand in the middle, so as to reach a little beyond the distal half of the segment

(except on the second segment, which is larger) ; on all the segments the stripes reach the lateral margins;

the seventh segment has only a narrow blackish edge. Ovipositor ferruginous. Halteres brownish-yellow.

Coxe and femora yellow, the extreme tips of the latter brownish ; tibie yellowish-brown ; tarsi brownish.

Wings with a yellowish tinge on the antero-proximal half, and especially in the costal cells; stigma pale

brown ; contact of the second posterior cell very narrow, sometimes punctiform.

Length (2) 11-13 millim. (without ovip.).

Hab. Costa Rica, Cache (Rogers); Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson).—VENEZUELA !.

Four females.

N.B.—Schiner’s specimens (from Venezuela), which I have compared in Vienna,

certainly belong to the same species, although they show some differences; the black

on the abdomen leaves only narrow yellow anterior margins on the segments, and the

halteres have more distinctly yellow knobs. That these specimens are the Tipula elegans

of Fabricius seems more than doubtful: “ Antenne nigre, articulo primo flavo; abdo-

men, ano nigro,’ &c., does not agree at all. Moreover, Wiedemann, in interpreting

this description, confuses P. crocata with P. cornicina. Fabricius means the former,

and hence describes the thorax as black with yellow lines; the inconsistency which

Wiedemann discovers in the description arises from the fact that for crocata he reads

cornicina. P. consularis cannot be compared to P. crocata.

P. consularis has also something of P. mexicana, Macq. Dipt. Ex. Suppl. i. p. 12, but

cannot be identified with it.

4. Pachyrrhina usta, sp. n., ¢ ¢.

Head orange-coloured above, with a large arrow-shaped shining black spot on the vertex (the point of which

is prolonged in the shape of a line over the front), and some black marks on the inner orbits of the eyes ;

rostrum shining black above, yellowish below. Antenne black, the basal joints more or less yellowish-

brown. The prevailing colour of the thorax is black; narrow yellow lines, expanding on the humeri,

separate the usual thoracic stripes, which are deep black, and shining ; the lateral ones incurved towards the

dorso-pleural suture, without any opaque spot at the tip; collar bright yellow in the middle only; a yellow

spot in front of the thoracic suture, inside of the curvature of the thoracic stripe ; a couple of small yellow

marks near the root of the wing; an elongated yellow spot in front of the haltere ; otherwise the pleura

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., July 1886. d

18 DIPTERA.

is black or brown, shining, with some ill-defined lighter shades along the sutures; metanotum brown in

the middle, yellow on the sides, shining; scutellum dark brown or black. Abdomen black, with some

yellow on the sides of the two or three basal segments; lower portion of the male genitals brown, the

upper appendages yellow; in the female the cighth segment, as well as the ovipositor, ferruginous.

Halteres yellowish-brown, the tip bright yellow in the male. Coxe dark brown ; femora brownish-yellow,

darker at the tip; tibia and tarsi brownish. Wings with a pale yellowish-brown tinge, more yellow in the

costal cells ; stigma pale brown; second posterior cell subsessile, attenuated at the base, the contact some-

times punctiform.

Length: ¢, 9-10 millim.; 9, 11-12 millim.

Hab. Costa Rica, Rio Sucio, Irazu (Rogers). A male and a female.

This species is not unlike P. nigrolutea in general appearance, but is easily distin-

guished by the absence of an opaque spot on the lateral thoracic stripes, by the more

uniformly dark pleure, the brown coxe, &c.

5. Pachyrrhina ferruginea.

Tipula ferruginea, Fabr. Syst. Antl. pp. 28, 29.

Pachyrrhina ferruginea, Wiedemann, Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p.53; O. Sacken, Western Diptera,

p. 211.

Pachyrrhina quadrilineata, Macq. Dipt. Ex. i. p. 50 (teste O. Sack.).

Pachyrrhina proxima, Bellardi, Saggio &. 1. p. 9° (teste O. Sack.).

Hab. Unitep States and British NortH AMERICAN possessions, common.—Mexico |,

Ciudad in Durango (forrer).

This species varies in the intensity of the brown borders of the thoracic stripes and

of the dark abdominal triangles; both disappear altogether in some specimens.

I have compared the types of P. proxima, Bellardi; P. quadrilineata, Macq., is very

probably the same species.

I have a series of specimens of a Pachyrrhina from Northern Sonora (Morrison), which

agree with the characters of P. ferruginea, but have the basal joint of the flagellum

reddish-yellow (sometimes also the second joint); the following joints are not altogether

black or brown, but reddish-brown, with the base only black. Such specimens are in

a dangerous proximity to P. suturalis, Loew, Cent. iv. 37 (Georgia); and if the latter

is a really good species, a closer definition than that of Loew will be required in order

to distinguish it from P. ferruginea. ‘There are passages between specimens with a

decidedly black flagellum, and such where the basis of the joints only is decidedly

black ; also between specimens with distinct blackish spots on the abdominal segments,

and such where these spots are almost obsolete, or absolutely wanting.

The other Mexican Tipulide hitherto described (there are none from other parts of

Central America) are the following :—

Geranomyia mexicana, Bellardi, Saggio &c. App. p. 4 (Aporosa).

Trimicra anomala, O. Sack. Monogr. N. Am. Dipt. iv. p. 167, t. 2. f.1;

id. Catal. Dipt. N. Am. 1878, p. 29.

TANYPREMNA. . 19

Sigmatomera flavipennis, O. Sack. Monogr. N. Am. Dipt. iti. (Addit. and

Correct.), iv. p. 136.

Tipula nebulosa, Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 6, t. 1. f. 4.—N.B. Is not a

Tipula; seems to be allied to Epiphragma.

Limnophila undulata, Bellardi, Saggio &c. App. p. 3, t. 1. f. 2.—N.B. A

true Limnophila.

Epiphragma solatriz, O. Sack. Monogr. &e. iv. p. 195.—Mexico, Orizaba

(coll. Bellardi).

Limnobia stupens, Walk. Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. n. ser. v. p. 332.—N.B. I

suppose this is a Gnophomyia.

Tipula associans, Walk. Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. n. ser. v. p. 332.

dispellens, Walk. |. c. p. 333. |

edwardsii, Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 8, t. 1. f. 2.

quadrimaculata, Bellardi, |. c. p. 9, t. 1. f. 3.

Pachyrrhina affinis, Bellardi, 1. c. p. 10 (Tipula).

mexicana, Macq. Dipt. Ex. Suppl. i. p. 12.

TANYPREMNA, gen. nov.

Antenne remarkably short, not much longer than the head, apparently 11-jointed. Legs very long; tarsi

slender, whip-lash-shaped ; venation of a Tipula, but anterior branch of the second vein still shorter than

usual. Male forceps not incrassate, of a simple structure.

Tanypremna is a new genus which I propose for certain Tipulina related to Dolichopeza.

A detailed characterization will be published in a forthcoming paper of mine on

Tipulide.

1. Tanypremna opilio, sp.n.,g. (Tab. I. fig. 2, ¢ *.)

Legs brown, the tibia whitish at the base, the tarsi white; thoracic dorsum brown; humeri and a portion of

the pleurse brownish-yellow; abdomen brown, the venter and male forceps brownish-yellow ; wings

slightly infuscated.

Length about 25 millim.

Hab. Guatemata, Purula in Vera Paz 5000 feet (Champion). A single male.

Head brownish-yellow; palpi and lips brownish; antenne yellow, brownish towards

the tips; a brown spot on the vertex. Collar brown, which colour is prolonged on the

anterior part of the front cox; upper part of the mesonotum brown, the usual stripes

being coalescent; a yellowish space in front of the suture, upon which two brown

stripes are visible; a faint yellow line in the middle of the scutellum ; metanotum

brownish ; humeri and pleure brownish-yellow, the latter with a brown stripe running

from the dorso-pleural suture to the middle coxe; sternum yellow. Coxe and the base

of the femora yellow, the rest of the femora and tibize dark brown, the latter have at the

* Through an error of the engraver, the seventh longitudinal vein and the last of the three veins issuing

from the discal cell have been omitted from the figure.

d 2

20 DIPTERA.

base a white space about a millimetre broad; tarsi white, distinctly longer than the

femora and tibie together, very slender, whip-lash-shaped. Halteres with a brownish

knob. Abdomen brown; male forceps, and the venter, brownish-yellow; hind margins

of the segments with a narrow brown border. Wings with a uniform pale brownish

tinge ; stigma slightly darker.

Inhabits the humid forest region (Champion).

Fam. RHYPHIDZ.

OLBIOGASTER, gen. nov.

Head of about the same breadth as the thorax, rather closely applied to the latter, as there is very little ©

development of the occiput behind the eyes, and but little more behind the vertex ; the side view of the

head is like that of Lobogaster (Philippi, Verh. z.-b. Ges. Wien, xv. t. 24. fig. 16a), and very different

from that of Rhyphus, where the back part of the head is very much developed. Front moderately broad ;

above the antenna its breadth is in both sexes a little less than the horizontal diameter of the eye about

the middle; three distinct ocelli on the vertex. There is no rostral prolongation of the head whatever, so

that the palpi are in contact with the lower orbit of the eyes, and the rather large labelle are immediately

under the palpi. Pali short, the second joint stout, the last two joints smaller. Face very little convex,

with some scattered hairs. (Jhyphus also has the oral opening almost immediately adjoining the lower

orbit of the eyes, but the structure of the mouth-parts is different; there is a short, projecting proboscis,

at the end of which the labelle are much smaller than in Olbiogaster; the second joint of the palpi is

likewise incrassate, but the last joint is longer).

Antenne filiform; bent backwards they would nearly reach the middle of the second abdominal segment ;

clothed with a dense microscopic pubescence, which, together with the cylindrical shape of the joints,

renders the discrimination of the latter somewhat difficult; the joints are 16 in number, and differ but

little in length, except the first, which is short, subglobose, and the second, which is very short, disciform.

(The antenne of Rhyphus are comparatively shorter, more distinctly attenuate towards the tip, the joints

more distinct ; joints 1 and 2 of nearly equal length, &c.)

Thorax comparatively small and little convex, with a scattered, moderately long pubescence on the mesonotum ;

no macrochete; scutellum and metanotum as in Rhyphus; the former is beset with delicate hairs, but

has no conspicuous pair of bristles. (Rhyphus has the more gibbose mesonotum beset with two regular

rows of bristles, besides other bristles, inserted above the root of the wings, on the very developed, ridge-

like postalar callosity, and has also a pair of bristles on the scutellum.)

Abdomen comparatively long and flat, almost ribbon-shaped in the male, slightly attenuate at the base and

a little expanded posteriorly in the female; with seven segments (besides the genitals), not differing much

in length, except the seventh, which is a little shorter ; the posterior margins of segments 4, 5, 6 project

on the sides, being broader than the anterior margin of the next following segment. The male genitals

are represented by a pair of subtriangular, elongated lamels, between which a pair of pointed (horny ?)

organs is perceptible; the female likewise has a pair of triangular lamels, but smaller; I cannot perceive

the horny points.

Legs of moderate length and strength; tibice beset with scattered, very minute spines; front tibie with a single

spur, the other pairs with two; there is a broad, short empodium.

Wings elongated, moderately broad; venation like that of Rhyphus, with this difference, that the second vein

converges towards the first, and reaches the costa at the same point with it (the same as in Lobogaster) ;

while in Rhyphus the second vein, before reaching the costa, forms a curve, diverging from the first, so

that the marginal cell is broader in its distal than in its proximal portion. The fifth vein, towards its

end, forms the same peculiar curve as in Rhyphus or Lobogaster, although in a less marked degree. (The

pubescence which covers the surface of the wing in Ithyphus is microscopic here, and invisible even under

a strong lens, except in the shape of black dots.)

This interesting genus forms the passage between Rhyphus and the Chilian genus

OLBIOGASTER. 21

Lobogaster, Phil. It differs from Rhyphus in the structure of the head (the eyes separated

by a broad front in both sexes, the occiput but very little developed), of the antenne

(the scapus short, the flagellum more filiform, &c.), of the thorax and abdomen, also in

the venation (for the details compare above).

Its relationship to Lobogaster is apparent in the structure of the abdomen, of the

antenne, and in the venation. The differences, however, are :—1, the eyes are glabrous

and not “longe hirsuti” as Philippi has it; 2, the bifurcation of the second and third

veins takes place some distance Jefore the anterior cross-vein, and is not coincident with

that cross-vein; 38, the difference in size, both species of Lobogaster measuring 17-18

millim. in length, while the species of Olbiogaster are about half as long. Without

taking notice of the difference in the colouring, which is merely specific, I will mention

some minor discrepancies between my specimens and Dr. Philippi’s description: the

face is slightly convex, but not “ projecting like a bladder;” the hairs on the face are

short and inconspicuous, and it cannot be said to be densely beset with long bristles

(“mit langen Borstchen dicht besetzt”). Philippi speaks of “ein Paar Bérstchen

tiber den Ocellen,” which I do not perceive in Oldiogaster; his figure (incorrectly 2)

represents a quantity of long hair on the front and vertex. The first abdominal segment

is described as “‘ lang behaart” in Lobogaster, which is not the case with my specimen.

Philippi counts twelve joints in the antenne of Lobogaster ; Schiner sixteen. I rather

believe the latter, as both Rhyphus and Olbiogaster have the same number.

The difference between the venation of Lobogaster and Olbiogaster I have explained

above. That the venation of Lobogaster is exceedingly like that of Rhyphus, is very

easy to perceive in comparing the latter with figure 16 6 of Philippi (not the principal

figure 16, where the venation is given incorrectly). When Schiner (Reise d. Novara,

p. 23) discovers differences between both which do not exist, it is the result of a most

unnatural interpretation of the homology of the veins, in consequence of which the

second vein (his Radialader) is said to be entirely wanting, and the fork to be formed

by the third vein alone (his Cubitalader)!

My statements are based on a specimen from Costa Rica, three (male and female)

specimens from Porto Rico (in the Berlin Museum), and the type specimen of Rhyphus

teniatus, Bellardi, Saggio &c. Append. p. 5, fig. 5, which is a male Olbiogaster.

1. Olbiogaster cognatus, sp. n., ¢.

Reddish-yellow. Head black, except the mouth-parts and the first joint of the antennex, which are reddish-

yellow; the face is dark brown in the middle, yellow on the sides; antennal flagellum black; front

above the antenne silvery, which colour is bounded by a straight line, running a little below the anterior

ocellus. Thorax shining reddish-yellow, with a scattered yellowish pubescence; pleure likewise shining,

except a spot, in the shape of an elongated square, above the sterno-pleural suture, which is semiopaque,

and in an oblique light shows a whitish, almost silvery reflection ; a brownish spot in front of the root of

the wings. Halteres reddish-yellow. Abdomen reddish-yellow, of a slightly paler shade than the thorax ;

the whole surface clothed with a golden-yellow, appressed pubescence; segments 1-4 with a brown spot

in the anterior corner of each segment, the one on the first segment the smallest, on the other segments

DIPTERA.

each spot occupies less than one third of the breadth, and a little less than one half of the length of the

segment. (As segments 5-7 have become brownish in drying, I cannot speak about their colour positively ;

instead of the brown spots in the corners, they seem to have smaller ones more towards the middle of the

segments, the posterior portion of segment 7 is altogether brown.) Legs pale yellow ; posterior tibia slightly

brownish, with yellow spurs; tarsi brown. Wings subhyaline, with a slight yellowish-grey tinge; veins

brown; stigma elongate, brown.

Length 7-8 millim.

Hab. Costa Rica, Irazu (Rogers). A single specimen.

N.B.—I have completed the generic description from three specimens from Porto

Rico (Moritz) in the Berlin Museum. ‘The two males differ from 0. cognatus in the

colouring of the body: the pleure, the metanotum, and the two hind pairs of coxa are

brown; the abdomen brown, but the hind margins of segments 1—5 are yellow, the

yellow margin occupying about one third of the breadth of the segment. One of the

specimens has the two posterior pairs of femora brownish, the other not. The wings of

one of the specimens have a distinct brownish shade on the apex, and another around

the small cross-vein ; in the other specimen the wings are more unicolorous.

The female specimen has the body altogether reddish-yellow, except the end of the

abdomen, which is infuscated ; apical cloud on the wings very distinct.

I am not certain whether all these specimens belong to different species, or are

only varieties of the same insect.

Fam. STRATIOMYIDZ.

SUBULA.

Subula, Megerle, in Meig. System. Beschr. &c. 11. p. 15 (1820).

Xylomyia,, Prodr. Dipt. Ital. iv. p. 11 (1861).

Macroceromys, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1879, p. 187.

1. Subula elongata, sp.n., ¢.

Black ; legs yellow, the tarsi infuscated towards the tip; wings subhyaline.

Length 9-10 millim.

Hab. GuateMAta, Capetillo (Champion).

The same type of structure as Subula americana (compare van der Wulp’s figure

in Tijdschr. &c. 1867, t. 3. ff. 5-7).

Head black, the tips of the palpi and of the proboscis paler. Antenne brown, paler

towards the base; bent backwards they would nearly reach the base of the wings.

Thorax, including the front and middle coxe, black, very little shining; the margin of

the scutellum pale yellowish. Legs, including the middle coxe, pale reddish-yellow ;

front and middle tarsi infuscated, except at the base ; hind tarsi brown from the tip of the

first joint. Halteres brownish. Wings subhyaline, with a slight pale brownish tinge,

especially on the distal half; stigma only a little darker; veins brown; venation like

SUBULA,—SARGUS. 23

that of the European S. marginata, only the second posterior cell is more ventricose in

the middle, and more attenuated at the base. A single male, indifferently preserved.

N.B.—S. elongata, like S. americana, has comparatively a more slender body, longer

legs, and antenne than S. marginata. Subula fulviventris, Bigot (Mexico), for which

Bigot has introduced the genus Macroceromys, has still longer antenne; in other

respects the definition of this genus shows nothing to distinguish it from Subula; by

adopting it we should be embarrassed as to which of the two genera to assign our Subula

elongata, as it is midway between the others in regard to the length of the antenne.

For Subula, which is preoccupied (Mollusca, 1817), Prof. Rondani has proposed the

name Xylomyia. I think, however, that a change in a name of such old standing

involves much more inconvenience than its retention.

. SARGUS.

Sargus, Fabricius, Entom. System. Suppl. p. 566 (1798).

1. Sargus ——?

Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion), A single male.

Belongs to the group of green, metallic species, with a dark bronze-coloured abdomen ;

the hind margins of the abdominal segments paler, and beset with a fulvous, appressed

pubescence, and segments 1 and 2 coarctate. A number of the existing descriptions

agree more or less with this specimen, and I cannot say whether there are several closely

allied species, or whether the same species is subject to variation; probably both alter-

nativesare true. S. ducens, Loew, Centur. vii. 11 (Cuba), has “ ale fusce,” while in my

specimen they are, at most, “ fuscescentes.”” The same remark applies to the description

of S. clavatus, Walk. List &c. v. p. 93 (Para), the wings of which are described as

“blackish.” &. alchidas, Walk. List &c. iii. p. 517 (Jamaica), differs apparently only in

the colour of the halteres. SS. contractus, Walk. List &c. v. p. 319, and Macrosargus

tenuiventris, Bigot, Ann, Ent. Soc. Fr. 1879, p. 225 (both from the Amazon River), must

be closely allied to the above-quoted species. These species (at least in my specimens

of S. lucens, Loew, and M. tenuiventris, Bigot) have contiguous eyes in the male-sex.

2. Sargus concinnus, sp.n.,¢ °.

Thorax red above; scutellum and metanotum dark metallic; abdomen with the first and second segments pale

yellow, the others metallic purplish-blue, with more or less distinct yellow hind margins.

Length 11-12 millim. a

Hab. GuaTEMALa, San Gerénimo (Champion).—Brazit, Villa Nova, Amazon River

(Bates).

Face blackish, the proboscis yellow; antenne reddish-yellow, the scapus paler, beset with

short black pile; arista slender, reddish at the base; lower part of the front swollen, of

a dingy yellowish colour ; the rest of the front and the vertex metallic blue, with greenish

24 DIPTERA.

and purple reflections. Thoracic dorsum red, with a very slight coppery reflection ; scu-

tellum metallic bronze-green, its hind margin yellow ; metanotum metallic green ; pleure

pale yellow ; a large triangular black spot, with a green metallic reflection, occupies nearly

the whole space in front of the mesopleural suture; sternum, between the front and

middle coxee, of the same colour, but bisected by a slender yellow line; front and

middle coxe yellow, with a black spot on the outside (wanting in my female speci-

men); hind coxe almost entirely black. Front legs pale yellow ; middle legs yellow, but

the femora more or less brown on the distal half, the tibie brownish on the underside,

and beset with microscopic black pile, the upperside whitish, glabrous; the trochanters

and the base of the femora of the hind legs are pale yellow, the rest black, with a

metallic reflection; hind tibie whitish-yellow, brown on the underside of the proximal

third, the distal third brown on both sides; tarsi yellow; the hind pair has the four last

joints dark brown. Halteres yellow at the base, the knob brownish. Abdomen with the

first and second segments pale yellow: the first with a metallic blue triangular spot on

the lateral margin on each side; the second with a similar spot, but larger, occupying the

whole lateral and a portion of the posterior margin; segments 3-6 metallic blue, with

purplish reflections; on the third segment the posterior margin has a narrow yellow

border, attenuated on each side, and not quite reaching the lateral margin; a similar

yellow border, but still narrower, on the fourth segment; venter and the three first

segments pale yellow, metallic blue on the sides, the other segments metallic blue.

Wings subhyaline, with a slight grey tinge; stigma dark brown. A single male

specimen from Guatemala ; a female from Brazil in the British Museum collection.

The not equidistant ocelli and the not contiguous eyes of the male prove this to be

a true Sargus; the abdomen is, however, much broader than in the European species

of the group, S. cuprarius, S. infuscatus, &c. The end of the second vein is a little

less parallel to the end of the first than in those species. The tibie of the male show

the usual sexual characters.

PTECTICUS.

Ptecticus, Loew, Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, v. p. 142 (1855). (Plectiscus, 1. c. on the plate,

is a misprint ; see O. Sack. Catal. Dipt. N. Am. 1878, p. 224, note 53.)

1. Ptecticus figlinus, sp. n., ¢.

Thorax reddish-brown; abdomen metallic violet-brown, with yellow cross-bands on the hind margins of the

segments ; wings with a pale brownish tinge, yellowish between the discal cell and the costa.

Length 15 millim.

Hab. Guatemaa, San Gerénimo (Champvon).

Face and the vesicular frontal triangle dingy pale yellowish ; front brownish, the ocellar

spot darker; antenne reddish-yellow. Thorax reddish-brown, subopaque above, and

clothed with a short fulvous, erect pubescence ; pleure and metanotum more shining and

PTECTICUS.—RHAPHIOCERA. 25

somewhat more yellowish. Legs, including the anterior coxee, brownish-yellow ; front

tarsi infuscated from the tip of the first joint, the middle and hind tarsi from the tip of

the second; all the tibiee beset with a fine, appressed, fulvous pubescence ; hind tibize

slightly infuscated on their proximal half. Halteres yellow. Abdomen brown, with

a distinct violet-metallic reflection; hind margins of the segments yellow, beset with a

golden-fulvous pubescence ; segment 2 is yellow, with only a narrow violet-brown strip

anteriorly ; on segments 3 and 4 the yellow occupies a little less than half of the

surface in the middle, and a little more than half on the sides; on segments 5 and 6

the yellow border is narrower; male forceps brownish-yellow, its palpi-like appendages

brown. Wings with a pale brownish tinge; the antero-proximal region, especially

between the discal cell and the anterior margin, yellow, the veins in this part also

partaking of that colour. A single male.

The characteristic thumb-like projection of the second antennal joint on the inner

side of the third exists here, although in a lesser degree than in other species.

P. figlinus belongs to a type of structure different from P. testaceus; the thorax and

abdomen are comparatively more slender, the abdomen more convex, and the head (seen

from above) is more rounded in front. The venation is, in the main, the same; but

the branch of the third vein is more oblique. The American species differ from the

Asiatic ones (Ptecticus repensans, Walk., P. remeans, Walk., and P. leoninus, Rond., all

from the Indo-Malay Archipelago) in the shape of the small marginal cell (included

between the end of the first vein and the second): in the Asiatic species this cell is broad,

triangular, and the anterior cross-vein coincides with the apex of the triangle, that is,

with the bifurcation of the second and third veins; in the two above-mentioned

American species this cell is very narrow, linear; the small cross-vein is sometimes

before the bifurcation, but in P. testaceus, however, it is behind it. I have verified these

statements on many species in the Berlin Museum.

RHAPHIOCERA.

Raphiocera, Macquart, H. N. Dipt. i. p. 253 (1834).

1. Rhaphiocera pampinus, sp. n., ¢.

Thorax green, with black stripes; wings hyaline, with a grey shadow on the apex, and a brown stigma; legs

black, except the base of the femora and the first joint of the tarsi, which are white.

Length 7-8 millim.

Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 3000 to 4000 feet (Champion).

Male. Antenne black, including the arista; they are inserted on green ground—that

is the face and a broad interval of the front above the antenne are green; the

remainder of the front and vertex is black, except a green spot in front of the ocelli; the

posterior orbits of the eyes are green, but the occiput itself is black. Mesonotum black,

with two green stripes, abbreviated in front and behind; in front the stripes are interrupted

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., August 1886, é

26 DIPTERA.

before reaching the green humeri, and posteriorly before reaching the green scutellum

(the spines of which are brown); between the scutellum and the root of the wings,

on each side, there is a triangular green spot pointing forward, but not reaching the

suture; another green spot in the angle formed by the mesothoracic with the dorso-

pleural suture; metanotum black; the pleure are party-coloured with black and green ;

a large green spot above each of the front coxe; an oblique green band running from

the humerus towards the mesosternum, and emitting anteriorly a branch towards the

front coxa; a large elongate spot in front of the mesopleural suture, contiguous on one

side to a similar spot below the sterno-pleural suture, on the other to the green spot on

the mesonotum ; hypopleura and metapleura for the most part green; a green stripe

across the pteropleura; sternum black. Abdomen black, with a green border (which

is broader on the dorsal than on the ventral side) running around it; a green cross-band

on the second segment, and a less distinct one on the third. Legs, including the coxe,

black; base of the femora and the first joint of the tarsi white; the tip of that joint,

however, is black, as well as the extreme root; the white of the front tarsi is dingy.

Halteres pale yellow, the knob green. Wings hyaline; stigmatic region brown; apex

with a distinct grey tinge. A single male.

N.B.—The hind metatarsus has a distinct swelling on the underside, probably a

sexual character.

2. Rhaphiocera caloptera, sp. n., ¢.

Thorax green, with black stripes; both the submarginal and the discal cells brown; apex and hind margin of

the wing with a pale brownish tinge; femora brownish-yellow, the tibie and tarsi darker, the first joint.

of the four hind tarsi white, except at the tip.

Length 14 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Paso del Macho (Hége).

Male. Head and thorax green; a black spot above the antenne, another in the

middle of the front, contiguous to the eyes, and a third on the occiput, including the

ocelli; antenne brownish-yellow ; arista whitish. Mesonotum black, with four green

stripes (the intermediate ones abbreviated posteriorly, a little before the scutellum, and

incurved anteriorly towards the green humeri; the lateral ones, between the meso-

thoracic suture and the humerus, do not quite reach the latter, and run somewhat

obliquely, leaving a narrow, acutangular black strip between them and the pleura) ;

post-alar callosities green, this colour extending also a little in front of them; scutellum

green; metanotum black; mesosternum with a large black triangle in front of the

middle coxe, its bifid apex not reaching the front femora; an elongate black spot

under the root of the wing (on the pteropleura), another above the middle femora.

Abdomen brownish, with narrow green borders; the second segment with an indistinct.

green cross-band at the base ; venter brownish. Front coxe green ; hind coxe with a large

brown spot at the base, greenish at the tip. Femora brownish-yellow ; tibize brownish,

RHAPHIOCERA.—HERMETIA. 27

rendered darker by microscopic black pile; denuded, and therefore less coloured, spots

in the middle on the front as well as on the hind side of the tibie (perhaps a sexual

character); tarsi brown, the first joint of the four hind ones white, the tip brown. Hal-

teres with a greenish knob. Wings: the interval between the third vein and the costa

yellowish-brown ; a cloud of the same colour crosses the extreme proximal end of the

first basal cell, and fills out the discal; the costal cell (between the auxiliary and the

costa) is subhyaline, but the space between the auxiliary and first vein is brownish; the

distal half of the first and second posterior cells has a pale brownish-grey tinge, which

is prolonged towards the anal angle along the posterior margin, filling out nearly the

whole third and fourth posterior cells; the fifth vein is clouded with brown on its proximal

portion ; the triangular cell between the root of the wing and the basal cells is pure

hyaline. A single male.

HERMETIA.

Hermetia, Latreille, in Dict. d’ Hist. nat. Déterville, xxiv. (1804).

This genus includes a great variety of types, differing considerably in the general

shape of the body, as well as in the structural details; it would be useless and confusing,

however, to introduce new genera for them.

My material not being sufficient for a monographic treatment of these interesting

forms, I will merely draw attention to the coloration of the eyes, which, in this genus,

shows a variation corresponding in a measure to the diversity in outward shape of the

different species. I have revived on wet sand the eyes of the eight American species

before me, and have found three different types of coloration as follows :—

1. Eyes green, with numerous purple transverse lines and dots, sometimes connected,

and forming a design in zigzag: Hermetia illucens, H. coarctata, H. crabro,

Hi. aurata, H. comstockt.

2. Eyes unicolorous: Hermetia formica, H. pterocausta.

3. Eyes green, with three large purple spots: Hermetia relicta.

Besides North and South America, especially in their warmer regions, there is, so far

as I know, only one other region where the true Hermetie have been found, and that

is the Austro-Malayan Archipelago. Hermetia (Massycita) cerioides, Walker, which

occurs there, has the eyes very like H. il/ucens; a double zigzag purplish design on

blue ground. In the Berlin Museum I have seen a Hermetia from Northern Australia

which is very like H. illucens in its colouring.

The eight American Hermetiew mentioned below may be tabulated as follows :—

Eyes pubescent.

Abdomen with a dense, conspicuous golden tomentum.

Femora black . . . . 1. 1 we we ew ee ee ee eC dL rata, Bell.

Femorared . «. . ee ee ee ew we te ww ee } comstocki, Willist.

Abdomen without such tomentum . . . . . .. + +. + « « d crabro, sp. n.

28 DIPTERA.

Eyes glabrous.

Abdomen with a double spot of a lighter colour on dark ground on the

second segment.

Segments 3-5 of the abdomen red . . . . «© «. «© 2. . . 4 relicta, sp. n.

Segments 3-5 of the abdomen not red.

Front femora and tibie red . . . . . . 1. . « . . 5. coarctata, Macq.

Front femora and tibie black . . ..... . 6. allucens, Linn.

Abdomen without the double spot of a lighter colour on the second segment.

Wings unicolorous, yellowish . . . . 2 2 e 1 ee e + © 7. formica, sp. n.

Wings darker at the apex . . . 2. . . ww. ss « =. 8, pterocausta, sp. n.

1. Hermetia aurata.

Hermetia aurata, Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 27, t. 1. f. 8°.

Hermetia chrysopila, Loew, Centur. x. p. 11.

Hab. Norta America, Texas.—Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison), Morelia (de

Saussure +).

In the single specimen from Sonora the first two abdominal segments show only

traces of golden pile; on the second segment a narrow cross-band of such pile becomes

visible near the anterior margin in an oblique light only; the third segment has a

similar cross-band, and its posterior portion is densely clothed with golden pile, but

the interval is black. Instead of “abdomen preter segmentorum singulorum angulos

posticos,” I would read “ anticos” in Loew’s description: with this alteration I have but

little hesitation in referring our specimen to H. chrysopila (=H. aurata, Bell.). Both

Bellardi and Loew have omitted to mention that the eyes of this species are densely

hairy: revived on wet sand they showed, on bluish-green ground, two deeply indented

zigzag purplish lines running from top to bottom, and between the two a stripe of the

same colour, expanded in the middle, and bearing an eye-like blue spot on the expan-

sion. The types in Prof. Bellardi’s collection are larger, and have more golden pile on

the second segment ; nevertheless I believe them to be the same species.

2. Hermetia comstocki. (Tab. I. fig. 3.)

Hermetia comstocki, Willist. Canad. Entom. 1885, p. 125.

Eyes pubescent ; wings brown, with a longitudinal hyaline cuneiform stripe, which begins in the third

posterior cell, and runs towards the anal angle, where it becomes much broader; thorax and abdomen

aureo-tomentose.

Length 10-14 millim.

Hab. Nortn America, Arizona (Comstock)—Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

Face, front, and vertex brownish-red, with brownish spots, sometimes altogether brown,

with some reddish spots; face of a purer yellow in the middle; a narrow border of

yellowish-silvery hairs along the eyes; ocellar tubercle brown; occiput black ; first

two joints of the antenne, and a portion of the third, yellowish-red, the rest black.

HERMETIA. 29

Thorax brownish-black, sometimes reddish behind the humeri; on the anterior part of

the dorsum are three short stripes of appressed golden pubescence (the intermediate one

reaching the suture, the lateral ones oblique and extending only a very short distance

behind the humeri); fringes of similar golden-yellow pile along the dorso-pleural and

meso-pleural sutures and in front of the scutellum; the interval between the latter

fringe and the red scutellum is deep black ; pleuree, sternum, and metanotum dark brown ;

mesosternum and metanotum beset with golden pile. Halteres with a yellow knob.

Coxe dark brown with golden pile ; legs rufous; hind tarsi whitish-yellow at the base ;

in darker specimens the hind femora are infuscated on the distal half, and the other

femora and some of the tibiee show traces of brown. The anterior half of the wing, as

far as the fourth vein and including the discal cell, is brown, slightly ferruginous at the

base and along the costa; the apex and the posterior margin are of a paler brown;

between the two colours there is a cuneiform hyaline stripe, which begins in the third

posterior cell, crosses the fourth and fifth near their bases, and occupies the whole

middle portion of the anal cell, and the proximal half of the auxiliary and spurious

cells, including the alula. Abdomen dark brown, nearly black, more or less reddish

along the sides; its rather convex upper surface densely clothed with an appressed

golden pubescence, which, in an oblique light, is especially apparent along the hind

margins of segments 2-4 ; narrow at the base, expanded on the second segment, and

from that point to the tip gradually attenuated. Venter dark brown or black, with

a similar golden pubescence.

Three specimens.

The eyes (revived on wet sand) show a design of zigzag lines on green ground.

I have seen examples in the Berlin Museum (Mexico, Ehrenberg). Specimens in

the museum in Vienna bear the collection-name H. mexicana, Schin., and are alluded

to by Dr. Brauer (Sitzungber. d. k. Acad. d. Wiss. Wien, 1885, p. 152) as showing a

remarkable mimetic resemblance to certain species of Polistes.

8. Hermetia crabro, sp.n. (Tab. I. fig. 4.)

Eyes densely pubescent ; wings brown along the costa, as far as the fourth vein; suture between the first and

second segments with a narrow transverse pellucid spot ; body black, some lines formed by golden-yellow

pile on the thorax; abdomen comparatively short, broad and convex.

Length 11-12 millim.

Hab. Guatemaa, El Reposo 800 feet (Champion).

Head black, with some traces of brownish-yellow in the middle of the face; a yellow

spot on each side, near the eye, a little above the level of the root of the antenne ;

another spot higher up, almost on a level with the ocelli; facial orbits somewhat pale, and

beset with a yellowish-white pubescence ; some pile of the same colour on the front ;

that on the vertex black; frontal bump with four deep grooves ; eyes densely pubescent,

green, with numerous purple transverse streaks connected at their ends. Antenne

30 . DIPTERA.

rufous at the base, the extreme tip white, the rest black ; the distal half of the third joint,

instead of having the usual lamelliform shape, shows its vane-like, feathery structure

more distinctly here than in the other species, and is somewhat curled up at the end.

Thorax black, moderately shining, with microscopic punctures and pile; the following

design on the mesonotum is formed by golden-yellow hairs—a border along the anterior

end, from one humerus to the other, with a slight interruption in the middle; a longi-

tudinal line starts from that interruption and does not reach beyond the middle of the

thorax; a line on each side, along the mesothoracic suture, not reaching the central

longitudinal line; and a short oblique line in each of the hind corners. The convex portion

of the metanotum has a transverse golden fringe; a similar, but paler and less dense,

fringe along the mesopleural suture ; the hairs on the sternum silvery. Abdomen com-

paratively short and broad, rather convex ; black, subopaque, its surface microscopically

shagreened ; pubescence short, rather dense, in a certain light golden; a narrow yel-

lowish-brown border on each side, of equal breadth, reaching from the second segment

to the end of the fifth ; a narrow, transverse, pale yellow, pellucid spot on the incisure

between the first and second segments, encroaching on both (this spot has a fringe of

golden hairs upon it, and on the ventral side occupies the greater part of both

segments). Legs brownish-black; tarsi yellowish, the tips brown. Wings infuscated

along the costa, the brown being bounded by the fifth vein before the discal cell, and

by the third vein beyond it; the apical portion and the posterior margin greyish, but

the anal cell, the anterior portion of the auxiliary and spurious cells, and the alula are

hyaline ; venation normal.

A single specimen; sex doubtful.

This species differs from its congeners by its stouter appearance; the thorax is

shorter and broader ; the scutellum shorter and much less triangular; the abdomen

broad in the middle, attenuated at both ends, convex, comparatively short ; the antennal

lamella shows its feathery structure more distinctly here than in the other species ; the

eyes are densely pubescent. At the same time the whole organization is that of a

Hermetia: the structure of the head, the frontal bump, the facial, beak-like elongation,

and the coloration of the front belong to that genus. The coloration of the eyes is very

like that of the typical H. illucens.

4, Hermetia relicta, sp. n., 2.

Black, with a slight greenish metallic reflection ; abdomen with segments 3-5, and the posterior margin of

the second, ferruginous-red, the latter with two reddish-yellow pellucid spots on black ground ;

wings uniformly brown; antenne black, the extreme tip of the style white; tibie and tarsi yellowish-

white.

Length about 15 millim.

Hab. Panama, Bugaba 800 to 1500 feet (Champion).

Head black, with a strong bluish-green metallic reflection; the bump below the

ocelli pure black; the convex middle portion of the face, between the base of the

HERMETIA. 31

antenne and the edge of the mouth, white; facial orbits likewise whitish; a

yellowish-white spot on each side of the lower part of the front, near the orbit; pro-

boscis reddish; the sides of the face and the underside of the head are beset with

silvery-white hairs; front and vertex with darker hairs; eyes glabrous. Antenne

black, except the tip, which is white; the compound part. of the third joint. is

linear, not swollen, and distinctly shorter than the vane-like rather narrow ter-

minal portion. Thorax metallic greenish-black; the dorsum with a whitish scat-

tered pubescence, which forms two beginnings of stripes anteriorly ; traces of yellow-

ish on the post-alar callosity, along the posterior edge of the scutellum, and on the pleure,

along the mesopleural suture. Halteres yellow. Abdomen gently convex, gradually

expanding from the base to the tip ; red, the two basal segments black and with a violet

metallic reflection ; posterior margin of the second segment red; on the dark portion

of the second segment are a pair of oblong reddish-yellow spots, which slightly

encroach upon the first segment; each of these spots has, on its outer side, a beak-

like expansion lying on the suture between the two segments; the red portions of

the abdomen are clothed with a microscopic, appressed, dense, rufous tomentum, visible

in an oblique light only. Femora black; tibize and tarsi whitish-yellow. Wings rather

uniformly tinged with dark brown from the very root; a slight bluish-opalescent

reflection upon them.

A single female.

N.B.—1. The eyes (revived on wet sand) appear quite different from those of the

typical H. il/ucens: ground-colour green, with three large purple spots; the upper one

triangular, with one side concave ; below it an oval, somewhat ill-defined spot, separated

from the former by. a broad green cross-band ; between these two spots and the fronto-

facial orbit, lying alongside of the orbit, is placed the third elongated spot.

2. The principal differences of the present species from H. rufiventris, Fabr.,

are that the first two abdominal segments are black; that the incisures are not

“ weisslich schimmernd ” (with a whitish reflection); and that the tibie are altogether

whitish. The differences from H. lativentris, Bellardi, are that the pubescence of the

face is silvery on the sides, that of the front blackish, while Bellardi describes both as

yellow (“ flavo-villosa”) ; that the thorax shows traces of silvery stripes in front, and

a whitish pubescence near the scutellum, while Bellardi speaks of a “ tomentum aureum

in tres vittas subobsoletas dispositum.” The pale spot on the second abdominal

segment according to Bellardi’s figure and description is merely bisected by a black

line, interrupted posteriorly, while in our specimen the whole segment is black, with

two perfectly isolated reddish-yellow spots. Bellardi says: “ale ad imam basin sub-

hyaline ”; my specimen has the wings uniformly brown up to the root.

[Since writing the above I have seen Prof. Bellardi’s type in Turin, and have found

his description to be correct: it is an altogether different species. H. rujfiventris,

(Fabr.?), which I saw in Berlin, is likewise different ; its wings are much paler, &c.|

32 DIPTERA.

5. Hermetia coarctata.

Hermetia coarctata, Macq. Dipt. Ex. Suppl. i. p. 50,t. 5. f. 4’; Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 24; Schiner,

Reise d. Novara, p. 70’.

Hab. Mexico, Merida in Yucatan 1.—SouTH AMERICA ?.

A single specimen (a female from Presidio, Mexico, collected by Forrer) agrees with the

descriptions, with the following differences: the scapus as well as the annulate portion

of the third joint of the antenne are reddish ; only the tip of the annulate portion as

well as the long lamelliform vane-like style are black ; the palpi are red; the legs are

altogether red, except the coxe and the base of the posterior femora. The colouring

of the head is the same as that of several other Hermetiew: there is a greenish-white

spot in the middle of the face; the facial orbits are silvery; besides the pair of whitish

spots on the front near the orbits, there is a similar pair higher on the vertex. The

stigma is brown (as Macquart describes it). The short stump of a vein, inside of the

discal cell, mentioned by Schiner, is less than a rudiment in our specimen. The only

important differences consist in the colour of the palpi and legs, and even these may

be due to variation ; the agreement in other respects is so great that I do not doubt of

the specific identity, the more so as Macquart’s specimen was likewise from Mexico.

The eyes are green, with purple transverse streaks and dots, which are not placed quite

so close together as in H. «lucens.

6. Hermetia illucens.

Hermetia illucens (Linn.), Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. 11. p. 22, t. 7. £. 3 (for the rest of the

synonymy compare O. Sacken, Catal. N. A. Dipt. 1878, p. 46).

Hab. Sovrnern Unrrep Srates.—Mexico; GuaremaLa, San Gerénimo (Champion) ;

Costa Rica, Cache (Rogers); Panama, David in Chiriqui (Champion).—Sovutu AMERICA.

I have before me five Central-American examples of this well-known species; their

average size seems to be smaller than that of the specimens from the United

States.

7. Hermetia formica, sp.n., 2.

Brown, at the base of the second abdominal segment a transverse, yellowish, pellucid spot ; antennal style very

narrow, white; wings yellowish.

Length about 19 millim.

Hab. Panama, Bugaba 800 to 1500 feet (Champion).

‘Head broader than the thorax, brown, the face paler ; front beset with brown and black

hairs, the face with a yellowish pubescence more dense along the orbits ; the front has the

usual bump below the ocelli. First joint of the antenne rather long, the annulate portion

of the third joint about as long as the vane-like style; the latter is unusually narrow

and pointed, giving the whole antenna a different appearance from that of an ordinary

HERMETIA. 33

Hermetia ; the colour of the style is yellowish-white, that of the rest of the antenne

reddish-brown. Thorax dark brown; shining on the sides, less so on the dorsum, on

account of a dense short pubescence ; the latter dark brown, with the exception of two

rufous stripes, which are interrupted anteriorly and coalesce posteriorly into a square

of rufous pile between the suture and the scutellum; a fringe of rufous hairs along

the mesopleural suture. Abdomen elongate, gradually, but moderately, expanding

from the base to the tip, very convex, dark brown, with opalescent reflections; in some

places a microscopic appressed pubescence is visible, which does not materially affect

the ground-colour ; on the sides of the three basal segments the pubescence looks reddish

in a certain light, on the middle of the apical segments it is greyer in tint; a transverse,

yellow, pellucid spot on the incisure between the first and second segments, not reaching

the lateral margins; venter yellow, pellucid at the base, the remainder dark brown,

shining. Halteres brownish-yellow. Coxe and femora brown; tibie and _ tarsi

yellowish-brown ; knees and base of the tibiee brownish-yellow; the hind tibize darker.

Wings with a decided yellowish tinge, more saturate yellow along the costa.

A single male.

N.B.—This species is different in shape from an ordinary Hermetia, for instance

H. illucens; the thorax is more convex, but narrower; the abdomen comparatively

longer, and much more convex, especially on its distal half. The comparatively shorter

antenne, with their short and narrow style, also contribute to give H. formica a peculiar

appearance. The name was suggested by its resemblance to the winged male of a large

ant, e. g. Formica herculeana.

The eyes (revived on wet sand) are of a uniform dark brownish-bronze colour.

8. Hermetia pterocausta, sp. n. (Tab. I. fig. 5.)

Brown ; abdomen without pellucid spot; wings yellowish, the apex brown ; legs yellow, the greater part of the

femora brown. —

Length 14-15 millim.

Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).

Head brown, with paler yellowish spots on the middle of the face, above the antenne

(near the orbits), on the frontal bump, and on both sides of the vertex; pale yellowish-

golden hairs on both sides of the face, and some few also on the yellowish spot on each

side of the front; the rest of the front and vertex with a short, black, erect pubescence.

Antenne black, reddish-brown at the base. Thorax dark brown ; two more or less distinct

stripes of reddish-golden hairs in the middle of the mesonotum ; similar hairs on each

side of the mesonotum, above the dorso-pleural suture and in front of the scutellun ;

a fringe of reddish hair on the pleure; humeral and post-alar callosities, also the tip

of the scutellum, yellowish-brown. Halteres yellowish. Abdomen uniformly dark

brown, moderately shining, with a trace of golden pubescence on the hind margin of

the second segment ; in shape comparatively broad, with parallel sides, and moderately

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., August 1886. f

34 DIPTERA.

convex. Cox and femora, except the tip, more or less dark brown; the front pair

lighter brown; tibie and tarsi yellow. Wings with a saturate yellow tinge on the

antero-proximal portion, including the discal cell ; beyond the fork of the third vein and

the discal cell the colour is brownish; the posterior margin, as far as the anal angle,

and including the fourth and fifth posterior cells, is greyish.

A single specimen.

N.B.—The eyes (revived on wet sand) are of a uniform dark bronze-green.

CYPHOMYIA.

Cyphomyia, Wiedemann, Zool. Mag. i. 8, p. 55 (1819).

1. Cyphomyia varipes.

Cyphomyia varipes, Gerst. Linn. Entom. xi. p. 283'; Schiner, Reise d. Novara, p. 52’.

Hab. Mextco!; CenrraL America!; GuateMALA, Zapote, Panima in Vera Paz

(Champion); Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson); Panama, Bugaba (Champion).—SovtH

America, Colombia’, Venezuela}.

I have received seven females, from Guatemala, Nicaragua, and the State of Panama.

2. Cyphomyia androgyna, sp. n., 3 °.

Male. Face yellow, with a golden pubescence ; vertex and the broad occipital orbits whitish-yellow, pellucid ;

two delicate impressed lines run from the upper corners of the eyes backwards ; eyes glabrous, contiguous

on the front ; the breadth of the head is about equal to the breadth of the thorax between the insertion

of the wings. Antenne black ; first joint elongate, attenuate at the base, the second short, obconic. Thorax

and abdomen bright metallic blue, with slight violet reflections ; the thorax in front, between the humeri,

with a cross-band of appressed reddish-golden hair, which is a little broader in the middle; the rest of

the thorax and the abdomen clothed with very delicate, erect, scattered, black pile; the spines of the

scutellum are about as long as the scutellum itself, directed upwards, metallic blue, sometimes reddish at the

tip, hairy ; pleurse and coxe with a silvery pubescence, of which there is no trace on the abdomen. Hal-

teres with a whitish knob. Legs black, with metallic reflections ; tarsi dark brown, the first joint pale

brownish-yellow, brown at the tip ; middle tarsi more whitish and the brown at the tip hardly perceptible,

Wings blackish-brown, especially dark on the antero-proximal portion.

Length 9°5-12 millim.

Female. The vertex and occipital orbits a little broader, and (in most specimens) of a more decided yellow ;

the grooves, running from the upper corners of the eyes backwards, are much deeper ; the golden hair in

front of the thorax, between the humeri, is hardly visible here, though in some specimens traces of it

are perceptible from an oblique point of view.

Length 11-14:5 millim.

Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui, Bugaba (Champion).

Two males, four females.

Easily distinguished from the described species of Cyphomyia by the structure of the

head of the male, the occiput being as much developed behind the eyes as in the female.

The female must be exceedingly like that of C. verticalis, judging by the description

of the latter in Gerst. J. ¢. p. 287.

CYPHOMYIA. 35

C. androgyna, 2, is very like C. varipes, 9, brought from the same locality ; but is

easily distinguished by the colour of the femora, which, in the latter, are yellowish-

white on the proximal half; the face of C. varipes has a silvery pubescence, instead of

a golden one; the spines of the scutellum have a more horizontal direction; the front

is grooved in the middle in C. varipes, but not so in C. androgyna.

When I compare C. androgyna,?, with the description of C. verticalis, 2, I find

that the former has golden, and not silvery hairs on the face; the front is not per-

ceptibly coarctate anteriorly, and is not grooved: the ocellar tubercle is on a line

between the upper corners of the eyes; I do not perceive any longitudinal folds

enclosing it, as described by Gerstaecker, although the interval between the two

grooves, upon which the ocellar tubercle is placed, is slightly convex: the violet

reflections of the body are very distinct ; I do not see any cross-band of whitish hairs on

the back part of the thorax, nor whitish hairs on the abdomen; the points of the

scutel are not turned inwards, and are at least as long as the scutel; the second joint of

the front tarsi is altogether dark brown, that of the middle tarsi, in some specimens,

is a little paler at base.

N.B.—The androgynous character of the head of the male of this species puts me

in mind of another Cyphomyia, in which the female assumes a character ordinarily

belonging to the male only; it is the C. scalaris, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1875, p. 487

(Mexico) ; both male and female are said to have contiguous eyes.

3. Cyphomyia albitarsis.

Cyphomyia albitarsis (Fabr. ?), Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 227.

Hab. Mexico, Merida, in Yucatan!; Costa Rica, Cache (Rogers); Panama, Taboga

Island (Champion).—? Venezveta !; ? Guiana !. .

I have five specimens from Costa Rica and the State of Panama that agree with

Prof. Bellardi’s description, except that the two spines of the scutellum are altogether,

not their points only, pale yellow. In the description of the wings—“alis fuscis,

macula centrali longa, transversa hyalina”—I think that “longitudinali” would have

been more appropriate than “ transversa.” I do not quote Cyphomyia albitarsis, (Fabr.)

Gerstaecker, Linn. Ent. xi. p. 300 (syn. C. fenestrata, Macq. Dipt. Exot. Suppl. i.

p. 48), because both Gerstaecker and Macquart describe the abdomen as blue, while my

specimens, in agreement with Bellardi’s description, have it black.

Is it a different species? Gerstaecker’s two type-specimens in Berlin have a bluish

abdomen and seem smaller; unfortunately 1 had none of my specimens at hand for

comparison. The types in Prof. Bellardi’s collection agree with mine.

4, Cyphomyia oo.

Eyes with a distinct, erect, fulvous pubescence, occupying the greater part of the head; occipital orbits not

developed. Head and thorax much more bulky than those of C. androgyna, male, the head looking much

36 DIPTERA.

larger than in that species, although it is likewise equal in breadth to the thorax between the insertion

of the wings. Antenne black; joints of the scapus comparatively long. Vertical triangle yellow ; face

brown, with a silvery pubescence ; a small spot under the antennz yellowish. Body metallic blue, the thorax

with a very distinct stripe of silvery pubescence in the middle, not reaching the scutellum ; pleure and

pectus silvery-pubescent ; spines of the scutellum as long as itself, beset with hairs, red towards the tip.

Abdomen with a silvery pubescence on the venter only. Halteres with a yellow knob. Legs black ; first

joint of the tarsi yellowish or yellowish-white, the base of the second joint of the front pair slightly, of the

middle pair more distinctly, of the same colour. Wings brown, more saturate in the antero-proximal

region.

Length a little over 11 millim.

Hab. Guatemata, Teleman in Vera Paz (Champion). A single male.

Dr. Gerstaecker described only a single Cyphomyia with a distinct, long pubescence

on the eyes, C. pilosissima, ¢: Loew has C. marginata (Cuba) ; Bellardi, C. tomentosa,

Gerst., and ©. similis, Bell., among the species with distinctly hairy eyes. If the identifi-

cation of C. tomentosa, Gerst., by Prof. Bellardi be correct, it would seem that in that

species the pubescence of the eyes is much more conspicuous in the male than in the

female. Schiner, in describing C. dispar, 3 ? , showed that this character may belong

to one sex only. All these species have hyaline or subhyaline wings, and therefore are

different from the above described male. It is therefore either a new species, or it may

belong to one of the females described as having glabrous eyes.

ODONTOMYIA.

Odontomyia, Meigen, Classific. &c. i. p. 128 (1804).

1. Odontomyia tritzniata.

Odontomyia triteniata, Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 38, t. 1. f. 17 ‘,

Hab. Muxico, Cuantla (de Saussure), Mexico city (Sallé)'; GUATEMALA, Duefias

(Champion).

The description agrees well, except that the antenne are brownish-yellow and not

green; the thoracic dorsum is clothed with an appressed golden-yellow pubescence,

somewhat modifying the black ground-colour of the stripes; the scutellum is armed with

two brownish-yellow spines; on each side of the ocellar black spot there is a pale

brownish one, filling out the interval between the ocellar spot and the eye; similar

brown spots further down about the middle of the front, on each side of the central

furrow ; still paler, almost yellowish spots between the antenne and the eyes, and on

the facial prominence; the discal cell emits three nearly equal veins; third vein

without branch.

A single female.

STRATIOMYIA.

Stratiomys, Geoffroy, Hist. des Ins. ii. p. 475 (1764).

Stratiomyia, as amended by Macquart, Loew, &c.

STRATIOMYIA. 37

1. Stratiomyia mutabilis.

Stratiomyia mutabilis (Fabr.), Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 80° (for the remaining literature, see O.

Sacken, Catal. N. A. Dipt. 1878, p. 49).

Hab. Mexico, Cuantla, Meztitlan (de Saussure), Cuernavaca (Trugui), Mexico city

(Sallé)! ; Guaremaua, San Gerénimo (Champion) ; Costa Rica, Irazu 6000 to 7000 feet

(Rogers) ; Panama (Boucard).—Braziut.

It is difficult to describe, and still more so to recognize from a description, a species

so variable as the present. I quote Bellardi only, because his descriptions alone agree

with our specimens. The upperside of the abdomen of these examples is black up to

the anterior part of the fourth segment, the latter half of that segment, as well

as the greater part of the fifth, yellow; the venter is black, but the posterior

margins of the segments have a more or less broad yellow border. The variation

_ consists principally in the colour of the scutellum, and in the shape of the yellow band on

the fourth segment, which is sometimes of equal breadth, sometimes triangularly

expanded; but in all my specimens the first three segments are black, clothed in the

male with a silvery, in the female with a golden, tomentum ; the extreme lateral end

of the posterior margin of the third segment shows a trace of yellow. In all these

specimens the wings are fulvous along the costa, as far as the origin of the second

vein ; beyond that the colouring is more brown, as far as the end of the third vein. This

agreement of specimens (Bellardi’s and mine) coming from the same region, would

seem to prove that the geographical distribution of the varieties of this species is subject

to rule, and that they do not occur quite promiscuously. More detailed observations

on the subject would be interesting.

I have before me a male and five females from Central America.

2, Stratiomyia subalba.

Stratiomyia subalba, Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 31°.

(?) Stratiomys subalba, Walker, List &c. v. p. 43°.

Hab. Muxico, Tampico (de Saussure) 1, Presidio (Forrer) ; GuaTEMALA, San Gerénimo

(Champion); Panama, Bugaba, Taboga Island (Champion).—Brazit, Para ?.

I cannot believe that this species is merely a variety of S. mutabilis ; besides the very

considerable difference in the colouring of the body and wings (the costal half of which

is uniformly brown), the abdomen is squarer and flatter than in the male of that insect.

Schiner, Reise d. Novara, Dipt., p. 61, speaks of varieties of S. mutabilts with the costal

half of the wings uniformly brown; and Arribalzaga (Catalogue &c. p. 128) regards

S. subalba, Walk. (List &c. v. p. 43), as a mere variety of S. mutabilis. But is Schiner

right 2, and is S. subalba, Arrib., the same as S. subalba, Bell. Meanwhile I cannot

believe, until we have proof of the contrary, that the four male specimens before me are

a mere variety of S. mutabilis.

38 DIPTERA.

AOCHLETUS, gen. nov.

Resembles Oxycera in its general appearance and colouring; the principal difference

consisting in the structure of the antenne, in which the terminal aristiform style is

replaced by a stout, elongate joint.

Antenne, in both sexes, not longer than the longitudinal diameter of the head;

first joint slender, subcylindrical, the second not much shorter, but stouter, both

beset with short hairs ; the first three joints of the flagellum are broader than long, and,

taken together, form a cylindrical body about as long as the antennal scapus, but

stouter ; the fourth joint of the flagellum is not unlike the preceding in shape, buta little

narrower, and separated from it by a distinct coarctation ; upon this follows an elongated

body, a little longer than the two preceding joints taken together, without any distinct

articulations, and placed somewhat at an angle to the axis of the antenna; in the male

this last joint is more flattened than in the female.—N.B. I have only two specimens

for comparison ; to give an accurate description of the antenne, fresh or living specimens

would be necessary.

The occipital orbits of the female are like those of Oxycera.

Thorax and scutellum as in Oxycera.

The abdomen of the male is narrower than in the Ozycere known to me, elongated,

about three times longer than broad, almost a half-cylinder in shape, slightly coarctate

near the base; that of the female is broader and flatter, more rounded.

The antennz are inserted in the middle of the profile; the face flat, oblique; the

eyes glabrous in the male. subcontiguous for a length a little less than that of the

face, the upper facets separated by a distinct line from the lower ones, which are of a

different colour; front of the female broad.

Venation like that of Oxycera, but there is no branch to the third vein; of the four

veins issuing from the discal cell, the anterior one is very weak.

These last characters may be as variable in Aochletus as they are in Oxycera or in

Euparyphus (Schiner, Fauna Austr. i. p. 9, is not right in describing the third vein of

Oxycera as being always branched); the structure of the front and face may also vary ;

the eyes, in some as yet undiscovered species, may be pubescent, as they often are in.

Oxycera. The chief generic character is in the structure of the antenne.

In short, Aochletus is an Oxycera with a stout terminal joint to the antenne, instead

of an aristiform style. |

It differs from Huryneura, Schin., in the position of the antenne, which in the latter

are close above the oral edge.

Aochletus, in Greek, means undisturbed, unruffled.

1. Aochletus cinctus, sp. n., ¢ 2.

Male. Face and frontal triangle yellow ; facial orbits broad, silvery (or black, when the light is not reflected

from them); vertical triangle black; antenne brownish-yellow at the base, browner towards the tip.

AOCHLETUS.—EUPARHYPHUS. 39

Thorax black, variegated with yellow ; a pair of longitudinal yellow stripes on the mesonotum, attenuated

at both ends, and reaching posteriorly the corners of the yellow scutellum ; a broad yellow stripe reaches

from the humerus to the hind coxe, encroaching i in the shape of a triangle on the mesonotum, above the

dorso-pleural suture ; post-alar callosities yellow, with a small yellow triangle in front of them, on the

mesonotum ; on the black portions of the mesonotum an appressed golden pubescence. Abdomen black,

moderately shining, with a microscopic, black, erect pubescence; lateral edges with a narrow, irregular,

jagged yellow margin, which, about the middle, expands into a semifascia rounded at the top, corre-

sponding to a similar semifascia on the other side and resembling a broadly interrupted yellow cross-band ;

venter yellow. Knobs of the halteres yellow. Front legs, including the coxe, yellow, the tarsi brown ; four

posterior legs, including the metatarsi, yellow, the last four joints of the tarsi brown; hind tibie with

interrupted brown lines; hind metatarsus brownish at the tip. Wings hyaline; stigma more or less

infuscated ; the veins around it, the fifth vein, and the central cross-veins darker brown.

Female. Like the male, but the silvery facial orbits are on yellow, and not black, ground ; front yellow, with

brownish shades ; a large black spot on each side, near the eye; occiput black, the occipital orbits yellow,

silvery below, and with a narrow black edge, quite near the eye, on their upper half; vertex brownish-

yellow ; ocellar spot black. The yellow stripes on the mesonotum are interrupted posteriorly some distance

before the scutellum ; in front they are slightly club-shaped, and not attenuate as in the male. Antenne

dark brown, slightly reddish at the base of the flagellum only.

Length: ¢,4 millim.; 9, 4-5 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison). Two males, one female.

EUPARHYPHUS.

Euparhyphus, Gerstaecker, Linnea Entomol. xi. p. 314 (1857).

To the characters of this genus given by Gerstaecker I would add that, in the male,

the eyes are subcontiguous, the front, below the vertical triangle, being linear ; the upper,

larger, facets are separated by a well-marked horizontal line from the lower ones; both

portions of the eye also differ in colour. The E. decem-maculatus, which I describe

below, has pubescent eyes. Two of the species described by Loew have no branch to

the third vein, that is, they have only a single submarginal cell.

Only American species are known; the one from Africa, described by Bigot, does

not belong to the genus.

The North-American and Mexican species hitherto described may be grouped as

follows :—

Scutellum black, sometimes yellowish at the tip; spines yellow.

Femora black, except the tip.

A single submarginal cell. . 2. 2. 2 1. 1 1. «+ |). tetraspilus, Loew.

Two submarginal cells. . . . «. . . - . ss + « « = 6ellus, Loew.

Femora yellow (except posterior pair at the tip) . . . . . . + stigmaticalis, Loew.

ornatus, Willist.

Scutellum yellow or red.

Abdomen with lateral yellow spots.

Two lateral spots on each side . . . . . . . . . . brevicornis, Loew.

Three oblique yellow spots on each side; a row of spots in the

middle ......... . ee ee + + + 6decem-maculatus, sp. n.

40 DIPTERA.

Abdomen with yellow or green margins.

Thorax greenish, with black stripes . . + - - + + + « elegans, Wiedem.

Thorax red, with black stripes - . - © + + + 8 t+ + tricolor, sp. De

1. Euparhyphus tricolor, sp.n., 3.

Face brownish-yellow in the middle, the sides black, which colour is entirely concealed under silvery pollen ;

proboscis yellow ; cheeks black ; occiput black ; lower occipital orbit silvery, with an indistinct yellowish

margin; antenne and vertex black. Thorax above, including the scutellum, rufous; its anterior end

black, emitting two broad black stripes, which stop immediately before the preescutellar callosity ; the two

scutellar spines yellowish, with black tips; a pale sulphur-yellow stripe runs from the humerus along

the dorso-pleural suture to the base of the abdomen; sternum black, with some small sulphur-yellow

spots, the principal one being between the front and middle cox; metanotum black, as well as the callo-

sities on its sides. Abdomen black, with yellow margins, which become narrower towards the tip; venter

yellow, the base black. Coxe yellow; the femora and tibiee reddish-yellow, the tibiee brownish at the tip,

the tarsi black; first joint of the four posterior tarsi white, black at the tip. Knobs of the halteres green.

Wings subhyaline, the apex greyish from a little beyond the discal cell ; veins and stigma brown ; the

branch of the third vein is rudimental (as the other wing is injured, I cannot tell whether this is normal).

Length 5 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison). A single male.

2. Buparhyphus (?) decem-maculatus, sp. n., c.

Male. Eyes pubescent; face black, with four yellow lines, the two lateral ones reaching the antenne, the inter--

mediate ones abbreviated above; facial orbits silvery and beset with short white hairs; vertical

triangle black; two basal joints of the antenna brownish-yellow, rather elongated, of equal length ;

flagellum black, joints 1 to 3 short, the following joints longer ; occiput black, the lower part of the occipital .

orbit silvery. Thorax black, sparsely beset with short hairs; four longitudinal yellow stripes, the lateral

ones running from the humerus to a yellow spot on the post-alar callosity (the middle of the mesothorax is

injured by the pin in my specimen); a yellow line along the dorso-pleural suture runs between the humerus

and an oblique yellow spot in front of the wing ; several pale yellow, slightly greenish spots between the

root of the wing and the posterior coxe ; scutellum yellow, with two yellow spines which are black at the

tips. Abdomen black, with three oblique yellow spots on each side; three smaller, subtriangular spots in

the middle of segments 3-5; a transverse yellow spot with rounded sides on the sixth (last) segment, at

the tip. Legs yellow; front coxe black, the tip yellow; front femora brown in the middle; the four

posterior femora infuscated on the latter half only; on the front tarsi, joints 2, 3, 4, on the hind ones

joints 3 and 4, are infuscated. Halteres with a greenish knob. Wings hyaline, the veins and stigma rather:

pale : branch of the third vein distinct.

Length 7-8 millim.

Hab. Muxico, Northern Sonora (Morrison). A single male.

N.B.—I place this species in the genus Euparhyphus, although in shape it is less elon-

gate, and broader, than the other species of that genus known tome. I can distinguish

three short joints, followed by three longer ones, on the flagellum, but the longer ones.

I do not see distinctly. The fifth posterior cell is in contact with the discal. The

structure of the occipital orbits is like that of Euparhyphus. The pubescent eyes.

distinguish this species from those hitherto described.

ACANTHINA. AT

ACANTHINA.

Acanthina, Wiedemann, Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. ii. p. 50 (1830).

1. Acanthina argentea, sp.n., .

Body covered with a silvery fur, especially dense on the upperside of the thorax, less so on the underside,

where the black ground-colour is visible through it. Face reddish. Antenne reddish, darker at the tip.

Legs brownish-yellow; tibie and tarsi more brownish. Wings hyaline, the veins pale yellow; central

cross-veins and a part of the fifth vein a little darker ; stigma brownish-yellow, connected with a brownish

cloud on the central cross-veins ; a slight grey shadow on the apex.

Length 6 millim.

Hab. Costa Rica, Cache (Rogers).—Cotomsia (Berlin Museum). Two males.

The following is a list of species of Stratiomyide from Mexico and Central America

described by earlier writers, and not mentioned by me in the above descriptions

(whenever no locality is given, Mexico is understood) :—

Macroceromys fulviventris, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1879, p. 187.

Neoexaireta rufipalpis, Wiedem. A. z. Ins. ii. p. 619; Macq. Dipt. Ex. i. 1

p. 172 (Diphysa) ; O. Sacken, Catal. &c. 1878 (Necexaireta).

Beris mexicana, Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 20, t. 1. f. 6 (Oplacantha, according

to Rondani); Williston, Canad. Entom. 1885, p. 123.

Oplacantha limbata, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1879, p. 196.

Histiodroma flaveola, Bigot, 1. c. p. 205.

Macrosargus smaragdiferus, Bigot, 1. c. p. 226.

Sargus aureus, Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 42, t. 1. £. 20.

—— cesius, Bellardi, 1. c. i. p. 40, t. 1. £18.

clavatus, Walker, List &c. v. p. 93; Bellardi, 1. c. i. p. 41.—Para;

Morelia, Mexico.

latus, Bellardi, 1. c. i. p. 41, t. 1. £. 19.

—— linearis, Walker, List &c. v. p. 318.

nigrifemoratus, Macq. Dipt. Ex. Suppl. ii. p. 31; Bellardi, 1. c. i. p. 42.

salle, Bellardi, 1. c. i. p. 43, t. 1. f. 21.

spectosus, Macq. Dipt. Ex. Suppl. i. p. 56; Bellardi, 1. c. i. p. 40.—

Merida and Jalapa, Mexico.

— stfamineus, Fabr. Syst. Antl. p. 253; Wiedem. A. z. Ins. ii. p. 39;

Bellardi, 1. c. i. p. 44.

subinterruptus, Bellardi, |. c. i. p. 44, t.1.f,22; Walker, Trans. Ent. Soc.

Lond. n. ser. v. p. 271.

versicolor, Bellardi, l.c. Append. p. 13, f. 8.—Oaxaca, Mexico.

splendens, Bigot, Ann. Soc, Ent. Fr, 1879, p. 224.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., August 1886. g

DIPTERA.

Ptecticus testaceus, Fabr. Syst. Antl. p. 257; Wiedem. A. z. Ins. ui. p. 30 5

Maco. Dipt. Ex. i. 1, p. 203; Suppl. i. p. 57; Bellardi, Saggio &c. i.

p. 45; Rondani, Stud. Ent. i. p. 103.—North and South America ;

Merida in Yucatan and Tampico, Mexico.

flaviceps, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1879, p. 230.

Chrysonotus flavopilosus, Bigot, 1. c. p. 228.

Chrysochlora purpurea, Walker, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. n. ser. v. p. 271.

Merosargus fraternus, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1879, p. 228.

calceolatus, Bigot, 1. c. p. 229.

Hermetia lativentris, Bellardi, |. c. i. p. 27, t.1. £9; also Append. p. 8; Wil-

liston, Canad. Entom. 1885, p. 125.—Tuxpango and Tampico, Mexico.

— planifrons, Macq. Dipt. Ex. Suppl. i. p. 50.—Yucatan, Mexico.

nigrifacies, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1879, p. 200.

flavoscutata, Bigot, 1. c. p. 201.

Myzxosargus fasciatus, Brauer, Vers. Char. Gatt. der Notacanthen, p. 21.

Odontomyia vertebrata, Say, Compl. Wy. i. p. 251; Wiedem. A. z. Ins. ii. p. 73;

Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 38.—North America; Morelia, Mexico.

affinis, Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 35, t. 1. f. 12.—Puebla, Mexico.

dissimilis, Bellardi, 1. c. i. p. 35, t. 1. ff. 13, 14.

—— emarginata, Macq. Dipt. Ex. i. pp. 1, 14, 190.

femorata, Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 37.—Toluca, Mexico.

flavifasciata, Macq. Dipt. Ex. 4° Suppl. pp. 36, 53.

lefebvrei, Macq. Dipt. Ex. i. pp. 1, 13, 189 (comp. also Walker, List &c. v.

p. 311); Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 33.—Orizaba and Toluca, Mexico.

maculifrons, Walker, List &c. iii. p. 536.—Honduras.

prasina, Jaennicke, Neue exot. Dipt. p. 16.

/—— quadrimaculata, Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 37, t. 1. f. 15.

rubricornis, Macq. Dipt. Ex. Suppl.i. pp. 21, 53.— Yucatan, Mexico.

truquii, Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 34, f. 11.—Cuernavaca, Mexico.

__ yiridis, Bellardi, |. c. i. p. 36, t. 1. £. 16.—Cuantla, Mexico.

Stratiomyia pinguis, Walker, Trans. Ent. Lond. Soc. n.ser. v. p. 270 (Stratiomys).

trivittata, Say, Journ, Ac. Phil. vi. p. 160; Compl. Wr. il. p. 356

(Stratiomys).

bimaculata, Bellardi, Saggio &c. Append. p. 10, f. 7.—Tuxpango, Mexico.

constricta, Walker, Trans. Ent. Lond. n. ser. v. p. 269.

euchlora, Gerstaecker, Linn. Ent. xi. p. 328.

fenestrata, Gerstaecker, |. c. p. 327.

gerstaeckeri, Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 31, t. 1. f. 10.

goniphora, Say, Journ. Ac. Phil. vi. p. 161; Compl. Wr. ii. p. 356

(Stratiomys).

PANGONIA. 43.

Cyphomyia auriflamma, Wiedemann, Zool. Mag.i. 8, p.54; A.z. Ins. ii. p. 54,

t. 8. f.1; Macq. Hist. Nat. Dipt. i. p. 242; Guérin, Iconogr. t. 98. f. 5;

Gerstaecker, Linn. Ent. xi. p. 276; Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 21.—

Mexico, Brazil,Guiana. (=chrysodota, Perty, Del. An. Art. p.184, t. 36.

f.14, ¢ [Gerst.]; cyanea, Macq. Hist. Nat. Dipt. i. p. 242, 9 [Gerst. ].}

pilosissima, Gerstaecker, Linn. Ent. xi. p. 292.

similis, Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 23, t. 1. f. 7.

scalaris, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1875, p. 487.

—— simplex, Walker, Trans. Ent. Soc. n. ser. v. p. 268.

tomentosa, Gerstaecker, Linn. Ent. xi. p. 294; Bellardi, Saggio &c. i.

p. 22.—Morelia, Patzcuaro, Mexico.

Acanthina nana, Bellardi, Saggio &c. Append. p. 9.—Tuxpango, Mexico.

ornata, Macq. Dipt. Ex. Suppl. i. p. 51, t. 5. f.5; Bellardi, Saggio &c. i.

p. 28.—Mexico, Brazil.

Chordonota carbonaria, Bellardi, 1.c. Append. p. 11.—Tuxpango, Mexico.

Jfuscipennis, Bellardi, 1.c. Append. p. 11, f. 6—Playa Vicente, Mexico.

Clitellaria fenestrata, Macq. Dipt. Ex. Suppl. i. p. 53 (phippium).

halala, Walker, List &c. iii. p. 523.—Honduras.

obesa, Walker, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. n. ser. v. p. 270.

Euryneura pygmea, Bellardi, |. c. Append. p. 12, f. 5 (Clitellaria); Schiner,

Reise d. Novara, p. 56.—Tuxpango, Mexico.

Neorondania obscura, Jaennicke, Neue exot. Dipt. p. 17.

Nemotelus polyposus, Say, Compl. Wr. ii. p. 356.

Cynipimorpha bilimeki, Brauer, Vers. Char. Gatt. der Notacanthen, p. 19.

Fam. TABANIDZ.

PANGONIA.

Pangonia, Latreille, Hist. Nat. Crust. et Ins. ui. p. 437 (1802).

1. Pangonia pyrausta, sp.n., ?.

Brown, segments 4-6 of the abdomen clothed with dense bright rufous hair ; proboscis long; eyes pubescent ;

ocelli distinct; first posterior cell distinctly open, although coarctate.

Length, including the conical projection of the head, about 18 millim.; proboscis 10 millim.

Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 4000 to 6000 feet (Champion).

Female. Antenne with the basal joints brown, with black hairs; third joint black,

narrow and long, not broader anywhere than the basal joints. Palpi long, black, the last

joint lanceolate, with a long, acuminate prolongation. Front and face dark brown, nearly

black, the latter projecting in the shape of a rather long cone; occiput grey, with white

hairs. Thoracic dorsum chocolate-brown, with a slight hoary bloom, clothedwith scattered,

44 DIPTERA.

black, erect hair; a more or less distinct brownish flesh-coloured stripe in the middle,

longitudinally bisected by a brown line; the stripe does not reach the scutellum, and is

sometimes very indistinct ; some white hairs on the humeri; the dark-brown pleure and

pectus are clothed with long black hairs; tufts of similar hairs above the root of the

wings on the post-alar callus; the scutellum in some specimens is reddish. Abdomen

brown on the three first segments, with an appressed black pubescence ; segments 4-6

above and below clothed with dense, bright rufous hair ; a tuft of white hair at each end

of the posterior margin of the second segment; some white hair on the corresponding

portion of the venter. Coxe and femora dark brown, beset with black hair; tibie and

tarsi pale whitish-yellow ; the tarsi with brown tips. Wings dark brown between the

costa and the fifth vein, before the central cross-veins; the rest of the surface tinged

with pale brownish, which becomes yellower near the costa; first posterior cell open,

although coarctate; the fourth cell broadly open ; the second submarginal cell is not

appendiculate in two of my specimens, it bears a short stump on one of the wings of

the third specimen. Three females.

N.B.—This species shows the most remarkable resemblance to P. rhinophora, Bellardi.

Still the latter has distinct tufts of white hair in the middle of the abdominal segments,

no rufous hair on the fourth segment, and no vestige of a longitudinal stripe on the

thorax. The shape of the head, antenne, and palpi, and the general colouring (with

the above-mentioned exceptions) are the same. I did not have specimens of P. pyrausta

with me when I visited Turin, and could not, for this reason, undertake a closer com-

parison.

P. analis, Fabr., must be something like P. pyrausta; but the “ antenne ferruginee,

alee albee, &c.,” render the identification impossible.

2. Pangonia caustica, sp.n., ¢.

Eyes glabrous ; ocelli distinct; first posterior cell closed ; face retreating ; proboscis about as long as the head

is high. Thorax brown. Abdomen reddish-brown, black at the base ; femora black, the tibie rufous.

Wings with a pale brownish tinge, dark brown at the base.

Length about 18 millim.; length of proboscis 3-5 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Ciudad in Durango 8000 feet (Forrer).

Male. Face strongly retreating, brownish-grey with black pile. Antenne ferruginous ;

basal joints with black pile ; third joint with a rounded projection at the base, abruptly

attenuated beyond it, and very slender towards the tip. Palpi dark brown, with black

pile. Thorax uniformly brown, beset everywhere with black pile; tufts of whitish hairs

under the root of the wings; mesonotum with almost imperceptible traces of greyish

lines. Abdomen reddish-brown, clothed with black pile, the first segment darker brown or

black ; an ill-defined inverted blackish triangle occupies the middle of the second seg-

ment; a similar infuscation, in the shape of an ill-defined stripe, on the next following

segments, up to the fifth. Femora black ; tibie and tarsi rufous, the tips of the latter

PANGONIA.—CHRYSOPS. 45

brownish. Wings at the base, up to the alar excision, dark brown; beyond, up to the

central cross-veins and still further along the costa, tinged with yellow, the remainder

of the wing being pale brownish; submarginal cell appendiculate; first posterior cell

closed near the margin, the fourth broadly open. A single male.

3. Pangonia prasiniventris.

Pangonia prasiniventris, Macq. Dipt. Ex. Suppl. i. p. 29, t.3.f. 91; Schiner, Reise d. Novara, Zool.

iii. Abth. i. p. 100.

Hab. Panama, David (Champion).—CoLomBIA.

Schiner is right in criticising Macquart’s description and completing it; nevertheless

the identification is hardly doubtful. Four males. ,

CHRYSOPS.

Chrysops, Meigen, in Illig. Magaz. ii. (1803).

1. Chrysops altivagus, sp.n.,¢ 9. (Tab. I. figg.63, 72.)

Antenne altogether black, first joint incrassate ; legs black.

2. Abdomen grey, with two rows of black spots on the segments; wings with a black costal margin and

cross-band.

3. Body altogether black; wings black, with a hyaline triangle before the apex only.

Length 7-8 millim.

Hab. Muxico, Ciudad in Durango 8000 feet (Forrer).

Female. Face and front covered with the usual yellowish pollen; facial callosities

shining black on the outer side, yellowish-brown on the inner, the lower part, where they

coalesce above the mouth, being black, but in some specimens brownish ; palpi black ;

frontal callosity black, transverse, about three times broader than long, separated by a

comparatively broad interval from the blackish area of the ocelli. Antenne black ; first

joint incrassate (somewhat like the European C. rufipes) ; the second joint but little more

than half so long as the first, stout ; the third joint about equal in length to the first two

together, rather stout. Mesonotum and scutellum black, moderately shining, clothed

with scattered, erect, yellowish hairs (often rubbed off); a faint greyish stripe, bisected

by a black longitudinal line, is visible in front; more distinct stripes of greyish pollen

along the sides, above the dorso-pleural suture; pleure greyish-pollinose. Abdomen

greenish-grey, yellowish pubescent; the sides of segments 1 and 2 more or less yellow ;

the middle of the first segment black; in the middle of each of the segments 2-6 a pair

of black, semioval spots, contiguous to the anterior margin only, not to each other,

those on segment 6 nearly obsolete ; on each side of these spots, on segments 3-9, other,

smaller black spots are visible, variable in size, sometimes coalescing with the central

spots; venter grey, yellowish pubescent. Legs black, yellowish-pubescent, especially

on the tibie ; intermediate tibie slightly reddish at the base. The black costal border of

46 DIPTERA.

the wings reaches a little beyond the proximal half of the first basal cell, and fills out

the proximal third of the second basal cell; the apical spot encroaches upon the

anterior portion of the second submarginal cell, and is separated from the black cross-

band by a hyaline triangle with an oblique prolongation at the apex which does not

quite reach the costa; the distal margin of the cross-band is framed in by a whitish

border; the cross-band is not interrupted by any hyaline spots, it fills out the proximal

end of the first posterior cell (within a short distance from the inner end of the second

submarginal cell), the proximal third of the second, the proximal half of the third, and

the whole fourth and fifth posterior cells, and becomes paler near the posterior margin,

which it follows as far as the anal angle.

Male. Altogether black, shining; antenne like those of the female; face covered

with yellowish-grev pollen ; callosities large, black, shining ; thorax clothed with black

hair; legs black ; halteres black (knob yellowish-brown in one of the specimens only) ;

a minute tuft of whitish hair at the tip of the abdomen; wings black, greyish towards

the anal angle; a hyaline triangle, the apex of which does not quite reach the costa,

separates the apical spot from the black region ; the shape of the apical spot, as well as of

the distal margin of the remainder of the black region, is exactly the same as in the female.

Six males and as many females.

N.B.—This species has an altogether northern physiognomy ; nevertheless I have not

been able to identify it either among the North-American or among the South-

American species. It will be easily distinguished by its black antenne with an incrassate

first joint.

2. Chrysops costatus.

Chrysops costatus (Fabr.), Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 198 &c.

(?) Tabanus varieyatus, Degeer, vi. t. 80. f. 7.

Chrysops vulneratus, Rondani, Esame &c. p. 44° [O. 8.].

Hab. Guatemata, Teleman (Champion); Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson).— Wrst

Inpius (common); Braziu!.

3. Chrysops latifasciatus.

Chrysops latefasciatus, Bellardi, Saggio &c. 1. p. 71, t. 2. f. 153.

Hab. Mexico! (Saillé1); Guaremata, La Tinta (Champion); Costa Rica, Cache

(Rogers).

4. Chrysops tanycerus, sp. n., 2.

First two joints of the antenne unusually long, brownish-yellow, the third joint black and shorter than the

second; thorax brown, with two distinct, rather distant, whitish lines; wings irregularly clouded with

brown, especially along the cross-veins.

Length about 9 millim.

Hab. Costa Rica, Cache (Rogers).

CHRYSOPS.—DICLISA. 47

Female. Face and front brownish-yellow pollinose; callosities of the face but little

perceptible, as they differ only slightly from the face in colour, but towards the eyes they

are darker brown; palpi small, reddish ; frontal callosity blackish or brown, almost like

an ace of spades in shape, somewhat rugose on the surface. Antenne nearly as long

as head and thorax together; the relative length of the joints is about 42: 3:2; first

joint gently incrassate beyond the base, subcylindrical on its distal half; the second joint

gradually stouter from the base to the tip; the third joint has an obconic basal segment,

and is annulate and gradually attenuate beyond. Thorax brown ; sides of the mesonotum

and of the scutellum yellowish-white; on the mesonotum are two, rather distant, yellowish-

white stripes, which in some specimens reach the scutellum (although much fainter),

usually they stop long before it; pleuree with a brownish-white pollen. Abdomen brown ;

hind margins of the segments, beginning with the second, whitish, expanding into a small

triangle in the middle; venter greyish pollinose, more or less brown at the base of the

segments. Legs rufous; tarsi brown, except at the base; tip of front tibize brownish.

Wings with a broad brown cloud across the central cross-veins; other clouds on the

bifurcation of the third vein and on the cross-veins at the end of the discal cell; the

rest of the wing has a dingy pale brownish tinge, slightly more saturate between the

stigma and the apex. Five females.

N.B.—The eyes of this species (revived on wet sand) are dark purple, unicolorous, and

do not show the usual markings of Chrysops.

The Chrysops megaceras, Bell., is most closely allied to C. tanycerus, but is larger ;

the proportion of the antennal joints is different; the white hind margins of the

segments are almost imperceptible. I have seen the types in Turin.

DICLISA.

Diclisa, Schiner, Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, 1867, p. 311.

1. Diclisa maculipennis.

Diclisa maculipennis, Schiner, Reise d. Novara, p. 102, t. 2. f. 7’.

Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 3000 to 4000 feet (Champion).— VENEZUELA 1,

The beard is white, rather than yellowish. I have a single female.

2. Diclisa misera, sp. n., °.

Brownish-ochraceous, almost unicolorous; wings of a uniform pale brownish tinge; proboscis nearly as long as

the body ; submarginal cell not appendiculate.

Length 10-11 millim.; proboscis 8-9 millim.

Hab. GuatTeMALa, Lanquin and Panima (Champion).

Head brownish-ochraceous, the conically projecting face a little more yellowish on

the sides; on the underside a long yellowish-white beard ; antenne reddish, the tips

48 DIPTERA.

darker ; the front and face beset with a scattered, erect, black pubescence; eyes:

pubescent; ocelli distinct. Thoracic dorsum clothed with a dense brownish-ochraceous

pollen and with scattered, black, erect pile; tufts of reddish-yellow pile above the root

of the wings and on the post-alar callosities; pleuree and pectus greyish, with long

whitish hairs. Abdomen yellowish-rufous above, a little darker towards the end, with

some appressed hairs on the surface, partly black, partly rufous; venter paler, yellowish.

Legs pale reddish ; tarsi brownish, except the base. Wings of a uniform pale brownish

tinge, a little more saturate towards the costa; submarginal cell not appendiculate,

although a little knot, as a rudiment of a stump, is sometimes visible ; first and fourth

posterior cells closed very near the margin. Three females.

N.B.—I refer this species to Diclisa, on account of the closed first and fourth posterior

cells, and of the conical prolongation of the face. D. misera does not, however, show the

colouring of the thorax and abdomen which distinguish the other species of the genus.

The palpi are like those of Diclzsa.

TABANUS.

Tabanus, Linné, Fauna Suecica, 1761.

1. Tabanus (Therioplectes) quadripunctatus.

Tabanus quadripunctatus (Fabr.), Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 151; Schiner, Reise d. Novara,

p. 86. .

Tabanus nigro-punctatus, Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 67, t. 2. f. 8°.

Hab. Mexico, Cordova, Huastec (de Saussure+); GuaTeMALA, San Gerénimo (Cham-

pion) ; Costa Rica, Rio Sucio (fogers).—Braziu.

I have shown in my Catal. N. A. Dipt. 1878, p. 57 and note 74, that this is a

Therioplectes. Wiedemann describes the venter, “ Brown with white incisures.”’ It is

grey, with a longitudinal blackish band occupying about one third of the breadth.

The male (hitherto not described) is very like the female; the head answers the

description of the head of Therioplectes given by me (ef. Prodr. of Tabanide, p. 425, and

Western Dipt. p. 215); that is, it does not differ much in size and shape from the

head of the female, and the dividing-line between the large and small facets is rather

indistinct.

2. Tabanus bigoti.

Tabanus bigoti, Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 58°.

Tabanus apicalis, Macq. Dipt. Ex. Suppl. i. p. 20.

Tabanus macquarti, Schiner, Reise d. Novara, p. 89”.

Hab. Mexico!; Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt).—Co.omBia ?.

The descriptions by Macquart and Bellardi were drawn from the same example,

which was without head; I will attempt to complete it from two very indifferently

preserved specimens :—

TABANUS. 49

Front rather narrow ; callosity in the shape of an elevated line, but slightly expanded

below and almost reaching the vertex. Antenne with a projecting, pointed upper part

to the first joint ; third joint strongly excised, the upper corner drawn cut in a short

point, the annulate portion rather long; colour dark reddish, mixed with black on the

first and second, and also on the base of the third, joints; the rest black. The ground-

colour of the thorax is densely clothed with a thick brownish-fulvous pollen, which again

is covered on the thoracic dorsum and scutellum with a fine golden-yellow, appressed

pubescence.

My description of the thorax is rather different from Macquart’s, and agrees better

with Schiner’s ; nevertheless I have no doubt that our insect represents the same species.

Schiner had overlooked Bellardi’s description.

8. Tabanus (Therioplectes) 2

Antenne red, but the third joint has that colour on the basal third only, the upper corner and everything

beyond it are deep black; palpi pale yellowish, beset with white and black pile; frontal callus blackish-brown,

rounded in shape, above it is an irregular black, linear, rather broad prolongation on black ground, &c.

Length 12°5-13°5 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Ciudad in Durango 8100 feet (forrer).

Belongs to the difficult group of species allied to 7. rhombicus, and mentioned in my

‘Western Diptera,’ p. 218, without agreeing exactly with any of the three forms

characterized by me. The lateral triangles on all the segments (one to six) are oblique,

more streaks than triangles; their prolongation towards the lateral margin coincides

with the narrow whitish border of the segment; the intermediate triangles have the

apex prolonged towards the next segment, and appear more like a continuous line

than a series of triangles. Ante-alar callosity faintly reddish. Subcostal cell nearly

hyaline; no stump on the fork of the third vein. Subcallus partially denuded, reddish.

Venter reddish, which colour is also somewhat visible on the sides of the first and

second segments ; a more or less distinct blackish longitudinal stripe in the middle.

The grey thoracic stripes are rather distinct. Three specimens.

4, Tabanus ebrius, sp.n., 2. (Tab. I. fig. 8.)

Pale reddish-brown, the thorax with two whitish lines; antenne red, the annulate portion black; palpi very

narrow ; wings with two brown irregular cross-bands, and a brown spot inside the fork of the third vein.

Length 13-14 millim.

Hab. Costa Rica, Irazu 6000 to 7000 feet (Rogers); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui

2000 to 3000 feet (Champion).

Front rather narrow, coarctate anteriorly, brownish-yellow ; a dark brown (sometimes

reddish ?) raised longitudinal line in the middle is slightly expanded anteriorly (instead

of a callus), posteriorly it gradually attenuates and stops long before reaching the

vertex. A slight blackish tubercle, with something like vestiges of ocelli, is visible

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., October 1886. | h

50 DIPTERA.

on the vertex. Face brownish-yellow. Palpi long and very narrow, almost linear,

brownish-yellow, densely clothed with minute black hairs. Antenne pale red; third

joint with a flat excision, its upper angle forming a sharp, rectangular projection, but

not drawn out in a point; annulate portion black. Thoracic dorsum pale brown,

with two yellowish-white longitudinal lines, expanding, but evanescent posteriorly,

and coalescing in front of the scutellum with the pale lateral margins ; the intervals

between these pale markings forming three more or less distinct brown stripes, which

do not reach the scutellum, the intermediate one being the broadest. Pleure and

legs pale brown, the front legs darker ; front tarsi, and the tips only of the hinder ones,

dark brown. Abdomen brownish-red, a little more brown towards the end, with thin

fringes of short yellow hair on the hind margins of the segments. Halteres yellowish-

brown, the knob more yellow. Wings subhyaline, with reddish-yellow veins and brown

bands and spots, the extreme root hyaline; a light-brown band across the proximal

portion of the basal cells; a brown spot at the distal end of the first basal cell coalesces

with the second cross-band ; the latter begins from the elongated, dark brown stigma

and bifurcates in the first posterior cell; the proximal branch takes an irregular course

across the discal and the fourth and fifth posterior cells towards the anal cell; the

much shorter distal branch enters the second posterior cell and fades away beyond it,

connecting with the proximal branch, and emitting more or less distinct rays along the

wing-veins; a brown spot at the proximal end of the second submarginal cell; first

posterior cell broadly open ; fork not appendiculate. Three female specimens.

N.B.—A fourth female from British Honduras (Blancaneauxr) agrees in everything

except that the brown spot within the fork is wanting ; the tips of the antenne are red,

and the segments of the abdomen have distinct and rather broad yellowish margins.

Is it a different species ? ,

The eyes (revived on wet sand) are dark purple, unicolorous.

T. ebrius has a superficial resemblance to 7. potator, Wied., but the latter has the

upper angle of the third joint of the antenne drawn out in a long point.

Tabanus alteripennis, Walker, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. n. ser. v. p. 274 (from Mexico),

represented by a single specimen in the British Museum, is perhaps a mere variety of

T. ebrius, in which the brown spots on the wings are more confluent.

5. Tabanus erebus, sp.n., °.

Altogether black, including the wings; knob of the halteres whitish-yellow ; frontal callus narrow, almost

linear; subcallus flat, opaque ; first posterior cell broadly open; upper corner of the third antennal joint

drawn out in a long point.

Length 19-23 millim.

Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 2000 to 4000

feet (Champion).

Face and cheeks subopaque; proboscis rather long, with long lips; palpi long,

narrow; third antennal joint with a distinct projection on the underside, deeply

TABANUS. D1

excised above, the upper corner drawn out in a point which reaches about half the

distance to the annulate portion; front comparatively narrow, narrower in front than

behind; a denuded, slightly convex frontal line expands but very little in front into a

narrow callus, posteriorly it stops long before reaching the vertex; on the latter a

small denuded space bears the vestiges of ocelli (imperceptible in some specimens) ;

subcallus flat, opaque, brownish. The uniformly black colour of the whole body is

varied only by a slight whitish efflorescence on some parts of the front, on the thorax,

and the abdomen. The pleure are deep black, with long black hair ; the abdomen is

fringed all round with black hair; the hind tibie have the usual fringe of black hair,

but it is less apparent than in 7. atratus on account of the other hairs which clothe

the tibie being longer than in 7. atratus. Wings of a uniform blackish-brown ; some

specimens show subhyaline spots in the marginal and submarginal cells ; the bifurcation

of the third vein opposite the tip of the second of the veins issuing from the discal cell ;

first posterior cell broadly open, although a little narrower at the tip than in the middle.

Tegule black or dark brown, and, for this reason, their darker fringe but little perceptible.

Six females ; two of them have the wings more brown than black.

6. Tabanus corone, sp. n., 2.

Altogether black, including the wings; knob of the halteres whitish-yellow ; first posterior cell broadly open;

subcallus convex, shining; upper corner of the third antennal joint rectangular, not drawn out.

Length 17-18 millim.

Hab. Guatemaa, Panima (Champion).

At first sight this species (of which we have only a single female) might be taken for

a small specimen of 7. erebus ; it will be easily distinguished, however, by the shape of

the third joint of the antenne, which has but a shallow excision above, and the upper

corner of which is rectangular and not drawn out in a long point. The proboscis is

shorter; the palpi are shorter, stouter, more curved at the base, more shining; the

front is parallel, not perceptibly narrower in front ; there is a frontal elevated line, but

it does not expand into a frontal callus; the subcallus is convex, shining. The colour

is uniformly black, with a white efflorescence on the front, thorax, and abdomen ; the

thoracic dorsum and scutellum show traces of reddish, due perhaps to immaturity ;

tegule whitish, and, for that reason, their black edges more visible.

I deem it useful to give here a synoptical table of the five species of Tabanus with an

altogether black body and black wings which occur north of the Isthmus of Panama.

Halteres with a yellowish-white knob.

Upper angle of the third joint of the antenne drawn out in a long

point ; subcallus flat, opaque . . . . « erebus, O. 8.

Upper angle of the third joint rectangular, not drawn out; ; ‘subeallus

convex, shining . 2. © + 6 © © © © se © oe ow ~~ «Corone, O.S.

52 DIPTERA.

Halteres black.

Front unusually broad, the frontal callosity transverse ; front tibiz

whitish at the base ; first posterior cell very strongly coarctate,

often closed . . . - se ee ee ee ee ee) tratus, Fabr.

Front not unusually broad, the frontal callosity not transverse ; front

tibie altogether black; first posterior cell only moderately

coarctate.

_ Narrow portion of the third antennal joint not remarkably

elongate 2. 2 6 6 ee ee ee es wiedemanni, O.8.

Narrow portion of the third antennal joint unusually long lugubris, Macq.

7. Tabanus bifenestratus, sp.n., @. (Tab. I. fig. 9.)

Black, abdomen red on the sides of the three first segments; wings brown, the second basal, discal, and second

submarginal cells subhyaline; antenne and legs rufous.

Length 13-14 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Ciudad in Durango 8100 feet (Forrer). —

Antenne rufous, the scapus beset with black pile; upper angle of the third joint well

marked, but blunt at the tip; annulate portion rather stout, black, about half as long

as the basal. Face and palpi yellowish-red ; the latter rather narrow, with black pile ;

the cheeks with fulvous hairs; front rather broad; frontal callus reddish-brown, convex ;

subcallus rufous, denuded, shining. Eyes apparently glabrous. Thorax black with

yellow hairs, which are scarce on the back, but more dense and long on some parts of the

pleure. Abdomen with the first three segments red, with black spots in the middle ; the

last four segments black, with narrow red borders. Cox black; legs rufous; femora

beset with fulvous, the tibie with black, hairs; front tarsi brown, except at the base ; tips

of the other tarsi infuscated. Wings brown; second submarginal, discal, second basal,

axillary, and spurious cells subhyaline ; first posterior cell broadly open; no stump on

the fork of the third vein (but as the upper branch is somewhat angular at the base, it

is possible that a stump may occur in other specimens). A single female.

N.B.—The specimen is somewhat injured by moisture on the head and the thorax ;

for this reason I have not been able to give a complete description of these parts; the

very peculiar and easily recognizable colouring of the wings induced me nevertheless to

publish the species.

Theeyes (revived on wet sand) are green, with a single narrow purple stripe in the middle.

8. Tabanus cribellum, sp.n., 2. (Tab. I. fig. 10.)

Eyes glabrous, with three green cross-bands; thorax greyish, with yellowish-white lines ; abdomen variegated

with brown; wings hyaline, the first posterior cell broadly open; antenne yellowish-red, the annulate

portion of the third joint rather stout.

Length 9-10°5 millim. . .

Hab. Mexico, Presidio (Forrer).

TABANUS. 53

Head rather broad; front yellowish-grey, rather broad, slightly convergent anteriorly ;

frontal callosity dark brown, shining ; an oblong blackish spot in the middle of the

front and another more rounded one on the vertex ; face whitish, with whitish hair; palpi

rather short and stout, yellowish-white, with white pile, mixed with some black. Antenne

yellowish-red, the scapus with some black hairs; third joint rather short, with an obtuse,

but little projecting upper angle; annulate portion as long as the basal, stout. Thorax

brownish-grey, beset with scattered, short, white hairs (often rubbed off) which do not con-

ceal the ground-colour; with three distinct longitudinal yellowish-white lines, and some

(less distinct) lateral whitish marks above the root of the wings; pleure greyish-white with

white hair. Halteres yellowish. Legs yellowish ; femora with soft, white pile ; distal half

of the front tibice and the front tarsi dark brown ; four posterior tarsi infuscated from the

tip of the first joint. Abdomen of a pale reddish-yellow, variegated with brown as follows:

on the first segment an undulating brown cross-band, interrupted under the scutellum ;

on the second and third segments, at the base, a brown cross-band, deeply excised in the

middle, and behind it a transverse row of four round brown spots, the middle pair of which

are more or less distinctly connected with the basal cross-band; segments 4-6 show

the same row of four brown spots, but no brown cross-band at the base; in some speci-

mens the spots on segments 5 and 6 become coalescent by pairs, thus forming an oblong

spot with raised up ends on each side ; sometimes this takes place even on the third and

fourth segments. All the segments are clothed with an appressed yellowish pubescence,

especially dense along the middle line and on the hind margins, but easily rubbed off.

Venter pale reddish-yellow, sometimes darker towards the tip. Wings, including the

costal cells, hyaline; stigma yellowish-brown; fork of third vein with a stump; first

posterior cell broadly open, the second coarctate at the base. Three females.

It is very probable that the colouring of the abdomen is subject to even more variation

than indicated in my description. As the lateral brown spots coalesce by pairs, without

encroaching upon the middle of the segment, the prevalence of the brown would tend

to render this central portion more conspicuous, and the colouring of the abdomen would

finally appear as a longitudinal central pale-coloured stripe, with alternate brown and

pale cross-bands on each side.

T. cribellum, apart from the colouring of the abdomen, will be easily recognized by the

structure of the antenne, with their short and comparatively broad third joint, and its

stout and blunt annulate portion. I believe that this species must be closely related to

T. pumilus, Macq. Dipt. Ex. i. 1, p. 146 (comp. my Prodr. of Tabanide, p. 448), from

the Southern United States, but I have no specimen of the latter for comparison.

T. stigma, Fabr., Wiedem. Auss. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 180 (Mus. Vienna), is also a closely

allied species, but easily distinguished by the spots on its wings and the black end of

the antenne. Tabanus completus, Walker, List &c. i. p. 185 (St. Thomas), of which

there is a single specimen in the British Museum, is very probably identical with

T. stigma.

54 DIPTERA.

9. Tabanus chionostigma, sp.n., 2. (Tab. I. fig. 11.)

Third antennal joint very deeply excised, forming two branches, the upper one blunt at the tip; abdomen (2)

cut off squarely at the tip; ventral segments fringed with long, golden-yellow hairs ; proximal half of the

four anterior tibis beset with snow-white pile. Wings with a brown semi-fascia on the distal half, the

proximal half with a broad brown costal margin.

Length 18 millim.

Had. Guaremaia, Panima in Vera Paz (Champion).

Head broader than the thorax, flat; front of moderate breadth, but slightly coarctate

anteriorly, black, subopaque, with hoary reflections along the orbits; in the middle a

raised longitudinal line, broad, but ill-defined, hardly shining, expanding anteriorly into —

a semblance of a flat triangular callus; subcallus convex, shining, brown. Face black,

but with a hoary, almost silvery reflection ; palpi of moderate length, strongly curved at

the base, attenuate towards the tip, clothed with black pile, interspersed with snow-

white hairs; proboscis black; occiput greyish. Antenne black ; third joint brownish, its

upper branch linear, blunt at the tip, and fully reaching the third joint of the annulate

portion of the lower branch. Thoracic dorsum reddish-brown, with a slight greyish

pollen, and a black, erect pubescence ; pleure dark brown, beset with black hair, and

with a tuft of snow-white hair in front of the root of the wings. Abdomen brown,

beset with black hairs, especially on the sides; a fringe of yellow hairs on the last

segment; on the venter the hind margins of the last six segments are beset with

golden-yellow hairs, forming six distinct cross-bands. Knob of the halteres yellow.

Legs dark brown or black, beset with black pile ; proximal half of the four anterior

tibiee yellowish, beset with white hairs; hind tibice with a distinct fringe of black

hair, with a few white hairs at the proximal ends. Wings brown from the root along

the costa, as far as the central cross-veins ; posteriorly the brown is bounded by the

fourth vein, but invades more or less both ends of the second basal cell, the middle of

which is yellowish ; a brown cross-band on the distal half of the wing, begins on the

costa between the tips of the first and second veins, attenuates and fades posteriorly and

ends in the second posterior cell; the interval between this cross-band and the brown

on the proximal half of the wing is yellow, more saturate towards the costa, where the

yolk-yellow stigma is visible ; first posterior cell broadly open; fork without stump of

a vein. A single female.

N.B.—The eyes (revived on wet sand) are dark green, unicolorous.

10. Tabanus venenatus, sp.n., °.

Third antennal joint very deeply excised, forming two branches, the upper one blunt at the tip; antenne red ;

femora reddish-yellow ; anterior tibie whitish, beset with white pile : hind tibiee dark brown, with a fringe

of black pile; tarsi black. Wings subhyaline, with a slight brownish tinge.

Length 15-16} millim.

Hab. Guaremaa, Sinanja (Champion); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 2000 to 3000 feet

(Champion).

TABANUS. 55

The ill-defined colour of the body of this species is somewhat difficult to describe.

Thorax of a pale reddish-brown above, almost imperceptibly whitish-pruinose anteriorly ;

ill-defined paler reddish spots sometimes mark the divisions of the usual stripes ; ante-

alar callus pale-coloured, almost whitish ; traces of greenish on the post-alar callus and

on the scutellum ; a tuft of yellow hairs on the post-alar callus. Pleure yellowish, with

reddish-yellow hairs; in one specimen very pale, almost whitish-yellow, with pale

yellowish-white hairs. Abdomen of a dirty brownish-yellow, with an admixture of

more or less greenish, especially towards the base; a delicate, scarce, appressed black

pubescence, which becomes more dense and distinct and forms a fringe on the posterior

margins of segments 4-6; in the middle of these margins there is sometimes a spot of

whitish hairs, often wanting ; lateral margins, beginning with the third segment, with

tufts of pale yellow hairs; venter yellowish-brown ; posterior margins of the segments

yellowish. Face and cheeks pale yellowish, with reddish-yellow hair, or, in some spe-

cimens almost whitish, with whitish hair; palpi in one specimen reddish-yellow, with

golden-yellow pile, in the other yellowish, with black pile. Antenne: third joint rufous,

deeply excised, the long upper branch linear, blunt at the tip, and reaching beyond the

base of the annulate portion of the joint: basal joints a little paler, more or less beset with

black pile. The front is almost entirely occupied by a chestnut-brown, smooth, shining,

slightly raised stripe, which absorbs the usual frontal callus, and reaches upwards nearly

to the vertex ; the interval between this stripe and the eye is pale-yellowish pollinose ;

vertex brown, whitish-pruinose, with some black pile. Halteres pale yellow. Wings

subhyaline, more or less tinged with pale brownish ; costal cell and stigma brownish-

yellow; first posterior cell broadly open, the fork without stump of a vein. Two

females.

Although the two specimens show the above-described differences in the colour &c. of

the pleure: and palpi, I entertain no doubt about their specific identity.

The eyes (revived on wet sand) are of a handsome reddish-purple, with green

reflections. .

11. Tabanus albonotatus.

Tabanus albo-notatus, Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 56, t. 2. £5 ( 2)".

Tabanus oculus, Walker, List &c. i. p. 157 (2) ?.

Tabanus bipartitus, Walker, List &c. i. p. 158 (9) *.

Hab. Mexico (Sallé1), Tampico (de Saussure'); British Honpuras, R. Sarstoon ;

Honpvuras 23.—Soura America, Colombia ?.

The characteristic black spot (surrounded by a whitish aureole) on the scutellum, the

appendiculated branch of the third vein, the closed first posterior cell, and the colour of

the front tibiee (dark on the distal half) renders the identification certain. The frontal

callus, in my specimens, is chestnut-brown, not black; the hind margins of the abdo-

minal segments show traces of white hairs in the middle; the brownish clouds on the

56 DIPTERA.

bifurcation of the third vein and on the cross-veins closing the discal cell are not a con-

stant character; in one of my specimens they are wanting. ‘Two females. |

N.B.—Although Walker’s two descriptions are earlier, they are too unsatisfac-

tory to be taken into consideration ; that both refer to albonotatus is proved by the

description of the front tibie (for ocwlus: fore shanks pale tawny, with black tips; for

bipartitus: legs ferruginous, fore thighs rather darker, fore feet and tips of fore shanks

piceous). At the same time, Walker does not mention the closed first posterior

cell nor the appendiculated fork ; instead of which he breaks up the species in two, with

an imaginary difference in the length of the abdomen. I have seen the types in the

British Museum.

I have a single female specimen (Bugaba, Panama, Champion) with the same charac-

teristic dark spot, encircled with white, on the scutellum, but easily distinguished by

the broadly open first posterior cell, the unappendiculated fork of the third vein, and

the uniformly black front tibie. All these characters are those of 7. defilippti,

Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 57; nevertheless the Panama insect is not that species. The

true 7. defilippii is much larger (23-24 millim., while the specimen from Bugaba is

about 14 millim.), and has the body and wings much browner.

12. Tabanus mexicanus.

Tabanus mexicanus (Linn.), Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. 1. p. 147; Bellardi, Saggio &c. i.

p. 59" (for the synonymy, see my Catal. N. A. Dipt. 1878, p. 59).

Hab. Sournern Unirep States.—Mexico!; British Honpuras (Blancaneaux, two

females).—SovuTH AMERICA.

13. Tabanus lineola.

Tabanus lineola (Fabr.), O. Sacken, Prodr. of N. Am. Tabanide, p. 448° (where the synonymy will

be found). .

Tabanus trilineatus (Latr.?), Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 63°.

Hab. Unrrep Staves 1.—Muexico 2 (Sallé, Sumichrast); Nicaracua, Chontales (Janson).

—SovutH AMERICA.

I have seen the type of 7. trilineatus, Bellardi, in Turin.

A common species in the United States.

Tabanus commiatus, Walker, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond, n. ser. v. p. 273, from Mexico,

is represented in the British Museum by a single badly-preserved female specimen

which belongs either to 7’. lineola or to some closely-allied species of that difficult group.

This is one of those cases where a description represents merely a specimen, and not a

species, and for this reason the name would better be suppressed.

STIBASOMA.

Stibasoma, Schiner, Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, xvii. p. 310 (1867); Reise d. Novara, Zool.. iii.

Abth. 1, p. 93.

STIBASOMA.—DIACHLORUS. 57

1. Stibasoma fulvohirtum.

Tabanus fulvohirtus, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 155+.

Stibasoma fulvohirtum, Schiner, Reise d. Novara, Zool. iii. Abth.1, p. 947.

Tabanus compactus, Walk. List &c. v. p. 222°.

Hab. Panama (Champion).—CotomBia?; Braziu!, Amazon River,

I have a single specimen from Panama which I have compared with the types in

London and Vienna. It agrees in everything, except that the fringe of hairs on the

posterior margin of the first abdominal segment differs from that on the other segments

in being fulvous and not white. ‘The description of the legs should be amended: the

ground-colour is reddish throughout, but more or less concealed by hairs of different —

length and density ; on the femora this pile is black, but the reddish ground-colour is

visible on the posterior side; on the tibie the pile is white at the base, black on the

distal portion only; on the front tibie the white occupies less than half, on the middle

tibize much more than half, of the whole length; the hair on the hind tibie is especially

long, the white at the base occupies about one third of the length. The tarsi have a

microscopic silvery pubescence on the upperside, and a reddish fulvous one on the lower

side. ‘The wings have a decided yellow tinge from the base to the end of the first vein,

and from the costa to the fifth vein; the apex and a broad posterior margin are greyish:

I have little doubt of the specific identity.

LEPIDOSELAGA.

Lepiselaga, Macquart, Dipt. Ex. i. 1, p. 153 (1838).

Lepidoselaga, as amended by Loew.

1. Lepidoselaga recta.

Lepidoselaga recta, Loew, Centur. vii. 8'.

Hadrus lepidotus, Bellardi, Saggio &c. 1. p. 75”.

Hab. Mexico? (Sallé, Sumichrast); GuatemMaua, Panzos (Champion).—Conomsia }.

Since Dr. Loew defined the difference between ZL. recta and L. lepidota, Wiedem., the

Hadrus lepidotus, Bellardi (non Wiedem.), must be referred to the former. A single

specimen has been received from Guatemala.

DIACHLORUS.

Diachlorus, O. Sacken, Prodr. of N. Am. Tabanida, ii. p. 475 (1876).

Diabasis, Macq. Hist. Nat. Dipt. i. p. 207 (nomen preoc.).

1. Diachlorus ferrugatus.

Diachlorus ferrugatus (Fabr.), O. Sacken, Prodrom. &c. p. 397 * (where the rest of the synonymy

will be found).

Tabanus rondaniz, Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 68, t. 2. f£. 117.

Hab. Sovurnern Unitep States .—Mexico ? (Sallé, de Saussure); GUATEMALA, Panzos

(Champion; asingle specimen).— West Inpigs; Brazit.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., October 1886.

58 DIPTERA.

DICHELACERA.

Dichelacera, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. i. 1, p. 112 (1838).

1. Dichelacera cervicornis.

Dichelacera cervicornis (Fabr.), Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins, i. p. 157.

Hab. Centra, AMERIcA; Panama, David in Chiriqui (Champion).—Soutn AMERICA.

A single small specimen has been received from the State of Panama.

This species varies very much in size and in the intensity of the colouring. I have

compared the types in Vienna.

In the British Museum the same species figures as Dichelacera fasciata, Walk. (Ins.

Saund. p. 68). I am afraid that a substitution of specimens has taken place here,

because of the total disagreement with the description—the more so as the specimen is

labelled South America, and the description gives North America.

List of the Tabanide from Mexico and Central America hitherto described, besides the

above-mentioned species (where no locality is given, Mexico is understood).

Pangonia aurulans, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. ii. p. 620.

atrifera, Walker, Trans. Ent. Soc. n. ser. v. p. 272.

fiavo-hirta, Bellardi, Saggio &c. 1. p. 49.

fulvithorax, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 89; Bigot, in R. de la

Sagra &c. p. 797.—Also in Brazil and Cuba.

incerta, Bellardi, 1. c. i. p. 52.—Orizaba, Mexico.

nigronotata, Macq. Dipt. Ex. Suppl. iv. p. 27, t. 2.f.5; Bellardi, l.c.i. p.d1.

—Orizaba, Mexico. ,

—— planiventris, Macq. Dipt. Ex. Suppl. iv. p. 26.

—— rhinophora, Bellardi, 1. c. i. p. 46, t. 2. f. 1.

— rostrifera, Bellardi, |. c. i. p. 47.

sallei, Bellardi, 1. c.i. p. 50.

saussurei, Bellardi, l.c.1. p. 49, t. 2. f. 4.—Orizaba, Mexico.

semiflava, Wiedem. 1. c. ii. p. 622; Bellardi, 1. c.i. p. 51, t. 2. f. 2 (syn.

P. bicolor, Macq. Dipt. Ex. Suppl. iv. p. 27 [ Bell.]).—Orizaba, Mexico.

tenuirostris, Walker, Trans. Ent. Soc. n. ser. v. p. 272.

—— wiedemanni, Bellardi, 1. c. i. p. 48, t. 2. f. 3 (syn. P. bastlaris, Wiedem.

Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. ii. p. 621 [Bell.)).

Chrysops flavidus, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 199; O. Sack. Prodr.

i, p. 385 (syn. C. pallidus, Bellardi, |. c. i. p. 73, t. 2. f. 16).

affinis, Bellardi, 1. c.i. p. 70, t. 2. f. 14.

TABANIDA. 59

Chrysops apicalis, Bellardi, 1. c. i. p. 73.

lateralis, Wiedem. 1. c. i. p. 209; Walker, List &c. i. p. 200, v. p. 286

(patria ignota in Wiedem.; Honduras and South America in Walk.).

—— megaceras, Bellardi, 1. c. i. p. 74, t. 2. £18. |

—— scalaratus, Bellardi, 1. c. i. p. 72, t. 2. £19.

—— subcecutiens, Bellardi, 1. c.i. p. 69, t. 2. £13.

— virgulatus, Bellardi, 1.c. i. p. 71, t. 2. f. 17.—Cuantla, Mexico.

crassicornis, v.d. Wulp, Wien. ent. Zeit. 1884, p. 141 (syn. C. geminatus,

Macq. [non Wiedem.] Dipt. Ex. Suppl. iv. p. 39).

Dichelacera scapularis, Macq. Dipt. Ex. Suppl. ii. p.15; Bellardi, Saggio &c.

i. p. 03, t. 2. f. 12.—Tehuantepec, Mexico.

[Therioplectes zonalis, Kirby (syn. Tab. flavocinctus, Bellardi, Saggio &c. i.

p. 61), is a doubtful native of Mexico; see O. Sack. Catal. &c. 1878,

p. 226, note 73. | 7

—— cinctus (Fabr.), Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 119 (Zabanus) ;

O. Sack. Prodr. ii. p. 464.-United States and Mexico (?), according

to Walker, List &c. i. p. 153.

Tabanus albiscutellatus, Macq. Dipt. Ex. Suppl. iv. p. 34, t. 2. f. 9.

alteripennis, Walker, Trans. Ent. Soc. n. ser. v. p. 274. (Compare above

(ante, p. 50] the remarks under Tab. ebrius.)

aurantiacus, Bellardi, Saggio &c. 1. p. 67, t. 2. f. 9.—Orizaba, Mexico.

caliginosus, Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 68, t. 2. f. 10.

carneus, Bellardi, Saggio &c. 1. p. 62.

circumfusus, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. ii. p. 624.

commixtus, Walker, Trans. Ent. Soc. n. ser. v. p. 273. (About this

species see ante, p. 56, Tah. lineola.)

dorsifer, Walker, Trans. Ent. Soc. n. ser. v. p. 273.

—— luteo-flavus, Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 60.

longiappendiculatus, Macq. Dipt. Ex. Suppl. v. p. 32.—Honduras.

—— propinquus, Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 65.

purus, Walker, Trans. Ent. Soc. n. ser. v. p. 274.

—— quinguevittatus, Wiedem. Dipt. Ex. i. p. 84; Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i.

p- 173; Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 65.

rubescens, Bellardi, Saggio &c. App. p. 15.—Oaxaca, Mexico.

sallet, Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 61, t. 2. f. 7.

stigma, Fabr. Syst. Antl. p. 104; Wiedem. Dipt. Ex. i. p. 92;

Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 180.—South America and St. Thomas

(Wiedem.).

subsimilis, Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 66.

subtilis, Bellardi, Saggio &c. App. p. 14, f. 9.—Oaxaca, Mexico.

60 DIPTERA.

Tabanus subruber, Bellardi, Saggio &. i. p. 55. (=T. ruber, Macq. Dipt. Ex.

Suppl. i. p. 42; change of name by Bellardi.)

sumichrasti, Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 56.

truguii, Bellardi, Saggio &c. 1. p. 64, t. 2. f. 6.

craverii, Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 60.

Fam. CHIROMYZIDA.

CHIROMYZA.

Chiromyza, Wiedemann, Dipt. Ex. p. 114 (1821).

1. Chiromyza fuscana.

Chiromyza fuscana, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 238, t. 1. f.5¢; Schiner, Reise d. Novara,

Zool. iti. Abth. 1, p. 76°.

Hab. Guatemata, San Gerénimo (Champion); Costa Rica, Irazu 6000 to 7000 feet

(Rogers).—SoutH Americal. Three females.

No Chiromyza has been found so far north before. In the Central-American examples

the four posterior tibiz are almost whitish in the middle, both ends being brown (I do not

find this character mentioned in the descriptions); the two first veins, issuing from the

discal cell, are nearly straight, by no means so much curved as in Wiedemann’s figure ;

the third vein, on the contrary, which is represented as straight, is gently curved in our

specimens.

Fam. LEPTIDA.

CHRYSOPILA.

Chrysopila, Macquart, Dipt. du Nord &c. 1827.

The four species of this genus which I find in the collections before me bear the

general character of the smaller dark-coloured forms, and are often clothed with a

golden pubescence. They seem to be numerous both in North and South America, but

are not readily recognizable from descriptions. For this reason I abstain from describing

any new species, especially as the specimens are not well preserved.

1. Chrysopila ——? |

Hab. Costa Rica 6000 to 7000 feet (Rogers), Irazu. Two males.

Comes near Chrysopila basalis, Walk. Trans. Ent. Soc. n. ser. v. p. 284 (Mexico), but

I do not see any dull testaceous stripes on the thorax.. The stigma is yellowish-brown

CHRYSOPILA. 61

and not remarkably large; the wings, on the distal half, are almost imperceptibly tinged

with greyish. About 6 millim. long.

The Chrysopila apicalis, v. d. Wulp, Tijdschr. &c. xxv. p. 119 (Guadeloupe), is still

nearer; but I am by no means certain of the identity. Van der Wulp’s name is pre-

occupied by Rondani for a South-American species.

2. Chrysopila —— ?

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

A pair (¢ 2) from the above locality cannot be identified with any of the described

species. Blackish-grey, with hyaline wings, yellowish tibie, black halteres, &c.

3. Chrysopila —— ?

Hab. Costa Rica, Irazu 6000 to 7000 feet (Rogers).

A pair( d Q ) from Irazu are certainly different from all the described species, but too

badly preserved for description. The wings have a brown cross-band issuing from the

darker brown stigma, crossing the middle of the first posterior cell, and reaching, some-

what attenuated, the cross-vein at the base of the fourth posterior cell ; between this

cross-band and the apex, which is likewise brown, there is a distinct hyaline cross-band.

In our male specimen the brown is more spread out than in the female, and the hyaline

band is cut off posteriorly by an infuscation of the last of the veins, issuing from the

discal cell; in the female the brown markings are fainter and narrower, and therefore

the hyaline cross-band broader, but less distinctly marked. Anal cell short, petiolate; a

distinctly yellowish tinge at the proximal end of the stigma. Body brown in the female,

with a golden-yellow pubescence, apparently forming double spots at the bases of the

abdominal segments ; I do not perceive any traces of this in the male. Halteres with a

brown knob ; legs brownish-yellow, the tarsi darker. Antenne brown, the second joint

reddish. Length 7-8 millim.

A third specimen (R. Sucio, Costa Rica, Rogers), a female, apparently belongs to

the same species, but the brown markings on the wings are still fainter, and the brown

cross-band almost obliterate.

4, Chrysopila % og.

Hab. Mexico, Ciudad in Durango 8100 feet (Forrer).

Two specimens. Body brown (3), or greyish-brown (2), with very scarce

yellowish pile; antenne dark brown; femora brown, the tibie brownish-yellow. Wings

altogether hyaline, the stigma brown. Length 6-7 millim.

62 . DIPTERA.

ATHERIX.

Atherix, Meigen, in Illiger’s Mag. ii. p. 271 (1803).

1. Atherix longipes?

Atherix longipes, Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii. p. 94, t. 2. f. 17 (9)*.

Hab. Mexico, Cordova (de Saussure'); Costa Rica, Irazu 6000 to 7000 feet

(Rogers); Panama, Bugaba (Champion).

I have a single male from Bugaba and a female from Irazu. They agree tolerably

well with Prof. Bellardi’s description, but the thorax and the proximal half of the

abdomen are more reddish-yellow, the tip of the wings not hyaline; the hind tibie

and tarsi of the female are not infuscated. It may be a paler variety. The male

specimen has the thorax altogether black, with silvery pleure; the hind femora have

a brown band in the middle, the intermediate femora a similar band nearer the base.

Both sexes have a large hyaline spot at the distal end of the stigma, which is not

figured by Bellardi. Do our two specimens belong to the same species? Unfortunately

the type of A. longipes is not in Prof. Bellardi’s collection.

The other Leptide previously recorded from Mexico (there are none from other parts

of Central America) are :—

Chrysopila basalis, Walk. Trans. Ent. Soc. n. ser. v. p. 285.

mexicana, Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii. p. 96.

nigra, Bellardi, Saggio &c. App. p. 27.—Tuxpango, Mexico.

trifasciata, Walk. Trans. Ent. Soc. n. ser. v. p. 284.

Leptis biteniata, Bellardi, Saggio &c. App. p. 26, f. 14.—Tuxpango, Mexico.

(t) cinerea, Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii. p. 95.—Cordova, Mexico.

politeniata, Bellardi, Saggio &c. App. p. 27.—Tuxpango, Mexico.

Atherix latipennis, Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii. p. 93.—Oaxaca, Mexico.

Fam. XYLOPHAGIDZ.

RHACHICERUS.

Rachicerus (Haliday), Walker, List &c. v. p. 103 (1854).

1. Rhachicerus bellus, sp. n., ¢ .

Black ; hind tibie white at the base; wings black, with subhyaline spots in the middle of the cells; halteres

pale yellowish.

Length about 15 millim.

Hab. Panama, Bugaba 800 to 1500 feet (Champion).

Altogether black, shining; front with a silvery reflection immediately above the

RHACHICERUS. 63

antenne. Antenne pectinate; the length of the branches of the joints gradually

diminishing towards the tip; the longest branch, that on the first joint of the

flagellum, equal in length to 5 or 6 joints (the number of joints cannot be stated,

as the tips of both antenne are broken off at the same place; it must be over thirty ;

28 joints of each antenna are remaining). The posterior margins of the three inter-

mediate abdominal segments are fringed with white hairs. Coxe and femora black,

shining; the four anterior tibie and the base of the tarsi have a pale ground-colour,

darkened by a dense microscopic appressed pubescence, the rest of the tarsi black ; hind

tibie and tarsi black, the former with a white ring at the base, occupying about one

third of their length. Wings black, darker towards the anterior margin and the base ;

subhyaline streaks in the middle of the marginal, second basal, anal, third, fourth, and

fifth posterior cells; the streak on the latter is triangular in shape; venation like the

other species of the genus; fourth posterior cell and anal cell closed; anterior cross-vein

at about the middle of the distance between the tip of the prefurca and the bifurcation

of the third vein. A single female specimen.

N.B.—This is the eleventh species described of this remarkable genus. It has

the excision of the inner orbit of the eye, the short basal joints of the antenna, and the

other characteristic marks of Rhachicerus. I regret not to have any of the other species

at hand for comparison.

Besides this, the only species of Xylophagide described from Mexico or Central

America is :—

Rhachicerus nigripalpus, Loew, Berl. ent. Zeit. 1874, p. 378.—Mexico.

N.B.—In the Berl. ent. Zeit. 1882, pp. 364-366, I have expressed my doubts about

the constitution of the family Xylophagide, and said that after the elimination of the

forms foreign to it, the genus Xylophagus would have to be brought into closer connec-

tion with the Leptide. I still hold this opinion, although I am not prepared to give

it an immediate practical application.

Fam. ACANTHOMERIDA.

Although a good many species of this family have been described, very little has been

done in the way of generalizing the characters of the family and of the two genera now

composing it—Acanthomera and Rhaphiorhynchus.

This is so far true that even the sexual characters have not been clearly defined ;

in several cases the sexes of the same species have been described under different

names, and even placed in different genera.

The sexes in this family, as in many other families of Diptera, are easily distin-

guishable by the contiguity or non-contiguity of the eyes and by the shape of the

abdomen. ‘The difference in the structure of the antenne has never been distinctly

64 DIPTERA.

stated, and was so far ignored, that Bigot, in his monographic essay on “ Acantho-

meride,” has proposed a separate genus for the male sex. The only comparative

statement about the structure of the male and female antenne we possess is that of

Wiedemann (in the description of A. vittata), and that is not very clear: “beim ¢ viel

kiirzer und bei weitem nicht so deutlich geringelt, als beim 2, der Endgriffel nicht

ein Viertheil der Lange erreichend.”

The antenne of Acanthomera consist :—1, of the two-jointed scapus; 2, of a flattened

compound joint of seven segments, the first of which is the longest; 3, of the style.

In the male of many species the compound joint has the shape of a flat disc, rounded

at the base, more or less attenuated at the distal end; in most cases its ending is

abrupt; the setiform style, considerably longer than the compound joint, is inserted

upon it. But in other species the compound joint of the male does not end abruptly,

but tapers gradually into a point, which merges into the last joint, corresponding to

the style. A. picta, Wiedem., male, and several undescribed or unnamed species which

I have seen in collections have such antenne. It is very probable that species will be

found forming the transition between the two forms.

The antenne of the female are very like the antenne of the second form of the

male, only distinctly broader; the flattened, tapering, compound joint gradually merges

into a long terminal joint, corresponding to the style in the male, but comparatively

stouter and less setiform. The sutures between the segments of the compound

joint are more or less distinctly marked in different species, and are characteristic

of the species.

Bigot established the genus Megalemyia (Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1881, p. 455) on those

Acanthomere which have a disciform compound joint with a setiform style at the tip,

that is on specimens of the malesex only. His Megalemyia seticornis is the male of the

species which, in the same paper, he describes as Acanthomera rubriventris, 2 , n. sp.

Wiedemann mentions the subfemoral spine on the hind femora as a character of the

genus Acanthomera, and even derives the generic name from it. In reality, the minority

of the species only have a spine; and among the three species described by Wiedemann

himself in his first volume, A. vittata has none. It remains to be ascertained whether

this spine is a constant character in those species in which it appears, or whether its

presence depends on the development of individuals, so that in some specimens it may

be wanting; also whether its development in both sexes is equally strong. The

presence of this spine is difficult to ascertain in cases when it is small and concealed

among the hair on the underside of the femora. In order to discover its presence or

absence, it may be necessary sometimes to detach the leg and to rub the under surface

of the femur with the tip of one’s finger. This difficulty must be borne in mind in

identifying descriptions.

There is another spine at the end of the femur, in a line with its longitudinal axis,

on the outer side; when small it may be sometimes overlooked on account of the tibia

ACANTHOMERIDA. 65

being closely applied to it. Here likewise it must be ascertained whether the presence

or absence of the spine is a constant specific character.

A peculiar pointed projection of the face, sometimes straight-conical, sometimes

curved at the tip, which occurs in some species, was taken by Wiedemann, in connec-

tion with a peculiar structure of the palpi, as a character of the genus Rhaphiorhynchus.

Later, species were discovered in which this projection exists, while the palpi show the

ordinary structure. Is this beak a constant character in the same species? If it exists

in the female, does it also necessarily appear in the male? The latter is the case with

specimens of Rhaphiorhynchus planiventris before me. But I have seen in the British

Museum a female Acanthomera which I would feel inclined to place with a male in the

same collection, but for the beak which exists in the former and not in the latter.

There seems to also exist a correlation between the beak and the subfemoral spine.

A. magnifica, Walk., A. frauenfeldi, Schin., A. picta, Wiedem., and some unnamed

species which I have seen in collections have both the beak and the spines; they seem

to form a natural group, distinguished by a more slender body and more projecting

humeral callosities. It remains to be seen whether these coincidences are constant.

The sides of the abdomen in some specimens have sharp edges, generally beset with

a more or less dense fringe of hairs easily rubbed off. These sharp edges are produced

by the expansion of the dorsal abdominal plates beyond the membrane connecting them

with the ventral plates. In other specimens the sides of the abdomen are blunt, and

look ‘as if the sharp edges had been bent under or crumpled. It seems evident to me

that this difference is not merely accidental, produced in the process of drying, but that

it is a real, specific, or may be generic difference. I believe even that I notice a certain

degree of coincidence between the presence of the sharp edges and the absence of sub-

femoral spines and of facial projections. This point remains also to be investigated.

If a generic subdivision should be attempted, the name Acanthomera should be retained

for the group with rounded edges and subfemoral spines, and Pantophthalmus, Thunb.,

the older name, for the species with sharp edges.

The breadth of the front in the female should be noted; it seems to be a good

distinctive character between closely allied species. The comparative size of the head

of the male and the structure of the hind femora, sometimes linear, sometimes attenuated

at the base, and slightly club-shaped on the latter half, also offer characteristic differences.

The arrangement of the stripes and spots on the thorax, an apparent monotony

notwithstanding, offers excellent characters for the recognition of the species, and

especially for the assorting together of male and female specimens of the same species,

They should therefore be carefully described, and, if possible, figured.

The genus khaphiorhynchus is based on the peculiar structure of the palpi, which

are stout and pointed, and not linear as in Acanthomera. These palpi, so far as I can

judge from male and female specimens of R. planiventris before me, are in the male

fusiform, and end in a straight point (correctly represented by Macquart, Dipt. Ex.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., October 1886. k

66 «DIPTERA.

i. 1, t. 20. f. 36); in the female they are much stouter, and the end is curved. But E

have seen in the collection of the Berlin Museum a large female Acanthomera from

Brazil, unnamed, dark-coloured like my A. championi; it has the last joint of the palpi

button- or club-shaped, and a beak-like protuberance on the face. Must it be taken

for a Rhaphiorhynchus ? |

If all the Acanthomere existing in European collections could be br cought

together, it would perhaps be an easy matter to draw comparative descriptions, and

to unravel the confusion now existing in books and collections. Until such a mono-

graphic work is rendered possible, the hints and remarks which I have given, the result

of notes taken for several years past in the principal museums of Europe, may be of

use to the future describers of new species; nevertheless it will remain a difficult task

to describe new Acanthomeride.

The species of this family hitherto found occur within the tropics, in South America

and Mexico. I have never seen specimens from the West Indies, nor are any mentioned in

existing publications; two specimens in the British Museum are labelled “Trinidad,”

an island which is so near the coast of South America that, zoo-geographically, it forms

a part of that continent. The statement that Thunberg’s Pantophthalmus tabaninus

comes from the West Indies, therefore, still requires confirmation.

Mr. Champion tells me that Acanthomere are found in the forests, alighting on

trunks of trees.

RHAPHIORHYNCHUS.

Rhaphiorhynchus, Wiedemann, Dipt. Exot. p. 59 (1821).

1. Rhaphiorhynchus planiventris. |

Rhaphiorhynchus planiventris, Wiedem. Dipt. Ex. p. 60; id. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 106, t. 1.

f. 4 & ii. p. 6227.

(?) Rhaphiorhynchus planiventris, Macq. Dipt. Ex. i. 1, p. 170, t. 20. f. 3 (¢).

Acanthomera bigoti, Bellardi, Saggio &c. App. p. 16, f. 10 ( 2)’.

Acanthomera crassipalpis, Macq. Dipt. Ex. Suppl. ii. p. 27, t. 1. f£. 8; Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr.

1881, p. 458 (Rhaphiorhynchus) (¢ )’.

Hab. Mexico, Chinantla (Sallé)?; Guaremaa$ ; Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de

Chiriqui (Champion).—Guiana, Surinam !; Braziu. a

_ I have a male (from Chiriqui) and a female (from Bugaba); the female is much

darker in the colour of the thorax; the venter is dark brown, which colour is also seen

from the upperside as a narrow margin of the abdomen; the palpi of the female are

much stouter than in the male, and the end is curved; the fusiform palpi of the male

end in a straight point (correctly represented by Macquart, Dipt. Ex. t. 20. fig. 35).

The second posterior cell is almost closed in the male (as Bellardi figures it),and much

more open in the female; this character seems to be variable (¢f. Macq. Dipt. Ex.

i. 1,.p. 170).

RHAPHIORHYNCHUS.—ACANTHOMERA. 67

I have compared my specimens with the types in Berlin, in Vienna, and in Turin, as

well as with all the descriptions. The female in Vienna has the venter less dark than

mine. The expression in Bellardi’s description, “palpis longiusculis” must be taken

ia connection with his figure, which shows the palpi of a Rhaphiorhynchus. The

femoral spines, mentioned in the description, are omitted in the figure; they exist

nevertheless in the type specimen.

Macquart’s 2. planiventris, male (in Mus. Paris), judging by the short description

and the bad figure, may not be the same species; I do not recognize the stripes of the

thorax ; the intermediate and posterior legs are described as being brown, while in

R. planiventris, Wiedem., the posterior pair alone have that colour.

There is no reason for considering &. crassipalpis, Macq. (a female), as a distinct

species. The difference indicated in Bigot’s table (Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1881, p. 458)—

“tibias d’un jaune pale (planiventris); tibias postérieurs noirdtres (crassipalpis) ”—is

merely based on the fact that Wiedemann omitted (Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 107)

to describe the hind tibie; but they are represented as dark on the figure (t. i. f. 4),

and described as such in Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. ii. p. 622. A female in the Berlin

Museum, agreeing with mine, is determined as 2. crassipalpis, Macq.

ACANTHOMERA.

Acanthomera, Wiedemann, Dipt. Exot. p. 60 (1821). |

1. Acanthomera championi, sp. n. (Tab. III. fig. 16, 2.)

Acanthomera picta (non Wiedem.), Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 76’.

Female. Thoracic dorsum showing a greyish-pollinose dorso-central stripe, with parallel sides, and a shining

spot in the middle (from abrasion of the pollen?); the stripe is longitudinally bisected by a velvety

blackish-brown stripe, attenuated where it crosses the shining spot; on each side the dorso-central stripe

is bounded by broad velvety-black stripes, broadest in front (where they reach the whitish pollinose humeral

callosity), gradually attenuating towards the scutellum ; the rest of the space between the thoracic suture

and the humerus is clothed with a greyish-brown pollen, and therefore opaque; behind the thoracic suture

there is a shining chestnut-brown spot, oblong, nearly reaching the scutellum; the latter dark brown,

yellowish-pruinose at the base. Pleura dark brown, beset with black hairs. Knob of the halteres brown,

the stem reddish. Abdomen black, shining; posterior and lateral margins of the segments velvety-black,

opaque; the lateral edges of segments 8 and 4 are sharp, and beset with a dense fringe of black hairs ;

segment 5 is abruptly narrower than the preceding, occupying about one quarter of its breadth; segments

6, 7,and 8 are each narrower than the preceding, forming a kind of ovipositor-like tail; segment 8 is much

longer than broad; segment 9 is very small, and ends in a pair of minute valvules; venter black or dark

brown, with a brownish, velvety reflection. Legs black or dark brown; hind femora linear, not incrassate,

and without spines, either subfemoral or terminal. Face and front velvety-black or brown, the latter with

parallel sides; the breadth of the front is less than half, but more than one third of the distance between

the root of the antenne and the front ocellus ; lower part of the face reddish-brown in the middle, with a

slight gibbosity. Antenne dark brown; third joint flattened, showing eight distinct subdivisions, the last

of which (homologous to the style of the male) is awl-shaped, pointed at the end, and nearly two thirds

as long as the seven preceding ones taken together. Wings infuscated, darker on the antero-proximal

portion, with yellowish spaces along some of the veins; especially conspicuous is a large spot in the shape

of a jagged half cross-band between the anterior margin and the proximal end of the discal cell; other

yellowish spots on the cross-veins at the base of the second, third, and fifth posterior cells, and on the

68 DIPTERA.

bifurcation of the third vein. Two specimens—the one nearly 40 millim., the other about 28 millim. long,

both without counting the terminal segments forming the ovipositor.

Hab. Mexico (Sumichrast}); Nicaracua, Chontales (Janson); Panama, Bugaba

(Champion).

This species seems to be common; there is a specimen in the British Museum, and

another in the Berlin Museum (under a collection name), both from Mexico. Bellardi’s

A. picta, which I have compared, is the same species. Professor Bellardi thought

that the white abdominal spots mentioned in Wiedemann’s description were rubbed’

off in his specimen (he says, ‘‘ maculis albidis nullis, quia detritum”); but they do not

exist even in well-preserved specimens.

A, picta, Wiedem., is known in the male sex only; besides the white abdominal spots,

it has a more whitish thorax.

I have little doubt that the male of A. championi has the antenne like those of

A. seticornis, that is, with a long setiform style.

I take pleasure in dedicating this species to Mr. George C. Champion.

2. Acanthomera 2

Hab. GuateMAuaA, Panima in Vera Paz (Champion).

A single male, about 27 millim. long; third antennal joint disciform, with a bristle

at the tip one and a half times the length of the joint; sides of the abdominal segments

flattened, with sharp edges, those of segments 3 and 4 with fringes of short hair; the

hind femora have neither subfemoral nor terminal spines, the latter are replaced by a

blunt projection; palpi linear; face not projecting. Thorax rich brown, with paler

stripes, with a brownish, rather dense pubescence; abdomen uniformly ferruginous,

the short hairy lateral fringes on segments 3 and 4 of the same colour; legs rather

uniformly reddish chestnut-brown; wings like those of A. championi in colour, that is

brownish with paler spaces on the cross-veins and bifurcations.

I cannot identify this male with any of the existing descriptions, nevertheless I do

not describe it as a new species, because the discrepancies consist principally in the

colouring, which may be variable. The specimen may perhaps be the male of some of

the species in the vicinity of A. bellardi or A. fulvida, Bigot.

Fam. MIDAIDE.

LEPTOMIDAS.

Leptomydas, Gerstaecker, Stett. ent. Zeit. 1868, p. 81.

1. Leptomidas sponsor, sp. n.,¢.

Thorax brownish-red, with yellow stripes; pleure nearly black; abdomen brown, with well-marked yellow

cross-bands on the margins of the segments; legs pale reddish; wings yellowish; proboscis black.

Length 15 millim.

Hab, Guarumata, San Gerdnimo (Champion).

LEPTOMIDAS. 69

Head black, shining; facial, frontal, and occipital orbits with a moderately broad

border of orichalceous-yellow pollen; proboscis black; antenne reddish, the rather

broad and flat club, and a part of the joint preceding it, brown, the underside of the

club reddish. Thorax brownish-red, with four orichalceous-yellow stripes; the outer

stripes short (being included between the humerus and the root of the wing), the

inner ones slightly diverging in front and their anterior end a little expanded, pos-

teriorly they do not reach the scutellum; pleure and pectus black, moderately shining ;

pteropleura dark chestuut-brown; scutellum reddish-brown, with a slight yellow

margin in front; metanotum reddish-brown in the middle, browner laterally, anteriorly

with a yellow border slightly interrupted in the middle. Abdomen dark brown,

more reddish-brown towards the end; segments 1-5 each with a yellow cross-band on

the posterior margin, visible also on some of the ventral segments (especially 3 and 4);

the cross-band of segment 2 bears on its hind margin two oblong, black, shining spots ;

on segment 5 the cross-band is much narrower than on the others; the coronet of

spines at the end of the abdomen (¢) is rufous. Halteres black, reddish at the root.

Coxee and trochanters dark brown; legs rufous; proximal half of the hind femora

whitish, their distal half but very little incrassate and without any teeth on the under-

side; tibie straight. Wings with a slight yellowish tinge, more saturate anteriorly

between the costa and the fourth vein; the branches of the fork of the third vein.

slightly clouded with brownish. A single female.

N.B.—The long proboscis, with small lips at the end, the ovipositor with a coronet

of spinules, the absence of the connecting little cross-vein on the hind margin of the

wings, &c. characterize this species as a Leptomidus. The vein following the forked

vein (Gerstaecker’s “ Parallelader ;” it is a branch of the fourth vein) ends here in the

first vein a short distance before its end, and not in the margin, as in the typical

species of the genus. (See Gerstaecker, Stett. ent. Zeit. 1868, p. 81, t. 1. fig. 3.)

2. Leptomidas brachyrhynchus, sp. n., 2.

Proboscis red, unusually short ; thorax brownish-red, with yellow stripes ; pleure and abdomen red ; segment 2

with a pair of well-marked black spots on the posterior margin; legs pale reddish; antenne red.

Length 16 millim.

Hab. Muxtco, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

Proboscis rufous, unusually short for a Leptomidas, as its end does not reach beyond

the second joint of the antenne. Antenne rufous; the scapus and the coarctation of

the third joint a little brownish; the club moderately expanded. Sides of face and

front densely covered with a yellow pollen, beset with scattered golden-yellow hairs; the

middle of the face, between the mouth and the antenne, rufous, with a tuft of rufou-

golden hairs on each side; the middle of the front and the vertex black, shining ;

the sides of the vertex show traces of rufous; occiput densely yellow-pollinose. Thorax

brownish-red, with four stripes of yellow pollen; the intermediate stripes expand anteriorly

70 - DIPTERA.

and do not reach beyond the suture posteriorly, the lateral ones run from the humerus

to the scutellum ; humeri yellow ; pleure rufous, mixed with yellow and brown; sternum

brownish ; metanotum reddish-yellow, darker under the scutellum. MHalteres pale

rufous. Legs pale rufous; proximal half of the femora and tibie still paler, almost

whitish-yellow on the hind pair; hind femora with a few short bristles on the under-

side of the incrassation towards the end; hind tibie distinctly curved, beset with

scattered weak bristles; hind tarsi comparatively short. Abdomen rufous; hind

margins of segments 3-7 ill-defined yellowish; the lateral margins of segments 2—7

have a black stripe, interrupted by the yellow on the sutures; on the hind margin of

segment 2 there is a pair of deep-black oblong spots (corresponding to similar spots in

L. sponsor and I. pantherinus). ‘The coronet of spines at the end of the abdomen ( ? )

is black. Wings with a pale brownish tinge; veins clouded with a darker brown;

costal vein yellowish. A single female. |

N.B.—This is undoubtedly a Leptomidas, its short proboscis notwithstanding. The

vein following the forked vein ends at the very tip of the first vein, on one of the

wings almost in the alar margin. It is very probable that in this species, like in some

other Midaide of the same cvlour, the distribution of the rufous and darker tints is not

altogether constant, and this circumstance must be taken into account in identifying

such species.

MIDAS.

Mydas, Fabricius, Ent. Syst. iv. p. 252 (1794).

Midas, Wiedemann, Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. 1. p. 239 (1828).

1. Midas rubidapex.

Midas rubidapex, Wiedem. Mon. Midar. p. 40, t. 52. f. 2; Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 5’.

Hab. Mexico (Sallé!); Guatemaua, San Gerénimo (Champvon).

I have three male specimens from San Gerdnimo, agreeing with the descriptions,

except that the ungues are not “flavescentes, ad apicem nigri,” as Bellardi describes

them, but altogether black, slightly chestnut-brown about the middle. The antennal

scapus alone is black, the rest of the antenne yellowish-orange; according to Wiede-

mann the colour varies, the club alone being sometimes yellow. All our specimens

have a tuft of white hairs above the hind coxe.

2. Midas dives.

Midas dives, Westw. Arcana Ent. i. p. 50, t. 13. f. 1.

Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion), near the city (J. J. Walker).—Brazt (Berl. Mus.).

This species is exceedingly like Midas rubidapex; the differences are :—(1) the two

basal segments of the abdomen are clothed on the dorsal side with golden down, which

MIDAS. 71°

is shorter and appressed on the second segment; (2) the alula, which in WZ. rudidapex is

blackish, like the whole base of the wing, is reddish here—this character becomes:

especially apparent when the wings are folded over the back of the insect and the large

alule cover the scutellum; (3) in M. rubidapex the limit between the reddish-yellow,

opaque anterior and the subhyaline posterior portion of the wing is marked by an

irregular, but continuous blackish line of cloud, which runs from the costa towards the

anal angle of the wing—in JZ. dives this continuous line of cloud does not exist, only

disconnected vestiges of it are visible in the shape of small clouds in some of the cells.

Prof. Bellardi, in his description of MW. rubidapex, mentions a specimen he had received

from the Museum in Paris, which had the second abdominal segment clothed with a

yellow tomentum; this was probably J. dives. Mr. Westwood gives no locality ;

Dr. Gerstaecker had VW. dives from Brazil; it agrees with our specimens.

8. Midas decor, sp. n., 3. .

Black, shining; a pair of abbreviated, indistinct hoary lines on the front part of the thorax; wings pale

yellowish-brown, somewhat darker anteriorly, the fork of the third vein rather ventricose.

Length 21 millim.

Hab. Panama, Bugaba 800 to 1500 feet (Champion).

' Not unlike MW. crassipes, Westw. (Arcana Ent. i. t. 13. f. 3, from ? North America),

in shape and colour, but much smaller; the abdomen has the same shape, that is, its

sides are almost parallel, with a slight coarctation a little beyond the base; the forked

cell is much more ventricose than in the figure of WM. crassipes; the weakness of the

hind femora, the presence of the hoary stripes on the anterior part of the thorax, of a

tuft of white hairs above the hind coxe, &c., seem to prove the specific distinctness. It

cannot be the same as M. biteniatus, Bell., which has thoracic stripes much more

distinct, the face with hoary stripes along the orbits, and the abdomen conical. J,

carbonifer, O. Sack. Catal. N. Am. Dipt. p. 236 (New York), has an opaque thorax and

darker wings ; W/. virgatus, Wiedem., has the lateral thoracic margins and the abdominal

incisures whitish hoary, the wings more evenly brown, &c.

Head black, the face shining; all the hairs upon it black, except a few white ones on

the underside of the occiput; white hairs in the mystax are perceptible in a certain

light only; no hoary stripes along the orbits, except a trace on the occipital orbits;

antenne black. Thorax black, the dorsum shining, with two feebly marked hoary

stripes (visible in an oblique light only) on the anterior portion; pleuree opaque,

with a slight hoary bloom on their lower parts, above and between the coxe;

the latter black, shining. Legs black ; hind femora very little incrassate, but with very

sharp spines on the underside; terminal hook of the tibiz small; a tuft of white hairs

above the hind femora. Halteres black. Abdomen black, shining. Wings tinged with

pale yellowish-brown ; subcostal, marginal, and a part of the first submarginal cells

‘a little darker brown; second submarginal cell expanded before the middle, coarctate

72 DIPTERA.

towards the tip; connecting cross-vein near the posterior margin present. A single

male.

4. Midas chrysites, sp. n., 3.

Altogether black, the wings brown; abdominal segments 2-5 covered with short, appressed, golden-rufescent

pile, not dense enough to modify much the black ground-colour.

Length 32 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

A little smaller than I. clavatus, the thorax and abdomen much narrower, the latter

gradually tapering from the base to the tip.

Head, antenne, occiput, &c. altogether black, clothed with black pile, forming a

dense, dependent tuft on the facial gibbosity. Thorax and pleure black, moderately

shining, without any trace of a hoary pollen (the thoracic dorsum being somewhat

greasy, | am unable to describe it more accurately). Abdomen black, moderately

shining, towards its end and in the middle of the ventral segments some bluish reflec-

tions are visible; the dorsal segments 2-5 (except the hind margins) clothed with a

short, appressed, golden-rufescent pubescence, especially perceptible in an oblique light,

but not dense enough to conceal the black and shining ground-colour much when

viewed in a vertical direction; the corresponding pubescence on segments 6 and 7 is

black. Halteres black. Legs black; hind femora a little less incrassate than in

M. clavatus, 3 , beset with spines on the underside; hind tibize with the hook at the tip.

Wings infuscated; the anterior margin, between the second vein and the costa, and

also the third vein, before the fork, are slightly tinged with ferruginous, and therefore

less dark than in UW. clavatus; venation like that of M/. clavatus; the stump on the

fork and the connecting cross-vein on the hind margin are present. <A single male.

N.B.—When I examine the specimen from behind, in the direction of the axis of the

body, I perceive that the edge of the third abdominal segment is red; this is not the

case with the other segments; but I do not know whether this is a permanent character

or not.

5. Midas cleptes, sp. n., ¢.

Black, thorax opaque, segments 2-4 rufous on the dorsal side; wings infuscated.

Length 25 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

Head and antenne altogether black, clothed with black hairs; a slight brownish-

grey pollen along the facial orbit and in the depression on each side of the upper part

of the face; a narrow margin of greyish pollen along the occipital orbit. Thorax deep

black and opaque. Halteres black. Abdomen very gently tapering, black, with distinct

bluish reflections on the venter, less distinct on the last two dorsal segments; dorsal

segments 2-4 red, the second more or less darkened at the base; a scarce microscopic

MIDAS.—-RHYNCHOCEPHALUS. 73

appressed rufous pubescence is perceptible on the red ground, as also on the black

ground of the fifth segment; last segment black, beset with black pile. Legs black;

hind femora moderately incrassate, with the usual rows of spines ; tibiee with hooks at

the end. Wings infuscated, but less dark than in 1. clavatus; venation normal. A

single male.

N.B.—A female from Dallas, Texas, which apparently belongs to this species, has

no rufous tomentum on segments 2-5 of the abdomen; the wings are less dark, more

reddish-brown. A female in the Berlin Museum, from the same locality, has the facial

orbit more white.

The other Midaide previously described from Mexico (there are none from other

parts of Central America) are :—

Midas annularis, Gerst. Stett. ent. Zeit. 1868, p. 100.

basalis, Westw. Arc. Ent. i. p. 53; Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii. p. 10.

—— biteniatus, Bellardi, 1. . ii. p. 7, t. 1. f. 1.—Playa Vicente, Mexico. 2/07 0 Ted,

interruptus, Wiedem. Monogr. Mid. p. 46, t. 53. f.12. (Syn. WL. tri-

cinctus, Bellardi, 1. c. ii. p. 8, t. 1. f. 2.)

—— militaris, Gerst. 1. c. p. 99. (Syn. MV. vittatus, Macq. Dipt. Exot.

Suppl. iv. p. 60, t. 4. £ 6; Bellardi, l. c. ii. p. 7.) (A male and a

female in the British Museum agree with the descriptions; they

were collected by M. Sallé.)

senilis, Westw. Arc. Ent. i. p. 52.

subinterruptus, Bellardi, |. c. ii. p. 10, t. 1. f. 83.—Patzcuaro, Mexico.

lavatus, Gerst. 1. c. p. 96. (I am not quite sure whether this is a

synonym of J. szanthopterus, Loew, as I stated in my Catal. N. Am.

Dipt. p. 85.)

—— tibialis (Wiedem. Monogr. Mid. p. 42, t. 53. f. 6.—Maryland, Michi-

gan), Bellardi, 1. c. ii. p. 6. (9,706 |

incisus (Macq. Dipt. Exot. ii. p. 11, t. 1. £. 1—Carolina), Jaennicke,

Neue exot. Dipt. p. 46.

Fam. NEMESTRINIDZ.

RHYNCHOCEPHALUS.

Rhynchocephalus, Fischer, Mém. Soc. Imp. des Natur. de Moscou, p- 217 (1806).

1. Rhynchocephalus 2

Hab. Guatemata, San Gerdénimo (Champion).

A single female. Not unlike 2. volaticus, Willist. (Canad. Ent. 1883, p- 71), from

Florida, but the size is a little larger (13-14 millim.); wings comparatively longer

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., Vovember 1886. 1

74 DIPTERA.

(13-5 millim.); the upper part of the front and the vertex clothed not with black but

with thin brownish-rufous pile. The abdominal segments beyond the second clothed

with an appressed rufous tomentum, mixed with pale-yellow hairs; along the hind

margins the yellow hair becomes more dense, and produces, in an oblique light, the

appearance of pale golden-yellow fringes. The tufts of black hair on the sides of

segments 3 and 4 are quite conspicuous. The antenne agree with the description, the

venation with the figure.

HIRMONEURA.

Hirmoneura, Meigen, System. Beschr. ii. p. 182 (1820).

1. Hirmoneura psilotes, sp. n., 2.

Brown, with a brownish-yellow pollen; legs pale rufous; antenne and palpi rufous wings tinged with pale

brownish, brownish-yellow along the costa; eyes glabrous.

Length, without the ovipositor, about 13 millim.

Hab. Mxxico (Sumichrast).

Proboscis rufous, short, the large lips but little projecting outside of the oral

opening; last joint of the palpi long, cylindrical, pale rufous, closely applied to the

facial orbit of the eye and almost reaching the antenne; antenne rufous, beset with

rufous hair; face and front densely covered with a yellowish-grey pollen; the face

beset with pale rufous hairs, the front with black hairs mixed with rufous ones, the

latter especially visible in front of the ocelli; front nearly parallel, the vertex very

little narrower; eyes glabrous. The brown ground-colour of the thoracic dorsum is

modified by a brownish-yellow pollen and yellowish hairs, which cover its surface; the

hairs longer on its sides; pleure and sternum more grey, with paler yellow hairs;

post-alar callosities reddish; scutellum brown. ‘The abdomen, like the thorax, derives

its colouring from a brownish pollen, which is darker on the posterior half of segments

2, 3, 4 (these segments thus showing slight traces of darker cross-bands) ; the base with

longer pale yellowish-rufous hairs; the posterior half of segment 2, as well as the two

following segments, beset with short, semierect black hairs; the three following

segments (5-7) are’shorter and narrower and end in an ovipositor, which, so far as I

can see, consists of a short tube, longitudinally split in two. Legs pale rufous; hind

femora slightly brownish at the tip; hind tarsi brown. Wings with a pale brownish

tinge, more yellowish along the costa; veins on the antero-proximal half rufous, on the

remainder of the wing dark brown; venation like that of the European H. obscura,

only the handle of the fork of the third vein is straighter. A single female in Prof.

Bellardi’s collection.

The only species of Nemestrinide hitherto described from Central America is Hirmo-

neura brevirostris, Macq. (Dipt. Exot. Suppl. i. p. 101, t. 20. £1), which has pubescent

eyes, hyaline wings, &c.

Nodtadhalinel brn i Baber’ [Loner C ‘iL - ma

BOMBYLID, "5

Fam. BOMBYLIDZ.

The materials I had at my disposal in working up this family consisted principally of

a fine series of mostly well-preserved ‘ Anthracina ’ from Northern Sonora, collected by

Mr. Morrison. I have improved this rather rare opportunity for describing and figuring

a number of new species. Professor Bellardi very kindly lent me the ‘Anthracina’ of

his Mexican collection, the descriptions of which I incorporated in my work. The

materials from other parts of Central America were comparatively of less importance.

The section “ Bombylina” was very little represented in all these collections.

I have attempted to give a closer definition of some of the existing genera, and have

for this purpose introduced characters that had not been used before.

A great deal remains to be done towards developing the classification of the

Bombylide ; but this is the work of the monographer, and requires a larger material

than I have at hand. The mere describer of a limited collection, who attempts at

the same time to improve the classification, is like the traveller who has his own road

to make—his progress will be very slow, and his road very bad.

The following table refers to North- and Central-American genera and species

only :—

Analytical Table of the North- and Central-American Genera of Bombylite.”

1 (18). The bifurcation of the second and third veins taking place

opposite, or nearly opposite, the small cross-vein ; the second

vein forming a knee at its origin from the prefurca ; the third

vein in a straight line with the prefurca.

11). Three or more submarginal cells.

(4). Four, sometimes five, submarginal cells . . . 2. 1 Hyperalonia, Rond.

(3). Only three submarginal cells,

(8). Third joint of the antennz elongate-conical.

(7). The conical third joint bearing a more or less long style, sepa-

rated by adistinct suture . . . ... 0... Exoprosopa, Macq.

7 (6). The conical third joint bearing no elongate style at the end;

second vein strongly contorted, in the shape of a recum-

bentS. 2... els . Dipalta, O. S.

8 (5). Third joint of the antenne short, onion-shaped, with a very

long style, not bisected by a suture.

9 (10). Proboscis long, projecting far beyond the oral margin . . . Stonyx, O.S.

10 (9). Proboscis withdrawn within the oral cavity ; rudimentary

pulvili, © 2... LL ws Tsopenthes, O. S. Ne

11 (2). Two submarginal cells.

12 (13). The style of the third antennal joint distinctly bisected bya

suture, and bearing a pencil of hairs at the tip. . . . . Argyrameba, Schin.

18 (12).

14 (15).

15 (14).

16 (17).

. The contact of the discal cell with the third posterior at least

. Three posterior cells . woe eee

. Body clothed with hairs, or else nearly glabrous.

. Four posterior cells. .

. First posterior cell closed.

. Two submarginal cells.

. First basal cell longer than the second.

. Head comparatively small; the emargination of the occipital

DIPTERA.

The antennal style not bisected, and with a microscopic bristle,

but no pencil of hairs, at the tip.

Eyes of the male contiguous on the vertex ; anal cell closed . Astrophanes, O. S.

Eyes of the male not contiguous on the vertex ; anal cell open.

The contact of the discal cell with the third posterior not

much longer than its contact with the fourth posterior cell ;

proboscis long, projecting far beyond the oral margin ; sides

of the abdomen with a fringe of scales, and not of hairs

only . . Lepidanthraz, O. 8.

twice as long as its contact with the fourth posterior cell ;

the latter contact often merely punctiform . . . . . . Anthrazx, Scopoli.

. The bifurcation of the second and third veins taking place some “

distance before the small cross-vein, at an acute angle; the

second vein not forming a knee at its origin from the

preefurca.

. Body Anthraz-like; frontal triangle in the male large; frontal

space in the female of a corresponding size.

. Antenne approximate at the base; third antennal joint gra-

dually attenuate 2 2 1. 1 1... ee. . Oncodocera, Macq.

. Antenne remote at the base.

. Pulvillidistincs. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 1 1 2 1... . . Aphebantus, Loew.

. Pulvillinone. ©. 2. 2. 1 2. 1 1 1 we ww es « Epacmus, O. S.

- Body not Anthraz-like ; frontal triangle in the male small.

- Body (antenne, thorax, abdomen) clothed with more scales

than hairs, gibbose, the abdomen hanging down; antenne

long, first jomt unusually long.

. Four posterior cells 2. 2. 2. 2. 1 1... . Lepidophora, Westw.

. Toxophora, Meig.

orbit almost imperceptible ; contact between the second sub-

marginal cell and the first posterior more than punctiform . Bombylius, Linn.

. Head comparatively large; the emargination of the occipital

orbit distinct ; contact between the second submarginal cell

and the first posterior cell often only punctiform . . . . Comastes, O.S.

- Both basal cells of equal length.

. Underside of the head moderately pilose, and hence its different

parts (including the base of the antenne, the oral edge, &c.)

easily perceptible . . . . 2... .. =... . « Systechus, Loew.

EXOPROSOPA. 17

37 (86). Underside of the head densely pilose, the root of the antennz,

epistoma, mouth, &c. being completely hidden. . . . . Anastechus, O. 8S.

38 (31). Three submarginal cells . . . . . . . 1... . « Pantarbes, O. 8.

39 (30). First posterior cell open.

40 (47). Two submarginal cells.

41 (42). Both basal cells of equallength . . . . . . . . . «» Sparnopolius, Loew.

42 (41). First basal cell longer than the second.

43 (44). Third antennal joint not truncate at the tip . . . . . . Epibates,O.S.;

Eclimus, Loew.

44 (43). Third antennal joint flattened, truncate at the tip.

45 (46). Proboscis short. . . . . 1 1. 6 ee ew we ee e Paracosmus, O. S.

46 (45). Proboscis very long . . . ... . . . . . . « « Phthiria, Meig.

47 (40). Three submarginal cells.

)

48 (49). The rather narrow marginal cell very much expanded at the

end. 2. 2. ww. we we eee ee ee ) ~ Lordotus, Loew.

49 (48). The marginal cell only moderately expanded . . . . . . Ploas, Latr.

50 (29). Three posterior cells; anal cell closed.

51 (52). Proboscis much longer than the antenne; small, Bombylius-

like pubescent insects . woe eee ee . Geron, Meig.

52 (51). Proboscis shorter than the antenne; long, Ammophila-like,

almost glabrous insects ; four basal segments of the abdomen

very marrow . . . . 2. ee + ee ee ee ee Systropus, Wiedem.

EXOPROSOPA.

Exoprosopa, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. ii. 1, p. 35 (1840).

Trinaria, Mulsant, Mém. Acad. de Lyon, 1852, p. 18.

Under this name Macquart separated from the old genus Anthrax those species

which have three or four submarginal cells. As further characters he mentioned “a

more or less projecting, conical face; antenne with an elongated, subulate third joint,

and with a distinct style, ordinarily half as long as that joint.” He was aware of the

numerous structural modifications occurring in the genus, especially in the venation.

Loew, Siidafr. Dipt. p. 223 (1860), pointed out that thus far the presence of three

submarginal cells is the only trustworthy character; he added to it the absence of

pulvilli (but this character is common to the majority of the ‘Anthracina’); the other

characters mentioned by Macquart occur, says Loew, in most, but not in all, the species

of Exoprosopa, and are also found in some species of Anthrax. He mentions inci-

dentally that some species have a tooth at the base of the ungues, but takes no further

notice of this character, which, as will be shown below, I found quite useful for the

definition of the groups of the North-American Exoprosope. He rejects the genus

Litorhynchus, Macq., merely distinguished by a longer proboscis; neither does he

admit Argyrospila, Rond., in which, as will be shown below, I fully concur with him.

Schiner (Fauna Austr. i. p. 54, 1862) did not do anything towards the closer defini-

78 DIPTERA.

tion of the genus. In his generic definition the statement “pulvilli present, but

generally small and narrow ” is not correct.

Rondani attempted a subdivision of the genus, based on differences in the venation ;

in the absence of specimens, however, he established his new genera merely upon the

figures of the wings as given in Macquart’s ‘Dipteres Exotiques ;’ the rest of the

organization he therefore entirely ignored*. As might be expected, the result of this

attempt is far from happy (comp. Rondani, ‘Archiv. per la Zool.’ iii. 1, Modena, 1863).

Argyrospila, Rond. (Prodr. i. p. 162, and Archivio, /. ¢.), is based solely upon the

first posterior cell being closed—a character of secondary importance, which occurs in

species that would find themselves far apart in a natural grouping; and this is the

case with the very species enumerated by Rondani as belonging to his new genus :—

E. pandora (Europe), E. limbipennis, Macq. (Mexico), E. oliviert and £. lugubris, Macq.

(Arabia). The last two I have never seen (nor Prof. Rondani either); in &. jacchus

(syn. pandora) and its close relatives E. cleomene &c. all passages occur between a

closed and petiolate first posterior cell and an open one. It would be as unnatural to

place those species in different genera on that ground as to form a separate genus for

E. pandora and the totally different E. limbipennis, merely because both have that

secondary character in common. Even as a specific character the open or closed first

posterior cell is sometimes but of little value. Of E. cleomene, Egger, this author says,

“the first posterior cell is open in most, but closed in some, specimens ” (Verh. zool.-bot.

Ges. Wien, 1859, p. 398). The same is said by Loew about some other species of the

same relationship; compare Loew, Beschr. eur. Dip. i. p.212. (In the species allied to

E. limbipennis, Macq., this character is more constant.) The genus Argyrospila, Rond.,

can, therefore, not be maintained.

The genus Hyperalonia was introduced by Rondani for certain species with four

submarginal cells, due to the presence of a supernumerary cross-vein within the third

submarginal. In examining the species of this group which I have before me I

observe that they all have the ungues on the posterior legs without tooth at the base,

which tooth characterizes the true Hwoprosope. I find the same character in the

Asiatic Exoprosope with four submarginal cells which I am able to compare (Doryca,

Boisd., @nomaus, Rond.; no Exoprosope with four submarginal cells are known from

the Cape yet). These two characters, taken in conjunction, may justify the establish-'

ment of this group, which I have adopted below.

Heteralonia was introduced by Rondani for Exoprosopa oculata, Macq. Dipt. Ex. ii. 1,

p. 45, from Senegal (not occulta, as Rondani has it), merely on the strength of the figure

of the wing in Macquart, which shows a supernumerary cross-vein bisecting the second

submarginal cell. (Rondani, in consequence of an erroneous interpretation, describes

this venation—the fourth vein joining the third, or, in his own terminology, “vena

* A similar proceeding by Rondani in the family Micropezide has been noticed by me in the Berl. ent. Zeit.

1882, p. 199.

EXOPROSOPA. 79

quarta tertiz conjuncta ad apicem.”) As I have never seen this species (and neither

did Rondani), I cannot decide upon this genus.

Thus of the three genera introduced by Rondani, I adopt only one, and give it a

closer definition—Ayperalonia, with four submarginal cells and toothless ungues; in

other respects like Exoprosopa.

I call genuine Exoprosope those species which have three submarginal cells; the

third antennal joint in the shape of an elongate cone, with a more or less long style,

separated from the cone by a distinct suture, and ending in a microscopic bristle; a

tooth at the base of the ungues, which, in the majority of cases, is large and distinct ;

and no pulvilli. This definition, as we shall presently see, excludes from the genus

Exoprosopa, as understood by previous authors, certain species that have three sub-

marginal cells, but are nevertheless much nearer related to Anthrax than to real

Exoprosope.

Hyperalonia and Exoprosopa have in common the strong posterior legs, contrasting

with the small front pair; the latter are remarkable for their smoothness and the

absence of the stronger bristles and spinules which occur on the other pairs, especially

on the tibie. The structure of the front tarsi is peculiar—gradually tapering and beset

on both sides with numerous short, delicate hairs; the articulations are indistinct; the

ungues small.

If Hyperalonia is closely related to Exoprosopa, so that both genera might, not

unnaturally, remain united as subdivisions of the same genus, there are two other

groups of American Exoprosope, in Macquart’s sense, which have very little in common

with that genus besides the artificial character of the presence of a third submarginal

cell. These species differ from the true Exoprosope—l, in the shape of the antenna,

the third joint being short, onion-shaped, with a very long style, not bisected by a

suture (differing in this from the style of Argyrameba): 2, in the absence of a tooth

at the base of the ungues: 8, in the more delicate structure of the legs; the difference

in size and structure between the front pair and the posterior ones is much less

marked; the front legs less smooth than in Exoprosopa, and beset: with bristles or

spinules, besides the microscopic pubescence; the front tarsi do not show the peculiar

structure of those of Exoprosopa, their joints are more distinctly marked, and their

ungues comparatively larger: 4,in the general appearance, the species are smaller

than the genuine Hzoprosope, their colouring is different, the cross-bands, spots, &c.,

common among the latter, are wanting here.

With these characters in common, the two groups just alluded to differ from each

other as follows :— |

1, Very long proboscis and narrow lips; no pullvilli.

2. Short and retractile proboscis, with fleshy lips; distinct, although small, pulvilli.

1. The first of these subdivisions reproduces some of the characters of the South-

African genus Litorhynchus as given by Macquart, Dipt. Ex. ii. 1, p. 72 (long proboscis

80 DIPTERA.

shape of antenne and face; whether the ungues of Litorhynchus are provided with

teeth or not, Macquart does not mention). Loew rejected Litorhynchus, and it is not

probable that the generic character is applicable to the American species of the group

just defined, but a final decision cannot be arrived at without comparing South-African

specimens. In the meantime I will call this group Sronyx.

2. The second group, if it was not for the presence of three submarginal cells, might

be taken for the genus Hemipenthes, Loew; it has the same colouring of the body and

wings, antenne of the same structure, and rudimentary pulvilli.

A similar although perhaps not exactly parallel case is afforded by Anthrax ocyale,

Wiedem. (Nubia), which, according to Loew, is an Anthrax, although it has three sub-

marginal cells (¢f. Loew, Siidafr. Dipt. p. 223). This group I will call Isopznruss.

Synopsis of the Species of Exoprosopa (én the sense of Macquart) hitherto described from

Mexico and Central America (including the New Species described below).

In this synopsis the numbered species are those of which I have specimens before

me; the other species are placed in brackets, without numbers. Anthrax orcus, Walk.

List &c. ii. p. 237, described as being from Mexico, is omitted, because the type in the.

British Museum is labelled “ Para.”

I. Four, sometimes even five, submarginal cells. (Hyperalonia, Rond.)

II. Three submarginal cells.

A. Third joint of the antenne elongate-conical, with a more or less long style, separated

from the cone by a distinct suture; distinct teeth at the base of the ungues.

(Exoprosopa, sensu stricto.)

a. The pattern of the wings consisting of more or less distinct brown cross-bands.

1. caliptera, Say; 2. pueblensis, Jaenn.; 3. iota, sp. n.; 4. rhea*, sp. n.

6. No cross-bands on the wings, but merely a more or less broad brown anterior

margin; sometimes with infuscated cross-veins.

a. First posterior cell closed.

5. imbipennis, Macq.; 6. procne, sp. n.; 7. anthracoidea, Jaenn.

8. First posterior cell open +.

8. rostrifera, Jaenn.; 9. fila, sp.n.; 10. socia, sp.n.; 11. pardus, sp. n.;

[sordida, Loew, Cent. viii. p. 21.—Matamoros]. |

B. Third joint of the antenne short, onion-shaped, with a very long style, not bisected

by a suture; no teeth at the base of the ungues.

a, Proboscis long; no rudimentary pulvilli. (Stonyz, gen. nov.)

1. clotho, Wiedem. ; 2. clelia, sp.n.; [Anthrax lacera, Wiedem. Auss. zweifl.

li. p. 634,—Mexico].

6. Proboscis short, with fleshy lips; rudimentary pulvilli. (Isopenthes, gen. nov.) —

1. blanchardiana, Jaenn.; 2. jaennickeana, sp. n.

* Placed hypothetically in this group, the antenne of both my specimens being broken.

t This is the general rule; I have seen a specimen of Z. rostrifera where the first posterior cell was closed

on the margin and on one wing only.

EXOPROSOPA. 81

EXOPROSOPA

(sensu stricto).

Three submarginal cells; third joint of the antenne in the shape of an elongated, irregular cone, with a more

or less long style, separated from the cone by a distinct suture, and ending in a microscopic bristle; a

distinct tooth at the base of the ungues; no pulvilli; strong posterior legs; front legs generally as in

Hyperalonia (compare below).

The length of the antennal style is variable, and usually in an inverse ratio to the

length of the third joint itself: E. sima, O. S., has a long third joint with a very short

style; H. socia, O. S., on the contrary, has the style twice as long as the rather short

third joint. There is a South-European species (E. stupida, Rossi) which, with all the

apparent characters of a true Exoprosopa, and even very small, but sharp teeth on the

ungues, has no distinct antennal style; the third joint is a long, gradually tapering

cone, ending in a microscopic bristle.

The eyes are but moderately approximate on the vertex, and there is in this respect

but little difference between the sexes.

The face is generally, but not always, conically projecting ; in the group L. rostrifera,

E. filia, and E. socia it is merely convex. The length of the proboscis is also variable:

sometimes it is withdrawn within the oral opening, sometimes it projects beyond it; it

is longer than usual in the above-mentioned group of species (LE. rostrifera &c.). The

structure of the front legs and tarsi is the same as in Hyperalonia; the tibie are

smooth, without spinules; the tarsi have rather indistinct articulations, and are beset

on both sides with numerous short, delicate, erect hairs; the ungues are small. But

there are exceptions to this structure of the front legs: the three above-mentioned

species (K. rostrifera &c.) have the front tibie beset with spinules, and the ungues

larger. I also find both characters in the South-European £. algira, Fabr., which, like

those species, has a face not conically projecting, but in other respects differs from them.

The tooth at the base of the ungues is in some cases very small, but in all the

specimens examined I have found a sharp projection, and not merely an incrassation.

On the front ungues, owing to their smallness, the tooth is difficult to perceive, yet I

have distinctly seen it in several species. In the male the front tarsi are more tapering

towards the tip than in the female.

The generalities which I have given above are the results of the examination of the

American species accessible to me, of a few European ones, and of the Australian

E. marginicollis, Gray, and another species, related to E. adelaidica, Macq.

1. Exoprosopa caliptera. (Tab. I. fig. 12.)

Anthrax caliptera, Say, Compl. Wr. ii. p. 62.

Exoprosopa caliptera, O. Sacken, Western Dipt. p. 233.

Hab, Western United States.—Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

A single male specimen from Northern Sonora agrees with the descriptions, except

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., November 1886. m

82 DIPTERA.

that I do not perceive the silvery longitudinal stripes of the abdomen mentioned

by me (J. c.).

Two specimens from Tehuacan, Mexico (Sumichrast, coll. Bellardi), seem likewise to

belong here; only one of them, marked as the female (I cannot make out the sex in

its present dilapidated condition), has a pair of white spots on each of the segments

5 to 7, forming two converging rows. ‘Thus the abdomen of this specimen answers the

description I have given of the abdomen of E. dorcadion (‘ Western Diptera,’ p. 232),

while the wings answer better the description given there of the wings of E. caliptera.

In the absence of my original specimens I cannot solve this difficulty, the more so as I

did not mention in my description the sex of the specimens I had before me. Was I

wrong in separating £. dorcadion? and is it merely the female of EL. caliptera?

2. Exoprosopa pueblensis, s ¢.

Exoprosopa pueblensis, Jaennicke, Neue exot. Dipt. p. 34, t. 2. f. 21.

Hab. Mexico, Tehuacan (Sumichrast) ; Guaremaua, San Gerénimo (Champion).

Two male and two female specimens from Tehuacan, in Bellardi’s collection. A

specimen from San Gerénimo, Guatemala, has much darker legs. Two smaller

specimens (14 millim.), from Ciudad in Durango, Mexico (Forrer, 8000 feet altitude),

and from Northern Sonora (Morrison), represent a closely allied, if not the same

species; the brown spot at the proximal end of the second posterior cell is small,

and disconnected from the rest of the brown.

E. eremita, O. Sack., West. Dipt. p. 256, from Northern California, must be a closely

allied species; in the absence of specimens I cannot say much about it. Judging from

the description, it has the proximal end of the marginal cell hyaline, and differently

coloured hairs on the body.

E. (Anthrax) ignifer, Walk. List &c. ii. p. 243 (Jamaica), has the same venation and

the same distribution of the spots on the wings, but the body and the hairs upon

it are more rufous. I am unable to tell whether it is a different species, or merely a

local variety.

8. Exoprosopa iota, sp.n.,¢ @. (Tab. I. fig. 13.)

Pattern of the wings of the type of E. (Anthrax) fascipennis, Say, but with the expanded portion of the marginal

cell hyaline ; an isolated brown spot at the proximal end of the second posterior cell; first posterior

cell closed, petiolate.

Length 7-9 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Tehuacan (coll. Bellardt).

The three specimens (¢ 2) in Prof. Bellardi’s collection are in a very indifferent

state of preservation and rather abraded; however, the venation and the pattern of

the wings render them easily recognizable.

Face conically protruding; face and front black, with appressed, scale-like golden

EXOPROSOPA. 83

hairs and an erect black pubescence ; proboscis but little, or not, projecting beyond the

oral edge. Antenne dark brown, reddish at the base; third joint of the usual elongated

conical shape, with a style less than half its length, and a bristle at the end of the style

(the bristle seems to be longer than in the cognate species, but, owing to the dust which

covers the specimens, I cannot be very positive about it). The ground-colour of thorax

and abdomen is black; the distal half of the scutellum reddish. Round the thorax are

the usual tufts of yellowish hairs, and black, rather long, bristles on the pre-alar and

post-alar callosities and on the scutellum. On the abdomen the usual whitish cross-

band on the second segment; silvery scales on the last two segments in the male,

yellowish-white ones(?) in the female; the intermediate segments show traces (rather

rubbed off) of black and yellow scale-like hairs, and tufts of black hairs on the sides.

Legs brown, more reddish on the tibie, beset with yellowish scales. Wings with the

first posterior cell closed and petiolate; apex, including the expanded portion of the

marginal cell, and the distal ends of the inner submarginal and first posterior cells,

hyaline ; a brown spot, isolated from the rest of the brown, at the proximal end of the

second posterior cell; distal (larger) half of the discal cell, and the third and fourth

posterior cells (except the proximal end of the fourth), hyaline; a brown cross-band

begins with two brown spots upon the origins of the second and third veins, covers the

proximal end of the discal cell and the great cross-vein, and crosses the middle of the

anal and axillary cells; root of the wings brown.

4, Exoprosopa rhea, sp. n.,¢. (Tab. I. fig. 14.)

Wings black, the apex hyaline, hyaline spots forming two cross-bands, the one nearest the base very narrow 3.

body black, with tufts of bright rufous hair on the sides of the thorax and on the base of the abdomen ;.

the latter bluish.

Length of the body 11-12 millim.

Hab. Mexico (Craveri).

Face and front bluish-black, beset with black hair; antennal scapus black, with black

hairs (third joint broken). Thorax black; collar beset with rufous hair, forming a tuft

on each side in front of the wings; similar tufts behind the root of the wings and at

the base of the abdomen (on the sides of the first and second segments), the rest of

the abdominal margin beset with long, black hair, forming a dense fringe round the

whole abdomen; surface of the latter bluish-black; small white spots, formed by

white scales, on each side of segments 3 to 5, a pair of similar spots in the middle of

each of the segments 4 and 5. Halteres brown. Legs brown. Wings black, except the

apex, beyond the end of the first vein, and with two cross-bands of hyaline spots arranged

as follows:—the jirst narrow, and formed by a series of disconnected spots, one in

the proximal half of the first basal cell, a larger one in the second basal cell, and

two others not far from the proximal ends of the anal and axillary cells; the second

consisting of three small spots in the marginal cell, placed near the proximal ends of

m 2

84 DIPTERA.

the submarginal and first posterior cells, and a larger spot (separated by a broader

brown interval from a trapezoidal spot on the posterior margin, which is bisected by

the posterior branch of the fourth vein) in the middle of the discal cell. Besides the

spots forming the cross-bands, a small spot is visible near the proximal end of the

marginal cell, and two, still smaller ones, within the distal ends of the anal and

axillary cells. First posterior cell coarctate at the end, but open; the second vein,

issuing from the discal cell, runs very obliquely, and ends in the margin very near

the first vein (the figure does not render it quite correctly).

Two females, one in Prof. Bellardi’s collection, the other in the British Museum.

The figure of the wing was drawn from the former, and represents the distal limit

of the black, with an indentation that does not exist in the specimen in the British

Museum; in the Turin specimen the white abdominal spots are abraded; in both the

antenne are damaged.

5. Exoprosopa limbipennis, ¢ ¢.

Exoprosopa limbipennis, Macq. Dipt. Ex. Suppl. i. p. 110, t. 20. f. 3°.

First posterior cell closed; wings with a brownish tinge, darker along the costa; abdomen with a broad cross-

band of whitish-yellow scaly hairs on the second segment, and a narrower cross-band of similar hairs on

the fourth segment, the sixth and seventh segments with silvery scales.

Length 15-17 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Yucatan}, Ventanas 2000 feet (Morrer), Solco? (coll. Bellardt).

Face conically protruding; the proboscis projecting a little beyond the oral edge;

antenne dark brown or black, the scapus often reddish, the style at least two thirds the

length of the third joint; the dark brown face and front densely clothed with appressed

fulvous scaly hairs, and the space between them with short, erect black hairs, which

extend over the vertex; occipital orbits with a yellowish or silvery fringe of scaly hairs.

Thorax brown, with the usual yellowish-fulvous hairs in front and on the sides, and

black macrocheete on the callosities; the dorsum with shorter, appressed, rather scarce,

scaly fulvous hairs, more dense in front of the scutellum; the latter reddish-brown, with

black scales at the base and a fringe of fulvous, short, scaly hairs along the posterior

margin. Abdomen black, with black, appressed scaly hairs, and tufts of longer black

hairs on the sides of the segments, beginning with the posterior margin of the second;

the usual yellowish cross-band occupies the proximal half of the second segment, and

bears a tuft of pale yellowish hairs at each end; a similar, much narrower, cross-band

on the third segment (in most specimens it is abraded, and only a spot of whitish scaly

hairs at each end remains visible); a more whitish cross-band on the fourth segment;

the sixth and seventh segments in the male are entirely covered with silvery scaly

hairs; in the female these hairs are white rather than silvery, and form a cross-band

on the sixth segment, the posterior margin of which is black. Halteres with a brown

knob. Legs black. Wings subhyaline, with a slight brownish tinge; the costal margin

EXOPROSOPA. 85

infuscated, the brown colour limited by the fourth vein before the anterior cross-vein,

and filling the marginal cell (except its distal end) encroaches on the inner submarginal,

reaching the tip of the first vein; the posterior cross-vein is very slightly clouded; the

first posterior cell is closed, its petiole being almost as long as the posterior cross-vein.

I have before me four males and two females from Ventanas, and three specimens

from Prof. Bellardi’s collection. The cross-band on the second segment in these

last-named specimens is broader than in the others.

N.B.—The venter in some specimens has a dense covering of yellowish-white

appressed hairs, and longer, erect hairs of the same colour between them ; in other

specimens the prevailing colour of the hairy covering is black, or at least the black

ground-colour is distinctly visible among the scattered whitish hairs. Ido not know

what to make of these differences.

Macquart’s description is rather unmeaning, the “noir bleudtre” of the abdomen

is almost imperceptible; nevertheless the figure he gives of the wings renders the

identification almost certain. The E. argentifasciata, Macq. Suppl. i. p. 109 (Colombia),

also very insufficiently described, seems to be a closely allied species.

6. Exoprosopa procne, sp. n., 2.

Closely allied to E. limbipennis, but nevertheless different. The antennal style is, comparatively, a little

shorter, that is, a little more than half the length of the third joint; the colour of the body is darker,

more decidedly black; the tufts of hair on the sides of the thorax more rufous; the scaly hairs along the

lower occipital orbit more golden; the tufts of hair at each end of the yellowish-white cross-band of the

second segment are white; the rest of the abdomen is deep black, covered with a black, scaly tomentum ;

an elongate silvery spot at each end of the anterior margin of the fourth segment; segments 6 and 7 with

silvery cross-bands (in the male they are probably altogether silvery); on the venter a silvery spot on the

penultimate segment. Wings like those of Z. limbipennis in coloration and venation, only the second

basal cell is a little more brownish.

Length 15 millim.

Hab. Guaremata, Coatepeque 1300 feet (Champion). A single female.

The most striking difference between E. procne and E. limbipennis is in the coloration

of the abdomen, the fourth segment of which, instead of having a whitish cross-band,

shows only beginnings of a silvery one on each side.

7. Exoprosopa anthracoidea.

Exoprosopa anthracoidea, Jaennicke, Neue exot. Dipt. p. 82, t. 2. f. 18 (1867). -

Exoprosopa trabalis, Loew, Cent. viii. x 20 (1869)*.

Hab. Mexico, Jalapa!.

Loew’s description together with Jaennicke’s figure will be sufficient for the recognition

of this species. I have a specimen before me from Jalapa which I have compared with

Loew’s type.

The scales of the last abdominal segment, which Loew describes as white (he had

86 DIPTERA.

a female), are decidedly silvery in the male. I have also seen four Specimens in

Professor Bellardi’s collection labelled Mexico (Sumichrast).

N.B.—Professor Bellardi’s collection contains two more species belonging to the

division of Kxoprosopa with a closed and long petiolate first posterior cell, but they

are represented by single specimens in a very poor condition :—

1. Specimen without head from Mexico (Sumichrast). This has a rather large round

brown spot on the bifurcation of the second vein, which spot coalesces with the rather

dark brown of the costa; the veins at the base of the third and fourth posterior cells

clouded; a broad white cross-band on the second abdominal segment, the seventh also

with white hairs; the long hairs on the thorax and at the base of the abdomen more

yellow than red; the posterior margins of the abdominal segments with fringes of short,

rufous hair, &c. Of the size of the larger specimens of E. limbipennis.

2. A single specimen, without locality, 10-11 millim. long; with a broad yellowish-

silvery cross-band on the second abdominal segment, a narrower one on the fourth;

traces of silvery hairs on the sixth and seventh segments; the petiole of the first posterior

cell rather long; the stump within the discal cell; the wings with a pale brownish

tinge, the brown band of the costa not very dark; the antennal style rather long, &c.

Among the described South-American species the following seems to belong to this

group :—L. argentifasciata, Macq. Dipt. Ex. Suppl. i. p. 109 (Colombia).

8. Exoprosopa rostrifera, ¢ 2.

Exoprosopa rostrifera, Jaennicke, Neue exot. Dipt. p. 33, t. 2. f. 19.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison), Oaxaca (Sumichrast, coll. Bellardi).

The description agrees well: the white scaly hairs on the last abdominal segment

are almost silvery in some specimens, and much less so in others; white hairs are also

visible along the posterior margin of the penultimate, and on the lateral margins of

segments 3 to 6. The stump of a vein within the discal cell, which appears (/. c.) on

the figure, but is not mentioned in the description, is absent in most specimens. The

third antennal joint is elongate conical, the style at its end is as long, or longer, than

the joint. Length 12-13 millim. Eight males, two females.

N.B.—The broad white cross-band on the second segment, which is not narrowed

in the middle, and therefore has nearly parallel sides, renders this species easily

recognizable. There is a specimen in the British Museum in which the first posterior

cell is closed in one wing, very narrowly open in the other.

9. Exoprosopa filia, sp.n.,¢ 9.

Very like E. rostrifera, but certainly different :—1, the proboscis is much shorter, projecting less than the length

of the head beyond the oral margin: 2, the size is smaller, 10-11°5 millim.: 3, the wings are compara-

tively shorter and broader: 4, the cloud on the posterior cross-vein is a little larger, and there is a vestige

of a cloud at the proximal end of the third posterior cell, much more distinct than in Z. rostrifera: 5, the

EXOPROSOPA. 87

coloration of the abdomen is different—the cross-band of the second segment is more yellowish and less

broad (it occupies about one third of the breadth of the segment in the middle in the male specimen

before me; in . rostrifera it is nearly one half); it is distinctly narrower in the middle than on the

sides, its posterior margin forming an arc (and not being straight as in EZ. rostrifera); there is another

similar whitish-yellow cross-band on the fourth segment, and some whitish scale-like hairs on the seventh

segment ; the other segments have a black tomentum anteriorly, and brassy-yellow scale-like hairs along

the posterior margins: 6, there is a slight difference in the length of the antennal style; it is a little

shorter than in £, rostrifera, that is, in most specimens the style appears shorter than the third joint,

while in £. rostrifera it seems, in most specimens, to be longer.

Length 10-11°5 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Ciudad in Durango 8100 feet (Forrer).

I have eleven specimens of both sexes before me, but the surface of most of them

is abraded; I drew the description of the abdomen from two tolerably preserved

males.

The shortness of the proboscis easily distinguishes this species from £. rostrifera.

When we examine the proboscis of H. jilia from the side, we find that the little suture

marking the beginning of the labella is before the middle of the proboscis, as it is seen

projecting beyond the oral margin; in £. rostrifera that suture is far beyond the

middle.

10. Exoprosopa socia, sp. n., 2.

Allied to £. rosirifera and E. filia, especially to the latter. The differences from both are:—1, the conical

third antennal joint is but little longer than broad at its base, but the style at its end is twice as long as

the joint: 2, the appressed tomentum on the head, the thorax, and the abdomen is more rufous than

brassy-yellow; the rufous covering on the abdomen is rather dense; the yellowish cross-band on the

second segment has no white or whitish in it; there are no white scales on the last abdominal segments ;

black erect hairs are interspersed between the rufous appressed scaly hairs on the abdomen, and form

inconspicuous tufts on the sides: 3, the brown of the wings has a strong admixture of yellowish-rufous,

especially along the costa; the cloud on the great cross-vein is rather large, rounded; the veins are

distinctly more slender than in the other two species: 4, legs rufous, the tarsi darker: 5, the proboscis

is longer than in Z. filia, about as long as in &. rostrifera; the face convex, but not conical.

Length 11. millim.

Hab. Mexico, Ciudad in Durango (Porrer). A single female.

N.B.—This and the two preceding species may be tabulated as follows :—

I. Style of the third antennal joint nearly as long as or longer than the joint

itself.

The length of the proboscis projecting beyond the oral margin less

than the length ofthe head . . . . . . ... . filia.

The length of the proboscis projecting beyond the oral margin more |

than the length of the head . . . 2. 1. ee ww + . rostrifera,

II. Style of the third antennal joint twice as long as the comparatively short

jomt 2. 1 ww we we we ee ew ee ew ee ww. BOCK.

These three species form a natural group, differing from the typical Exoprosope by

their front tibie being beset with distinct spinules, and by the ungues of the front tarsi

88 DIPTERA.

being comparatively larger. All three have a face which is not conically projecting,

and a comparatively long proboscis.

11. Exoprosopa pardus, sp.n.,¢ 2. (Tab. I. fig. 15.)

Abdomen with alternate cross-bands of whitish, yellow, and black tomentum; wings pale brown between the

costa and the fourth vein, as far as the proximal end of the second submarginal cell, the second basal cell

subhyaline, the posterior cross-vein distinctly, the cross-vein at the proximal end of the second posterior

cell feebly, clouded with brownish.

Length 13-15 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

Antenne black; third joint elongate-conical, the style about half the length of the

joint. Face conically protruding, beset with an orichalceous tomentum; proboscis

hardly projecting beyond the oral margin. Thorax greyish-black, the collar-like hairs

in front and above the root of the wings yellow; the dorsum with a sparse yellow

tomentum ; scutellum reddish, with yellow scales and black bristles along the edge.

Abdomen: the black ground-colour in well-preserved specimens almost concealed

under cross-bands of whitish and yellow scaly hairs, disposed as follows:—on the

second segment a broad whitish cross-band, the posterior margin of which is yellow;

on the third segment a similar cross-band, in which, however, the yellow predominates ;

the fourth segment, again, is whitish, with only a trace of yellow posteriorly ; the fifth

and sixth yellow, the seventh white. The posterior margin of all the segments is

black, but this black has not always the same breadth: sometimes it forms a distinct

crescent on the second and third segments; in other specimens a narrow margin only

(the specimen represented on the figure is of the latter class). Venter densely covered

with a white tomentum. Legs black. Wings pale brown between the fourth vein

and the costa, as far as the tip of the first vein and the proximal end of the second

submarginal cell; the root is brown within the basal cross-veins; the second basal and

the whole discal cells subhyaline ; proximal ends of the third and fourth posterior cells

with dark brown clouds; the cross-vein at the proximal end of the second posterior cell

slightly clouded. Two males and five females.

N.B.—A specimen from the same locality (a female) is larger, about 17 millim.; the

proboscis projects about 1:5 millim. beyond the oral margin; the usual tufts of black

hair on the sides of the segments are more conspicuous; the scaly hairs on the sixth

segment are more white; the style of the third antennal joint is a little longer. I

have little doubt that it is the same species. It is smgular that this specimen has

small, but distinct, spinules on the front tibie, while I do not see such spinules in the

other specimens.

The group of Exoprosope with an open first posterior cell, a brown antero-proximal

portion of the wings, and sometimes with clouded cross-veins, is numerously represented

in Mexico and the adjacent regions of the United States; but the species are rather

EXOPROSOPA.—HYPERALONIA. 89

difficult to distinguish. Many species belonging here have been described before, and

would hardly be recognizable without the comparison of typical specimens. A large

material brought together from an extensive territory would enable one to draw com-

parative descriptions, which alone would be recognizable. I therefore abstain from

describing some species of this group which I find among my material or in Professor

Bellardi’s collection.

HYPERALONIA.

Hyperalonia, Rondani, Archivio per la Zool. Modena, iii. p. 1 (1864).

Four submarginal cells; no teeth at the base of the ungues; no pulvilli; strong posterior legs; small bristleless

front tibiz, with indistinctly marked joints of the tarsi and minute ungues ; the front tarsi have no stronger

bristles, but are provided on both sides with delicate, erect hairs; the third antennal joint in the shape

of an elongate cone, separated by a distinct suture from a style nearly as long as the cone, a minute

appendage at the tip of the style ; the face but moderately projecting.

All the Hyperalonie I have had occasion to examine (from the warmer regions of

America and Asia; I have seen no others) partake of the above characters. The genus

is very closely allied to Exoprosopa. (Compare the introductory paragraph to that.

genus, ante p. 81.)

The species described below form two natural groups :—

A. Abdomen with a white cross-band on the second segment, but without distinctly marked. white

spots.

1. albiventris, Macq. (v. d. Wulp) ; 2. pilatet, Macq.; 3. dido, sp. n.

B. Abdomen with distinctly marked white spots on the sides.

4, proserpina, Wiedem. ; 5. latreillei, Wiedem. ; 6. kaupi, Jaenn.

1. Hyperalonia albiventris.

(?) Exoprosopa albiventris, Macq. Dipt. Exot. Suppl. iii. p. 33, t. 3. f. 81.

Exoprosopa albiventris, Van der Wulp, Tijdschr. &c. xxiv. p. 164, t. 15. f. 117.

Anthrax hela, Erichs., in Schomburgk’s Reise in Brit. Guiana, iii. p. 608°.

Four submarginal cells; wings greyish-hyaline, with brown spots on most of the cross-veins ; abdomen with a

broad white cross-band on the second segment, and with silvery scales towards the tip.

Length 15-18 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison); Guatemata, Teleman (Champion).—

VENEZUELA”; Gutana?; Brazit4, Rio Negro}.

Macquart’s description ! is unmeaning, and I take that of Van der Wulp 2 as a basis of

comparison.

1. A female from Teleman, Vera Paz, Guatemala, agrees with the description; but

the spots on the wings are smaller, and some of the shadows, represented on the figure,

are wanting ; the anterior cross-vein corresponds exactly to the bifurcation of the second

and third veins ; some of the veins are less wavy. The long hairs on the thorax are

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., November 1886. n

90 DIPTERA.

rufous, rather than golden-yellow; the abdomen (somewhat abraded) has scales of an

impure whitish colour, rather than silvery ; the white cross-band is on the second, not

on the first segment (which I suppose is a /apsus calami in the letterpress 2).

2. Two (much better preserved) males from Northern Sonora have the spots on the

wings as large as in Van der Wulp’s figure, but in both there is a spot in the anal cell,

connected with that at the distal end of the fourth posterior cell: one of the specimens

only has a dot on the vein separating the second and third posterior cells; the shadows

on the longitudinal veins between the submarginal cells, represented on the figure, are

hardly visible. The ground-colour of the wing is less greyish. The second abdominal

segment bears a broad white cross-band (a little broader on the sides than in the middle)

occupying the whole segment, except a margin posteriorly ; segments 5, 6, and 7 have a

dense covering of white, almost silvery, scales ; similar scales on the sides (in one of the

specimens even in the middle) of the fourth segment; the interval between the white

cross-band of the second and the white covering of the apical segments (including the

posterior margin of the second segment) is occupied by yellowish scales; all the segments

have a covering of black, semierect hairs, especially visible along the posterior margins,

and forming tufts on the lateral margins. This black pile is distinctly shorter here

than in the Guatemalan specimen. ‘The venter is pale reddish, clothed with dense

whitish tomentum, and with pale yellowish erect, longer hairs, arranged in rows, which

appear distinctly from a side view.

In the three specimens the antennal style is about two thirds the length of the third joint.

The female from Guatemala, on account of its greyish wings, with an unspotted anal

cell, is nearer to Van der Wulp’s specimens (Venezuela) than the two males from

Sonora. Anthrax hela, Erichs. (Guiana), the type of which I have compared in Berlin

with one of our specimens from Sonora, also differs from them in the absence of the

brown spot across the anal cell; nevertheless it struck me as being the same species,

Erichson’s description is very short and even misleading, and cannot have any claim to

priority. If all the above-mentioned specimens belong to the same species (which I

deem very probable) it should be called H. albiventris (Macq.?), Van der Wulp.

Whether the synonymy from Macquart holds good or not is an indifferent matter,

because there is an earlier Exopr. albiventris, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. ii. 1, p. 39; this is

an Exoprosopa and not a Hyperalonia, and, moreover, is a synonym of E. germari, Wied.

(comp. Schiner, Fauna &c.i. p.56). Hyperalonia albiventris, Van der Wulp, represented

by a good description and a figure, may keep its name.

2. Hyperalonia pilatei. (Tab. I. fig. 16, var.)

Exoprosopa pilatet, Macq. Dipt. Exot. Suppl. i. p. 110, t. 20. f. 2%

Four submarginal cells ; wings brown, except the apex and the posterior margin, often (but not always) pale

brown spots along the latter ; abdomen with a narrow white cross-band on the second segment, and with

silvery scales towards the tip, but without well-marked white or silvery spots.

Length 16 millim.

HYPERALONIA. 91

Hab. Mexico (Sumichrast, de Saussure), Tres Marias Islands (Forrer), Merida! in

Yucatan.

Antenne dark brown, the basal joint reddish ; style of the third joint nearly as long as the

joint itself. Head brown, with reddish appressed scales and black erect pile on the front ;

face and environs of the mouth more reddish ; proboscis not protruding. Thorax dark

brown, anteriorly with a collar-like fringe of dark rufous hairs, hedged in posteriorly by

a similar fringe of black hairs; tufts of rufous hairs behind and below the humeri;

black hairs on the humeri, as well as below, in front of the front coxe; a bright rufous

tuft between the tegula and the haltere; similar tufts on the sides of the abdomen, on

segments | and 2. Abdomen: first segment black; second anteriorly with a narrow

cross-band of yellowish-white scales, expanded on the sides; the ground-colour of the

following segments is reddish-brown, darker in the middle, but more or less concealed

under a dense covering of scales and hairs; the scales become more distinctly white

towards the end of the abdomen, especially on the last two segments; the hairs are

black, erect, rather uniformly spread over the whole surface, forming a distinct black

fringe on the sides, beyond the tufts of rufous hair already mentioned. Venter brown

on the three basal segments, the remainder red, with appressed yellowish-white scales.

Legs: front pair dark brown; tibie of the middle pair, and femora and tibie of the

hind pair, more rufous, partly on account of the appressed rufous scales which cover

them. On the wings the brown colour reaches the tip of the costal cell, slightly

encroaches upon the proximal ends of the second and third submarginal cells, thus

leaving the whole apex hyaline; a large hyaline spot in the distal part of the discal

' cells, coalescing with the hyaline posterior margin, produces a deep excision in the

brown (see Macquart’s figure) ; the posterior margin, which is hyaline in Macquart’s

type, is often spotted with brown as follows—a large spot on the coarctate portion of

the first posterior cell, and paler ones along the margin in the third and fourth posterior

cells and at the end of the anal cell (some of them sometimes wanting); a subpellucid

small spot near the proximal end of the discal cell, and another in the distal portion of

the first submarginal, seem to be more constant.

I had for comparison three specimens, apparently males, from Prof. Bellardi’s

collection ; and a single male from the Tres Marias Islands, Western Mexico.

N.B.—In Macquart’s figure the tip of the costal cell is represented as hyaline; this

is not quite correct, as it is always more or less encroached upon by the brown.

3. Hyperalonia dido, sp.n., ¢ 9. (Tab. I. fig. 17.)

Four submarginal cells; wings hyaline with a brown basis, an oblique brown cross-band across the proximal

end of the discal cell, and a second one across the middle of the marginal cell, two brown dots on the margin

of the wing; abdomen with a broad white cross-band on the second segment, and with silvery scales

towards the tip, but without well-marked white or silvery spots.

Length 19 millim.

Hab. Mexico (Trugui, Sumichrast, coll. Bellardi), Tres Marias Islands (Forrer).

n 2

92 DIPTERA.

Head and thorax very much like H. pilatei, but the rufous colour more prevalent ;

the collar-like fringe of rufous hair on the anterior part of the thorax is more red, and

is not hedged in by a fringe of black hair posteriorly ; the black hairs on the humeri

and in front of the anterior coxe are less apparent. Antennal style equal to at least

two thirds of the third joint. The brown surface of the thorax shows a pair of darker

stripes; the reddish-brown minute semi-erect hairs covering it are rather dense, and the

black erect pubescence short and inconspicuous. The white stripe on the second segment

is broader than in H. pilatei, and occupies nearly the whole segment, except its hind

margin, which bears a fringe of black hair; on the three or four last segments white

scales predominate ; the surface of the abdomen, beginning with the third segment, is

covered with semi-erect black pile, which is shorter and much less conspicuous than in

H. pilatei; the sides of the abdomen show rufous tufts at the base; white tufts on the

second segment, and a black fringe, mixed with some white and reddish hairs, on the

following segments. Venter pale brownish-red, clothed with pale red and whitish hairs.

Legs reddish-brown, with red scales and black bristles ; tarsi darker. Wings hyaline,

spotted with brown ; basal portion brown, which colour reaches a little beyond an ideal

line connecting the humeral cross-vein with the axillary excision; a brown spot at the

origin of the second vein, and usually another one at the proximal end of the discal cell ;

a cross-band beginning in the distal end of the anal cell reaches across the discal cell

to the first vein, where it coalesces with the brown of the costal cells; a second cross-

band occupies the middle of the marginal cell, the distal end of the first submarginal

cell, and the proximal] ends of the second and third submarginal cells, and coalesces

more or less with a brown spot of variable size at the end of the first posterior cell;

there is a brown dot at the tip of the second vein, and another one at the tip of the

vein between the second and third posterior cells; second costal cell (that is, the

interval between the humeral cross-vein, the costa, and the auxiliary vein) subhyaline ;

third costal cell (interval between the auxiliary and the first veins) infuscated.

I had for comparison three specimens from the collection of Prof. Bellardi, and one

from Tres Marias Islands.

4, Hyperalonia proserpina.

Anthrax proserpina, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. 1. p. 257.

Exoprosopa proserpina, Schiner, Reise d. Novara, Zool. ii. Abth. i. p. 117; Arribdlzaga, El] Natu-

ralista Argentino, i. p. 266; Van der Wulp, Tijdschr. &c. xxiv. p. 165, t. 15. f.12°.

Anthrax klugii, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 632 (teste Schiner).

Anthrax rufescens, Walker, List &c. iii. p. 2388 (sine patria).

Hab. Guatemata, San Gerénimo, El Reposo (Champion); Costa Rica, Cache (Rogers).

—Sourh America, as far as the Argentine Republic 1.

My specimens, four females, have the brown spot at the tip of the second vein,

which, according to Schiner, was wanting in most of his specimens. They differ from

HYPERALONIA, 93

Van der Wulp’s figure in the extent of the brown within the third posterior cell,

which, besides the base, occupies only a small space in the distal corner of that cell ;

the hind margin, within the fourth posterior cell, has no pale brown border, nor is the

vein crossing the hyaline space clouded with brown, but there is a small cloud at the

tip of that vein. As Macquart observed, this species seems to be subject to variation.

It seems to be rather common in all parts of South America, down to Buenos Ayres,

and even further south.

Anthrax rufescens, Walk., is an immature rubbed specimen of H. proserpina; I have

seen the type in the British Museum.

5. Hyperalonia latreillei, ¢ ¢. (Tab. I. fig. 18,3; Tab. IL, fig. 1, 2.)

Anthrax latreillei, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. ii. p- 6337.

Four submarginal cells; thorax and abdomen with rufous hairs along the margins; abdomen with white spots

on the sides of segments 3, 6, 7(¢) and 6,7(9); wings brown, with a large subhyaline space along

the posterior margin and a subhyaline apex ; in the male this apex is crossed by thickly clouded veins.

Length 18-19 millim.

Hab. Mxxico! (coll. Bellardi) ; Guatemaa, Cubilguitz (Champion); Panama, Bugaba

(Champion).

Male. Antennal style about two thirds the length of the third joint ; base of the

first and second joints reddish. Head brown, more reddish about the mouth, beset on

the front with black, erect pile. Thorax greyish-brown or black, beset with short black

erect pile, especially in front; collar with a fringe of rufous pile, which reaches over

the humeri to the root of the wings; a tuft of similar rufous hairs between the root of

the wings and the base of the abdomen, continued, gradually attenuating, along the

edge of the abdomen nearly to its end. Scutellum reddish-brown. Upper surface of

the abdomen black, but, at the anterior margins of the segments, with traces of narrow

cross-bands formed by rufous, hair-like scales; an uninterrupted cross-band of that

kind on the second segment, expanding towards the lateral margins; on the two

following segments the cross-band is dissolved into four spots; large spots of white

scales on each side of the third, sixth, and seventh segments. Venter black, with rufous

pile. Legs brownish-black, partly rufous, with yellowish-red scales and black bristles,

Wings brown, slightly rufescent at the base ; subhyaline spaces within the second, third,

and fourth submarginal cells form an apical subhyaline spot, trisected by the more or

less clouded veins ; a small subhyaline spot within the expanded portion of the marginal

cell; a still smaller one in the distal half of the first submarginal; a large one in the

distal half of the discal cell coalesces more or less with the subhyaline disc of the third

posterior cell ; the latter again is separated by an infuscated vein from the hyaline disc

of the fourth posterior cell; the subhyaline distal half of the axillary cell coalesces

with an oval spot in the distal half of the anal one; a small subhyaline spot in contact

with the proximal end of the discal cell.

94 DIPTERA.

Female. It differs from the male as follows :—

1. There are no white lateral spots on the third abdominal segment; the rufous hair

along the sides of the abdomen encroaches upon the spaces occupied in the male by those

white spots; there is no rufous pile on the venter, but traces of white scaly hairs on the

last ventral segment.

2. The legs are altogether black.

3. The apex of the wings is hyaline, in other words the subhyaline spaces within the

apical cells (including the expanded end of the marginal) are not separated here by

thickly clouded veins; there is no hyaline spot within the anal cell; that at the end of

the axillary cell is small.

N.B.—I have seen Wiedemann’s type specimen in Berlin, and the identification is

certain, the discrepancies of the description notwithstanding. The pattern of the wings

in this species is variable, especially in the intensity of the clouds on the veins near the

apex.

6. Hyperalonia kaupi.

Exoprosopa kaupi, Jaennicke, Neue exot. Dipt. p. 32, t. 2. f. 17.

Hab. Mexico, Tehuacan (Sumichrast).

A specimen from the above locality in Prof. Bellardi’s collection, and another ( ? ) in

the British Museum, agree with the description. ‘The species differs from its congeners

in having jive submarginal cells.

STONYX, gen. nov.

Three submarginal cells; third joint of the antenne short, onion-shaped, with a very long style, not bisected

by a suture, and ending in a minute appendage, the first joint very short. Legs delicate; the difference

in size and strength between the front and hind pairs less striking than in Eroprosopa ; front.tibiee beset

with spinules ; front tarsi of the ordinary structure, that is, with distinctly marked joints, and a brush of

microscopic bristles on the underside of the first joint ; front ungues not unusually small ; no tooth at the

base of the ungues; no pulvilli. Proboscis projecting considerably beyond the oral margin (in the species

before me the length of the head or more); lips narrow. The interval between the eyes, on the vertex,

comparatively broad in both sexes. The male forceps withdrawn within the body, in the usual, unsym-

metrical position. The ovipositor of the female has the usual coronet of spinules, but very small, usually

withdrawn, and difficult to perceive.

The three known American species I refer to this genus are clothed with a dense

reddish-brown silky tomentum, not variegated by cross-bands or spots, like most

Lxoprosope ; they have the wings brown, variegated with hyaline.

That these species cannot remain in the genus Hxoprosopa is evident; but whether

the definition of the genus Litorhynchus, introduced by Macquart for certain African

species, should be applied to them cannot be settled without comparison of specimens.

The fact that Loew (Siidafr. Dipt. p. 223) rejects the genus seems to prove that it is

not identical with Stonyx, because he would not have rejected the latter. (Compare

STONYX. 95

above, ante p. 81, the introduction to the genus Exoprosopa.) Moreover, the character

of the colouring and hairy covering of the two species of Litorhynchus, described by

Macquart, is quite different from those of Stonyz.

1. Stonyx clotho, 3 2. (Tab. II. fig. 2.)

Anthrax clotho, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. ii. p. 635.

Hab. Mexico, Orizaba, Tuxpango (Sumichrast).

I reproduce Wiedemann’s description, which is quite recognizable; the state of

preservation of the specimens before me does not enable me to prepare a more complete

one :— |

“ Nigra; alis nigris, excisura magna marginis interni, duobus punctis notata, altera

minore apicis maculaque ad marginem externum limpidis. Long. corp. 7 millim.

“ Antenne black, third joint globose, with a setiform style; proboscis rather long,

projecting. Face in part rufous. Front with a rufous cross-band in the middle.

Thorax black, with black pile, a rufous collar, but with black hairs above it. Abdomen

with a brownish appressed pubescence and black hairs, which form distinct tufts on the

sides ; I do not perceive any white spots. Wings brownish-black, on the distal half of

the posterior margin a broad, triangular hyaline excision, marked with two distinct

black dots; in front of this excision, near the anterior margin, there is a large hyaline

spot, which touches the end of the costal cell; a narrow brown band separates this spot

from the hyaline excision ; immediately behind the hyaline spot there is a rounded spot

of darker, blackish hue, which covers the bifurcation of the third vein; beyond the

large excision there is a smaller one, truncate at the tip, which occupies the posterior

margin before the apex; several small hyaline drops in the brown near the apex ; in

the dark portions of the proximal half of the wing some small, pale yellowish marks.—

Mexico (Berlin Museum).”

I have seven (¢ 2) specimens before me measuring 7-11 millim., all from Prof.

Bellardi’s collection. The pattern of the wings is variable; sometimes there is a brown

spot on the bifurcation of the second vein ; the hyaline drops in the brown near the

apex are very inconstant in their number and position ; the intensity of the darker

portions of the brown is also variable.

9. Stonyx clelia, sp.n., ¢ 9. (Tab. II. fig. 3.)

Head brown, face and cheeks more reddish ; the face and anterior part of the front covered with rufous

(almost copper-coloured) scales; the short erect pile on the front a little longer and more dense on its

middle portion, where the ground-colour is black ; vertex dark, greyish-pollinose on both sides of the ocelli.

Third antennal joint broader than long, short pulbiform, the style 4-5 times longer than the joint,

with a minute bristle at the tip. The brown thorax densely beset in front, on the sides and below, with

long brownish-rufous hair, between which, on the humeri, some black hairs are visible; a paler tuft

under the insertion of the wings; the disc of the mesonotum and the scutellum covered with scattered,

appressed, scale-like, rufous copper-coloured hairs, among which a delicate pubescence of erect black pile is

96 DIPTERA.

visible. The brown abdomen densely clothed with rufous appressed scale-like hairs concealing the

ground-colour ; in the middle of each segment a row of long erect, black hairs is visible (some specimens

show traces of transverse rows of yellowish-white hairs) ; the sides have a fringe of rufous hairs, longer

towards the base, and within which, on segments 2-5, tufts of black hair are visible ; venter with rufous

hair. Legs rufous, the tips of the tarsi black ; bristles black; femora and tibie covered with scales, which

in a certain light appear yellowish. The brown portion of the wings variegated with yellowish-brown,

ill-defined spots, especially on the humeral and the other cross-veins, near the origin of the second vein,

at the distal end of the second basal cell, &c.; the origin of the third vein is covered by a dark brown spot,

on both sides of which, within the marginal and submarginal cells, there are lighter shades of brownish ;

the hyaline spots are as follows—a small double one across the anal and axillary cells, a large triangle on

the posterior margin (the apex of which crosses the discal cell, but does not reach beyond it), a’spot across

the distal portion of the inner submarginal cell varying in size and sometimes disappearing altogether ;

the brown pattern of the apex of the wing is very variable—generally, the brown fills out the distal end

of the marginal cell, except an irregular hyaline spot across it, between the tips of the first vein and the

second ; the second submarginal cell is likewise brown, with a hyaline space on its distal side; but in some

cases the hyaline space of the marginal cell communicates across the second submarginal with the hyaline

of the posterior side of the wing (the figure represents this variety) ; adventitious spots sometimes occur—

for instance, in one specimen there is a double spot at the end of the first posterior cell.

Length 8-12 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

Twenty specimens of both sexes.

N.B.— Anthrax lacera, Wiedem. Auss. zweifl. Ins. ii. p. 634 (Mexico; Berlin Mus.),

is very like S. clelia, but a distinct species; the difference in the coloration of the

abdomen is especially striking.

ISOPENTHES, gen. nov.

Three submarginal cells; third joint of the antenne short, onion-shaped, with a very long style, not bisected

by a suture; no tooth at the base of the ungues ; distinct, although very small, pulvilli; proboscis short,

retractile, with fleshy lips. Legs delicate; front legs beset with spinules ; joints of the front tarsi distinctly

marked ; front ungues not unusually small.

The two species described below show, in their structure and colouring, a most

remarkable resemblance to the genus Hemipenthes, Loew, which I have included in the

group Anthrax, sensu stricto; the presence of three submarginal cells seems to be the

only difference. (Compare this group.)

1. Isopenthes blanchardiana, 3; ¢.

Exoprosopa blanchardiana, Jaeunicke, Neue exot. Dipt. p. 33, t. 2. f. 207.

Body black, with some yellowish pile on each side; wings dark brown, except the margin between the apex and

the fourth posterior cell, only the end of the first posterior cell (about one fifth of its length) remains

hyaline.

Length 8-10 millim.,

Hab. Mexico !, Northern Sonora (Morrison), Oaxaca (coll. Bellardi).

Five specimens (3 ¢) from Northern Sonora enable me to complete the description

of the body, which Jaennicke drew from abraded specimens. The prevailing colour

of the body is black; the usual collar in front, as well as the long hair on the

ISOPENTHES. 97

sides of the thorax and of the abdomen, yellowish, more or less mixed with black

hair; more distinct tufts of black hair appear on the sides of the abdomen at the end

of the first segment, and especially on the sides of the distal half, where the black

hair decidedly prevails over the yellow, and forms a conspicuous fringe. The surface

of the thorax and abdomen shows (under the magnifying-glass) a scattered, appressed

scale-like tomentum of a coppery-red colour, not dense enough to cover up the ground-

colour; the long, soft, erect hair upon the abdomen is blackish, but shows in a certain

light whitish reflections. Venter greyish, with hair of the same colour, or more

yellowish. Head black, with short, erect, black pile; a thin covering of scale-like

golden hairs on the face and on the occiput; on the front the scales are more coppery-

red and less numerous. Proboscis withdrawn within the oral opening. Antenne with

the third joint short bulbiform, with a style three or four times the length of the joint,

ending in a minute bristle. Legs brownish-yellow, covered with yellowish scales, and

beset with black bristles; tarsi darker. ‘The brown colour on the wings, whether seen

in a light transmitted through it or reflected from its surface, appears uneven, and

shows, in the former case, numerous transverse streaks of a slightly paler shade, rather

evenly scattered between the veins, over the whole surface; when a strong light is

reflected from the surface these paler spots show a golden sericeous reflection ; the paler

spots on the anterior and posterior cross-veins, and near the origin of the second vein,

are very little apparent.

In my specimens the encroachment of the brown upon the third submarginal (next

to the first posterior) cell is almost imperceptible, or none at all; in the six specimens

from Oaxaca, in Prof. Bellardi’s collection, this encroachment is greater and more in

conformity with Jaennicke’s figure.

2. Isopenthes jaennickeana, sp.n.,¢ 9. (Tab. II. fig. 4.)

Body black ; a stripe of whitish pile on each side of the thorax ; wings dark brown, except the margin between the

apex and the tip of the axillary cell, the distal half of the first posterior cell remains hyaline.

Length 8-11 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

Exceedingly like I. dlanchardiana, but easily distinguished by the indicated difference

in the coloration of the wings and by the distinct stripe of whitish pile on each side of

the thorax. The scale-like, scattered, appressed, coppery-red tomentum on the thorax

and abdomen mentioned in the description of J. blanchardiana is very inconspicuous

here, though some traces of it are perceptible on the thorax. The boundary of the

dark colour of the wings shows the following differences :—it does not encroach upon the

third submarginal cell; the hyaline spot in the expanded portion of the marginal cell is

slightly larger; likewise the hyaline space at the end of the first (or inner) submarginal

cell; the distal half of the first posterior cell is hyaline; within the fourth posterior

cell the black does not reach the margin of the wing.—Twenty-five specimens (¢ @ ).

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., November 1886. 0

98 DIPTERA.

N.B.—About the remarkable resemblance between this species and Anthrax sinuosa

see the latter species.

DIPALTA.

Dipalta, O. Sacken, Western Diptera, p. 236 (1877).

“Differs from Exoprosopa in the course of the second vein, which is strongly con-

torted, in the shape of a recumbent S, near its point of contact with the cross-vein

which separates the first submarginal cell from the second.

“A still more important difference lies in the structure of the antenne, the third

joint of which does not bear the terminal style so apparent in Exoprosopa, and is more

like that of the genus Anthrar. Examined attentively, that joint shows, on its incras-

sate, basal part, a more or less distinct transverse suture, which also exists in Anthraz,

and may indicate that the third joint is very much shortened here and coalescent with

the style, their suture being very near the base of the joint. The joint is onion-shaped

at the base, with a slender, gently tapering, almost linear, prolongation, ending in a

point. I do not see any bristle at the end. The body is more slender than in Hzopro-

sopa, and the hairy covering of a more uniform colour.

“ Diplocampta, Schiner (Reise d. Novara, p. 119, t. 2. f. 9), from Chili, resembles

Dipalta in the curvature of the second vein; nevertheless, it is evidently different; the

abdomen is not longer than the thorax, and narrower, being gradually attenuated

posteriorly ; the structure of the antenne is different; the species is small (14 to 2 lines

long), with nearly hyaline wings; the position of the cross-vein between the second

and third veins is different.”— Western Diptera, 1. ¢.

To this I may add that there are no pulvilli, and that the base of the ungues shows

an incrassation, but no tooth.

1. Dipalta serpentina.

Dipalta serpentina, O. Sack. Western Dipt. p. 236°.

Hab. Untrep States, California, Colorado, Texas 1—Mexico (Sumichrast, in coll.

Bellardi). Two specimens.

ARGYRAMCEBA.

Argyrameba, Schiner, Wiener ent. Monatschr. iv. p. 51 (1860).

Schiner established this genus on the following characters :—“ A pencil of hairs at the

tip of the antenne ; distinct pulvilli; the presence of a stump of a vein on the fork of the

third vein, and on the knee-shaped curvature of the second.” The last character is very

generally, although not always, present; in some American species (4. georgica, Macq.,

A. acroleuca, Wiedem., &c.) either one of these stumps or often both are wanting. To

these characters may be added :—1. The structure of the male forceps, placed symme-

trically with regard to the abdomen (and not unsymmetrically as in Exoprosopa and

ARGYRAMCEBA. 99

Anthrax); it is more protruding, sometimes quite large, and hanging outside of the

abdomen ; its structure is for this reason more apparent, and the ascertaining of the

sex of a specimen more easy here than in the other genera. 2. The structure of the

ovipositor of the female, the orifice of which is protected by those silky converging

fibres that distinguish the ovipositors of Lomatia, Bombylius, &c. 3. The shape of the

antennal style, which is bisected by a distinct suture; this character, as I will presently

show, is perhaps the most important distinctive mark of the genus. 4. The shape of

the front legs; the tibie beset with spinules (not smooth as in most species of

Exoprosopa); the tarsi with distinct joints, beset with spinules at the tip; ungues

comparatively large (in Exoprosopa the joints are indistinct, the ungues very small,

&c.); in the male the front tarsi are generally longer and more slender than in the

female. 5. The face is short, not protruding, rather withdrawn; the proboscis with-

drawn within the mouth, with spongy lips.

The basal joints of the antenne are very short. The third joint has in most cases the

shape of a short cone, or of a flattened onion, prolonged into a more or less long

slender style; this style has a distinct suture in the middle, and the relative length of

the two portions of the style affords in some cases a useful specific character. Some-

times the stout basal portion of the third joint is more elongate, more gradually

attenuate, with a short pencil-bearing style at the end, thus showing that the portion

of the style before the suture, in the ordinary Argyramebe, is nothing but a portion of

the third joint, and that the style beyond the suture alone is homologous to the style

of Exoprosopa (compare the antenne of A. hetrusca and of A. cephus, described by me

in the ‘Western Diptera, p. 242; I have no specimens of this latter species now

before me). This structure, the bisection of the antennal style, is perhaps the most

important character of the genus. Schiner, who made a very happy hit in introducing

the genus Argyrameba, overlooked it, and hence did not fully grasp the limits of his own

genus. This is proved by the passage in ‘Fauna Austr. Dipt.’ i. p. 00, footnote, “ that

if subsequent investigations revealed the presence of a pencil of hairs at the end of the

antenne of Anthrax velutina it should be transferred to the genus Argyrameba.”

Anthrax velutina has an undivided, filiform style; the front legs and the structure of

both male and female genitals different from those of Argyrameba; it belongs to the

subgenus Anthrax, within the definition adopted by me in the present work.

The pre-alar hook peculiar to the ‘ Anthracina ’ exists here too, but is rather small.

The ungues are comparatively large, curved, without tooth at the base; the pulvilli

large.

The prevailing colour of the body is more or less black, often with white spots on

the abdomen; the male in some species has the last segments of the abdomen silvery,

while the female is altogether black. The wings are variegated with black in different

ways; often the antero-proximal portion is deep black, with a distinct boundary sepa-

rating it from the postero-distal portion, which is pure hyaline. It is worthy of notice

100 DIPTERA.

that in such Argyramebe the intensity of the black on the wings is rather uniform,

while in the species of Anthrax of a similar pattern the black on the antero-proximal

half of the wing is more or less spotted with paler shades on the cross-veins. The

wings of the European A. hetrusca are altogether without black spots. The great

resemblance between Argyramebe from distant parts of the world is remarkable.

The larve of Argyrameba, as far as known, prey upon the brood in the nests of

Hymenoptera (cf. ‘Western Diptera,’ p. 243). Schiner’s statement (‘ Fauna,’ i. p. 52)

that they are parasites in the pupe of Lepidoptera is erroneous. In the ‘ Western

Diptera’ I have given a tabular arrangement of the species from the United States.

The species mentioned below may be tabulated as follows :—

Third posterior cell bisected by a cross-vein. . . . . . . . J. simson, Fabr. (?).

‘Third posterior cell not bisected.

Antero-proximal portion of the wings uniformly deep black,

the postero-distal portion hyaline. . . . . . . . 2. acroleuca, Wiedem.

3. sp.?

4. analis, Say (?).

Antero-proximal portion of the wings not uniformly deep

black, nor the postero-distal portion uniformly hyaline.

Costal cell checkered with black and hyaline . . . . 5. edipus, Fabr.

Costal cell not checkered.

A stump of a vein on each of the two sinuosities of

the anterior branch of the third vein . . . . 6. pluto, Wiedem.

7. seriepunctata, sp. n.

A stump of a vein on the proximal sinuosity only,

ornostumpatall . . . . . . . . . . 8. daphne, sp. n.

9. fur, O.S.

1. Argyrameba simson.

Anthrax simson (Fabr.), Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 259, t. 3. f. 2; Macq. Dipt. Exot. ii.

1, p. 59, t. 16. f. 2.

Anthrax scripta, Say, Compl. Wr. ii. p. 59.

Nemotelus tigrinus, de Geer, vi. t. 29. f. 11 [teste Wiedem.].

Hab. Unirep States.—Mexico (?).—CoLomBia (teste Schiner, Reise d. Novara, Zool.

iii. Abth. i. p. 120).

I refer to this species, but with a doubt, two specimens from Jalapa, Mexico (Hége),

and two others, in Prof. Bellardi’s collection, from Mexico (Sal/é). They are smaller

than the average specimens from the United States; the pattern of the wings differs in

having the vein separating the discal cell from the third posterior cell not clouded with

brown, except at both ends; the same is the case with the portions of the fourth vein

separating the discal and the second posterior cells from the first posterior; they are

not clouded, except at both ends. Is it a different species? The imperfect preservation

of the bodies does not allow a close comparison.

ARGYRAMEBA. 101

A. simson in the United States is said to be a parasite in the nests of Xylocopa

virginica.

2. Argyrameba acroleuca.

Anthrax acroleuca, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 3111.

Anthrax gideon, Macq. (nec Fabr.) Dipt. Exot. i. 1, p. 64, t. 20. f. 11 (¢); Schiner (nec Fabr.),

Reise d. Novara, Zool. ii. Abth. i. p. 1227.

Hab. Guatemata, San Gerénimo (Champion).—Sovutn AMERICA !?.

There is no doubt, I think, that the species provisionally named by Wiedemann

A. acroleuca, upon a specimen in the Berlin Museum, is different from A. gideon,

Fabr. I have a male and two females from San Gerdnimo, Guatemala; the male has

the end of the wings chalky-white, as described by Wiedemann, the female not; the

abdomen of both sexes and the hairs upon it are altogether black. My specimens

differ, however, from the type, which I saw in Berlin, in having the boundary of the

black across the discal and the fourth posterior cells straight, and not concave, as

represented in Macquart’s figure. Both Macquart’s and Schiner’s specimens belong to

A. acroleuca. Ido not understand what Schiner means when he says that the present

species, with A. propinqua, Schin., and A. luctwosa, Macq., form a separate group,

distinguished by the position of the small cross-vein; I do not perceive any such

peculiarity in my specimens. The suture on the antennal style is remarkably distinct

in this species, and the distal portion of the style cut off by it is much shorter than half

the proximal portion. There is no stump of a vein on the knee of the second vein;

that on the fork small.

3. Argyrameba ——!?

Hab. Guatemata, El Tumbador 2500 feet (Champion).

I have a single specimen, which is exceedingly like A. acroleuca in general appear-

ance, shape, and colour, but it has long white hairs on the sides of the proximal half of

the abdomen; the black on the wings encroaches slightly on the second submarginal

cell and, within the first posterior cell, reaches a little beyond the discal; this makes the

hyaline sinus within the black appear deeper; the distal portion of the antennal style,

cut off by the suture, is longer than half the proximal portion. This must be a distinct

species, but can hardly be 4. gideon. The stumps of the second and third veins are as

in A. acroleuca.

4, Argyrameba analis?

Anthrax analis, Say, Compl. Wr. ii. p. 60; Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 313.

(?) Anthrax georgica, Macq. Hist. Nat. Dipt. i. 406; Dipt. Exot. ii. 1, p. 68, t. 21. f 11. _

Hab. Canapa and Unitep States.—Mexico?; CENTRAL AMERICA ¢

102 DIPTERA.

A female from Duefias, Guatemala (Champion), and two males and two females from

Orizaba, Mexico (coll. Bellardi) may be doubtfully referred to A. analis, Say; the

white hairs on the sides of the abdomen, near the base, mentioned both by Say and by

Wiedemann, do not however exist in my specimens. Three females from Dallas, Texas

(J. Boll), which I can compare, agree with the specimens from Orizaba, only the anal

cell in the latter is closed, while it is slightly open in the former. These specimens,

especially those with an open anal cell, agree quite well with Macquart’s A. georgica,

if we assume that Macquart described not a male, as he stated, but a female.

5. Argyrameba cdipus.

Anthrax edipus (Fabr.), Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 262.

Argyrameba edipus, Schiner, Reise d. Novara, Zool. iii. Abth. i. p. 121; O. Sacken, Western Dipt.

p. 243; Arribdlzaga, El Naturalista Argentino, i. p. 273; Van der Wulp, Tijdschr. &c. xxv.

p. 85, t. 9. £97.

Anthrax irrorata, Say, Compl. Wr. ii. p. 61; Macq. Dipt. Exot. ii. 1, p. 60, t. 20. f. 6.

Anthrax equa, Walk. Ins. Saund. p. 192.

Anthrax punctum, Walk. List &c. i. p. 253.

Hab. Nort and Sour America, everywhere, from the British possessions in the

north to the Argentine Republic!.—Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison), Presidio

(Forrer); GuaTemaa, San Gerénimo (Champion).

6 Argyrameba pluto.

Anthrax p'uto, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 261; O. Sacken, Western Dipt. p. 244°; Van

der Wulp, Tijdschr. &. xxv. p. 85, t. 9. f. 10°.

Had. Canapa! and Unrrep States.—Mextco, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

A single specimen from Northern Sonora before me agrees with my description (op.

cit.), only the front and the face below the antennz are covered with a slight brownish-

yellow pollen, which is not mentioned in it; the frontal orbits are whitish. I reproduce

the description from the ‘ Western Diptera,’ with a few slight emendations :—

“The basal half of the wing is more or less like the darker-coloured specimens of

A. limatulus; the hyaline portion has nine or ten small black spots—one at the extreme

end of the first vein in the shape of a small cloud, two on the concave end of the second

vein, two on the anterior branch of the third vein, the one at its origin being large; a

spot, sometimes double, on the cross-vein at the base of the second posterior cell, often

coalescent with a small spot on the vein separating this cell from the third posterior ;

a spot on the curvature of the cross-vein at the base of the third posterior cell ; another at

the proximal end of that cell; and onea little before the tip of the fifth vem. The large

spot on the cross-vein at the base of the fourth posterior cell is usually coalescent with

the black on the anterior half of the wing. A long stump of a vein on the geniculate

part of the second vein; two stumps on the sinuosities of the anterior branch of the

ARGYRAMGBA. 103

third vein, one on each side; a small stump on the cross-vein at the base of the third

posterior cell. Body deep black; face and front with short, erect, black pile, mixed

with some white hair, especially around the mouth. Abdomen with tufts of white pile

on each side of the first segment and some white hairs along its hind margin; small

patches of white scaly hairs on the sides and the hind margin of the third and fourth

segments; the end of the abdomen in the male densely beset with white scales.

“This description applies to specimens, about 11 millim. long, which I have from

Canada (F. X. Bélanger), Pennsylvania (E. T. Cresson), and Waco, Texas (Belfrage).

But I have two other specimens, from Illinois (Ze Baron) and Texas (M. C. Z.), in

which the black spots on the distal half of the wings are so much enlarged that they

coalesce and form an irregular, broad cross-band, bifurcate at both ends; only three

brown dots on the apex of the wing are not confluent with this cross-band.” (This

variety is figured by Van der Wulp ?.)

«A specimen from Georgia (H. K. Morrison) holds the middle between these two

forms, its spots being larger than in the first form, and less coalescent than in the

second. This last specimen, as well as that from Illinois, measures only 8-9 millim. I

have little doubt now that all these specimens belong to A. pluto.”

7. Argyrameba seriepunctata, sp.n., ¢ ¢. (Tab. II. fig. 5.)

Head black, the front and face beset with black, erect hairs, amongst which on the front, near the orbits, a few

white hairs are mixed; antenne black, the third joint very short, almost flattened, hemispherical, and with

the usual elongate style. Thorax greyish-black, on the dorsum with traces of brownish pollen, beset with

longer black and shorter white or greyish-white hairs. Abdomen black, but little shining ; tufts of white

hair on each side of the first, and of black hair on each side of the second, segment; the two following

segments, besides the black erect hair, have tufts of white hair on each side, and cross-bands of such hair

connecting these tufts; the following segments have black tufts on the sides, but the same narrow cross-

bands of white hairs; at the end of the abdomen a large tuft of white hair on each side (I describe a well-

preserved female; the pubescence of the male is somewhat rubbed off, but seems to have been very like that

of the female). Male genitals black. Legs black, the tibie and tarsi brown. Halteres brown, white at

the tip. Wings greyish hyaline; besides the usual stumps of veins on the knee of the second vein and on

the fork of the third, there is another stump on the knee, formed by the same fork, which knee, in this

species, is particularly salient; also a trace of a stump within the third posterior cell. Root of the wings

brownish ; a brown spot at the extreme proximal end of the basal cells; a series of four brown spots in a

straight line—1, between the origin of the second vein and the proximal end of the discal cell; 2, on the

anterior cross-vein and the one adjoining it; 3, on the third vein, in the middle between the second and

fourth spots; 4, at the base of the fork; a more or less faint cloud between the third spot and the first

vein; a spot at the proximal end of the fourth posterior cell ; smaller spots at the proximal ends of the

second and third posterior cells, and on the minute stump within the third cell; in some specimens, espe~

cially in the females, a faint cloud across the proximal half of the sixth vein is visible. The spots and

clouds are a little longer in the female than in the male specimens. The costal cell is subhyaline.

Length 10-11 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison), Tehuacan (Swmichrast, coll. Bellardi).

I have a male and a female from Northern Sonora and two females from Tehuacan.

N.B.—The body of this species is most remarkably like that of A. pluto; the vena-

tion is the same; the whole difference consists in the extent of the dark colour on the

104 DIPTERA.

antero-proximal half of the wings: in A. pluto the dark spots on that portion of the

wings are larger and more or less coalescent ; in A. seriepunctata, on the contrary, the

antero-proximal half of the wings is prevailingly hyaline. I strongly suspect that

A. seriepunctata is nothing but a variety of A. pluto; nevertheless, 1 have not seen any

intermediate forms, and the four specimens of the former species which I have before

me are identical in colouring, although taken in two rather distant localities. Until

further evidence is forthcoming I prefer to treat 4. seriepunctata as a distinct

species.

8. Argyrameba daphne, sp.n., ¢ 9. (Tab. II. fig. 6.)

Male. Head black, the face and front beset with black, erect hair, between which shorter, pale yellow, scaly

hairs are visible (especially on the front); frontal orbits hoary; antenne black, of the usual structure;

occipital orbits with rare, pale-yellow, scaly hairs. Thorax greyish-black, with a black, erect pubescence

of delicate hairs and a rather rare and easily rubbed-off brownish-golden appressed tomentum, forming in

well-preserved specimens a pair of very indistinct stripes; on the scutellum this same tomentum, mixed

with whitish scaly hairs, forms a border all around and a median line, bisecting the scutellum; the upper

part of the pleurs, especially the interval between the humerus and the base of the wing, is beset with

long black hair, mixed with shorter white hairs; the latter form an indistinct stripe passing from the

humerus, above the root of the wing, to the post-alar callosity. First segment of the abdomen with a tuft

of white hair on each side; the following three segments have, besides the usual black, erect pile, a rather

rare covering of yellowish-brown, short, semiappressed hairs, visible especially on the second and the

anterior portion of the third segment; on each side of the third segment a large spot of white scaly hairs ;

a fringe of similar whitish scales, interrupted in the middle, along the posterior margin of the same seg-

ment; posterior half of the fourth segment, except in the middle, and all the following segments, covered

with white, almost silvery scales; the black erect pile of the abdomen is especially visible on the third

segment and along the lateral margins, where it forms tufts, the largest of .which is on the second

segment; venter with rare appressed yellowish hairs and longer black ones. Forceps protruding, black; a

pair of upper valves rufous, black at the tip; lower valve sometimes also rufescent. Tegule whitish; knob

of the halteres brown, edged with whitish. Legs black, the tibie and tarsi more brownish, with black

spines and scattered yellowish scales. Wings hyaline, brown at the base as far as the humeral cross-vein,

beyond which the interval between the costal and auxiliary vein is only greyish, while that between the

auxiliary and the first vein is darker brown; a square brown spot in the middle of the first basal cell,

leaning on one side on the second vein, near its origin, on the other on the fourth vein, immediately before

its bifurcation ; this spot is connected with the brown at the base by a narrow stripe of the same colour

running along the first and second veins ; thus in the proximal half of the first basal cell only an elongated,

narrow hyaline space is left along the fourth vein; second basal, anal, and axillary cells hyaline; a brown

spot on the small cross-vein, covering also the bifurcation of the second and third veins; smaller, but

distinct dark brown clouds on the vein separating the second basal from the fourth posterior cell, and on

the bifurcation of the third vein; the other clouds are pale, small, often altogether indistinct (at the

proximal end of the third and second posterior cells, the cloud on the latter especially, is, in most specimens,

altogether obsolete). Stumps of veins (rather long) on the knee of the second vein and on the fork of

the third; none elsewhere.

Length 9-10 millim. ; smaller specimens occur, down to 5 millim.

Female. Differs principally in the absence of the covering of white scales on the distal half of the abdomen ;

the yellowish-brown semiappressed hairs form indistinct cross-bands on the anterior portion of the inter-

mediate segments, expanding into broader patches in the middle of the segments; large spots formed by

white scales on each side of the third and fourth segments; a few white scales along the hind margins of

the same segments; segments 6 and 7 likewise with some white scales on the sides. Wings as in the

male, except that there is a brown cloud within the marginal cell, connecting the brown spot at the base

of the first submarginal and first posterior cells with the brown of the costa (in the male this interval is

ARGYRAMCBA. 105

always perfectly hyaline). All the brown spots are somewhat darker and the hyaline space within the

basal cell is much smaller, sometimes very small.

‘Length 10 millim.; but much smaller specimens occur.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

I have twelve males and six females.

Two males in Prof. Bellardi’s collection, from Tehuacan, Mexico (Sumichrast), may

perhaps belong to this species; they show, however, the cloud in the marginal cell

which, in the specimens from Sonora, is peculiar to the female only (see above); the

brown spot at the origin of the second vein is much larger, fills out the distal end of

the second basal cell, and coalesces with the brown on the posterior cross-vein; there is

a cloud in the middle of the anal cell; no stump on the fork of the third vein. The

‘dusty condition of the specimens renders a further comparison impossible.

N.B.—Adventitious spots, cross-veins, and stumps are rare; one male has a brown

spot at the end of the stump on the fork of the third vein, and a pale dot on the fourth

vein instead of the small cross-vein, &c.

It is very probable that this species, which seems to be common, has already been

described, but from some rubbed specimens: I have not been able to recognize it from

the descriptions. As I have a considerable number of well-preserved specimens of both

sexes before me, I thought it worth while to give a complete description.

9. Argyrameba fur.

Argyrameba fur, O. Sack. Western Dipt. p. 244.

Hab. Unirep Statzs, Texas.—Mexico (Sumichrast, coll. Bellardi), Northern Sonora

(Morrison).

A male and a female from Mexico in Prof. Bellardi’s collection, and a female from

Northern Sonora, belong to this or to a closely allied species. The brown of the wings

is paler than in the original specimens from Texas, and encroaches much less upon the

two basal cells ; the dusty condition of the body of the Mexican specimens does not allow

-a closer comparison. The individual from Sonora is cleaner, and answers the description

quite well, with the exception of the difference in the extent of the brown on the wings,

already noticed. The size of the latter specimen is only 8 to 9 millim. I reproduce

the description from the ‘ Western Diptera’ :—‘ Face and front pollinose with yellowish-

_grey, and clothed with short black pile; on the front, some very minute pale yellow

hairs are mixed with the grey ones; the grey occiput is more or less clothed on the

-orbits with hair of this latter description. The dull greyish-black ground-colour of the

thorax and scutellum is in part covered with a short, yellow, appressed tomentum; a

large tuft of yellowish-white pile between the humerus and the root of the wings,

-extending to the upper part of the pleure ; a frill of whitish hairs, mixed with black

-ones, on the anterior margin of the thorax, opposite the occiput ; the edge of the scu-

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., December 1886. Dp

106 DIPTERA.

tellum with a yellowish-white tomentum and arow of stiff black bristles. Ground-colour

of the abdomen black; first segment on each side with a tuft of yellowish-white pile and

a sparse fringe of them along the hind margin; second segment black, with a faint

streak of microscopic fulvous tomentum in the middle; the following segments are

densely clothed with a recumbent, short, yellowish tomentum, more whitish on the hind

margins of the segments ; in the middle of each segment the tomentum, being less

dense, leaves a dark spot, which, in connection with similar spots on the next segments,

forms an ill-defined longitudinal dark stripe; rows of black erect pile on each segment

above the yellow pubescence ; the black pile is more dense on the sides and at the end

of the body; the sides of the two last segments are clothed with whitish, scale-like pile ;

the same whitish scales form subtriangular spots on the hind corners of the third and

fourth segments, connected with the fringes of whitish hairs on the hind margins of

the segments. Femora black; four front tibie and tarsi dark brown; front femora

sparsely beset on the anterior side with whitish-grey scales. Halteres yellow, the knob

with a brown spot. Wings greyish-hyaline ; their root, the costal cells, the two basal

cells, and the proximal ends of the anal and axillary cells pale reddish-brown ; a trans-

verse darker brown cloud on the small cross-vein, and on the bifurcation of the second

and third veins; another darker cloud, coalescent with the brown of the base of the

wings, lies between the origin of the preefurca and the cross-vein at the base of the

fourth posterior cell. The stump of a vein on the anterior branch of the third vein is.

small, sometimes obsolete ; that on the curvature of the second vein is moderately long ;.

there is none in the third posterior cell. Length 10 to 11 millim.

“ Hab. Dallas, Texas (Boll). Three specimens, male and female. The description

was drawn from a well-preserved female.”

The larva of A. fur in Texas lives in the nest of a mud-wasp (Zrypoaylon, as stated

by Prof. Riley, not Pelopeus, as 1 had supposed in the ‘ Western Diptera’), forming -

tubes of clay, five or six inches long, pasted together like organ-pipes. The specimen

described by me was pinned immediately after escaping from the nest, and was therefore

more intact than an ordinary collection specimen. For this reason my description of

the hairs and scales of the body cannot be expected to agree in every point with every

specimen. Specimens of Argyrameba cephus were bred from the same nest.

ASTROPHANES, gen. nov.*

The contact of the eyes on the vertex, the almost rudimentary development of the

enlargement at the base of the costa, and the closed anal cell are the most striking

characters which separate this genus from Anthrax. The contact of the eyes and the

large triangular front of the male constitute apparently a point of relationship with

Oncodocera and Lomatia ; but in A. adonis the anterior cross-vein coincides with the

* Astrophanes means shining like a star.

ASTROPHANES.—LEPIDANTHRAX. 107

bifurcation of the second and third veins, and the second vein, at the bifurcation, has

the regular knee-shaped bend; the antenne are distinct at the base, and the male

forceps withdrawn within the abdomen in an unsymmetrical position—characters which

belong to Anthrax and not to Lomatia. Again, the colour of the body, and especially

of the abdomen, of A. adonis reminds us of some Argyramebe, but the absence of pul-

villi, the not-bisected antennal style, which ends in a microscopic bristle and not in a

brush of hairs, constitute abundant differences.

The face of A. adonis is gently convex, not conically projecting ; the proboscis with-

drawn ; the lips comparatively fleshy ; the antenne have very short basal joints, the third

joint is so very short-conical as to be almost disciform and its slightly tapering style

rises abruptly in the middle ; the front legs have smooth tibie and distinct joints of the

tarsi; the occiput is much less developed here than in most species of Anthrax; the

macrochete on the pre-and post-alar callosities are weak; the contact of the fourth

posterior cell with the discal is comparatively long (nearly twice as long as the posterior

cross-vein), and the anal cell is closed (it is open in most species of Anthraz).

1. Astrophanes adonis, sp.n., ¢ ¢.

Male. Ground-colour black; abdomen with the distal half densely clothed with recumbent silvery hairs,

which begin on the latter half of the fourth segment and form a dense and comparatively long fringe

round the apex; the long, dense, soft and erect hairs on the thorax, in an oblique light, have a whitish

reflection; a tuft of hair behind the humerus and above the root of the wing is snow-white ; face and

front black, with black erect pile; traces of silvery spots on the sides of the face and of the front, spots

which are much more distinct in the female; antenne® black; lower occipital orbit with some silvery

scales, the upper one with a fringe of black hair. Legs dark brown. Wings hyaline, the veins brownish-

yellow. Knob of the halteres ivory-white.

Female. Face and front black, shining ; on the face a spot of silvery scales on each side, about the middle of

the facial orbit ; a pair of similar, but larger, silvery spots on the front, immediately above the antenne,

and again another pair about the middle of the distance between the antenne and vertex ; occipital orbit

beset with silvery scales. Thorax, as in the male, with a tuft of white hairs on each side between the

humerus and the root of the wing; a whitish collar of hair in front, and a very scarce, microscopic, whitish

(somewhat iridescent) tomentum on the dorsal surface. Abdomen with a cross-band of white appressed

hair on the anterior half of the second segment; a tuft of white hairs on each side of the first and second

segments, and a covering of orichalceous scales on the last three segments (the abdomen of my only speci-

men is somewhat greasy, and I describe it as far as I see it). Legs black. Halteres with an ivory-

white knob. Wings as in the male.

Length of both sexes 4—5 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

I have but a single specimen of each sex.

LEPIDANTHRAX, gen. nov.

Antenne widely separated at the base, inserted quite near the orbits ; third joint short, onion-shaped, with a long

filiform style, undivided by a suture, and with a microscopic bristle at the tip. Front comparatively broad

in both sexes. Proboscis considerably prolonged beyond the oral margin, slender. Front tibie with a series

of distinct spinules on the upperside ; front tarsi varying in structure, stout or slender, always with

108 DIPTERA.

distinct joints; the minute hairs and bristles of the underside distinctly differentiated from those of the-

upper; no pulvilli; ungues without teeth. The contact of the fourth posterior cell with the discal is

unusually long, about as long as the third vein, issuing from the discal cell; the distal end of the discal

cell is not expanded, its sides being more or less parallel ; anal cell open. The sides of the abdomen are

fringed, not with hairs only, but with real scales.

Such are the characters which define a natural group of at least three species, all from

Northern Mexico. The prevailing colour of the hairs of the body is brown and.

yellowish-brown, the abdomen sometimes with paler cross-bands and silvery scales.

The wings, by gradual transition, pass from hyaline, with a few brownish spots along

the costa (L. angulus), to a broad dark brown band along the costa and a broad cross-

band before the apex (L. disjuncta). Lepidanthrax will be easily distinguished from

the genus Anthrax, not only by the general appearance and colouring, but by its long

proboscis, the more distinct spinules on the front tibie, and the venation.

1. Lepidanthrax disjuncta. (Tab. Il. fig. 7.)

Anthrax disjuncta, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. ii. p. 639°.

Hab. Mexico 1, Orizaba, Tuxpango (Sumichrast).

I reproduce Wiedemann’s description :—

“Nigella; abdomine utrinque strigis transversis argenteis; alis ad costam, fascia.

obliqua ante-apicali punctoque nigris. Length 6 millim.

“ Antenne black; third joint globular, with a slender style. Face, front, and thorax

with greyish-yellow pile. The hairy collar is rubbed off ; some white hairs on the sides,

below. Abdomen with fallow-brown, appressed, felt-like pile; on the three penultimate

segments on each side are silvery cross-marks, which become longer on each succeeding

segment, so that the last form a cross-band interrupted in the middle; these cross--

marks alternate along the lateral edges with deep black hairy tufts; behind the fallow-

brown felt-like pile there are, on each segment, deep black cross-lines or spots. The

brownish-black of the wings reaches from the root to about two thirds of the length,

forms two flat curves, and contains, under the second vein, a triangular hyaline spot.

Beyond the brown, before the apex, there is a cross-band of the same colour; it runs.

obliquely, irregularly, covers the bifurcation of the third vein, is much broader anteriorly

than posteriorly, where it does not reach the margin ; it contains a distinct clear drop; its

distal side reaches the end of the anterior branch of the fork; near the posterior end of

this cross-band, on the proximal side, there is a black spot. - Legs yellowish-red.

“ Variety. Without drop on the apex of the wing, in specimens where the black. of

the apex is less extended.”

Half a dozen specimens from the above-named localities in Prof. Bellardi’s collection

agree with this description. The silvery abdominal spots are placed on segments 3-5,

and not on the penultimate segments (which would be 4-6). Wiedemann’s specimen

must have been a male and not a female, as he says. The three females which I have-

LEPIDANTHRAX. 109

before me being very much abraded, I cannot say anything about their scaly covering,

except that I do not see any trace of silvery scales on their sides. The portion of the pro-

boscis projecting beyond the oral margin is not longer, rather shorter, than the head. The

black tufts on the sides of the abdomen, between the silvery spots, are composed of scale-

like hairs, not unlike the scales of a butterfly ; on the second segment there is a weakly-

marked cross-band of yellowish-white hairs. All these specimens (except one) have the

first posterior cell bisected by a cross-vein, a character which may be very easily over-

looked, as the cross-vein is situated within the dark brown stripe. The discal cell of

L. disjuncta is longer, that is, its distal end is nearer the alar margin, than in the other

species of the group; and for this reason the second posterior cell is shorter.

2. Lepidanthrax proboscidea, s. (Tab. II. fig. 8.)

Anthrax proboscidea, Loew, Centur. viii. no. 27 ( 2)’.

Hab. Mexico 1, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

Face, front, and occipital orbits clothed with yellowish-white scaly hairs ; upper part

of the front less densely covered, showing the black ground-colour; face moderately

projecting ; the portion of the proboscis projecting beyond the oral margin rather longer

than the head. Antenne black; third joint short, onion-shaped, with a long, slender

style. Thorax with the usual collar-like fringe of yellowish hairs in front, its surface

clothed with a scattered, appressed, reddish-yellow tomentum, except an arcuate cross-

band of white tomentum reaching from the root of the wings on one side to the other ;

similar white hairs along the base of the scutellum; a tuft of longer whitish hairs on

the pleura, especially below the humeri. Abdomen clothed with a yellowish-red and

white tomentum ; the white hairs forming a distinct cross-band at the base of the second

segment, and a less distinct one at the base of the third; on each of the same segments,

in the middle, a pair of small tufts of black, erect, partly scaly hairs; segments 4-6

thickly covered with silvery scales (the small tufts of black erect hairs in their middle,

similar to those on segments 2 and 3, are much less perceptible here); the sides of the

abdomen have a fringe of hairs among which tufts of large black scales are conspicuous ;

the latter alternate with yellowish-red hairs on the anterior and with silvery ones on

the posterior portion of the abdomen; venter clothed with yellowish-red scales. Legs

clothed with similar scales, covering the more or less dark ground-colour ; tarsi black.

Halteres with a dark brown knob. Wings hyaline, spotted with brown; the brown at

the root encroaches upon the proximal end of the second basal and anal cells; costal

cell yellowish-brown, its tip hyaline; a large brown spot, in contact with the costal

brown, more or less connected with the infuscated posterior cross-vein ; another brown

spot covers the bifurcation of the second and third veins; a small cloud in the marginal

cell, below the tip of the auxiliary vein ; an irregular cross-band of more or less coales-

cent spots begins at the tip of the first vein and reaches the cross-vein at the base of the

110 DIPTERA.

second posterior cel] (it is often interrupted in the first posterior cell) ; small brown

clouds at the end of the second vein and of the anterior branch of the third; a brown

dot at the proximal end of the third posterior cell. Length 6-7 millim. .

N.B.—The description is drawn from four male specimens. A fifth specimen, about

8 millim. long, differs in the coloration of the last segments of the abdomen: there are

no silvery hairs on segment 4, which segment, like the preceding ones, has a covering

of yellowish, appressed, scaly hairs, among which, in the middle, a pair of whitish scaly

spots are visible ; segment 5 has a similar covering, but the whitish spots are replaced

by a pair of larger, silvery spots; on segments 6 and 7 there are many more silvery

scales, except in the middle; the seventh segment is more protruding here than in the

other specimens. No perceptible difference in the other characters. I suppose it is the

female, although I cannot ascertain it from the structure of the genitals. A similar

specimen in Prof. Bellardi’s collection, from Tehuacan (Sumichrast).

Loew described this species from a single, abraded specimen ; for this reason I give a

more complete description and a figure.

The close relationship between L. proboscidea, Loew, and L. disjuncta, Wiedem., is

evident; the difference, however, does not consist in the greater extent of the brown

pattern of the wings only, but also in other characters. The silvery scales in the male

begin on the third segment in Wiedemann’s species, and only on the fourth in Loew’s;

the proboscis is considerably longer in the latter; the first posterior cell, which is

bisected by a cross-vein in most specimens of L. disjwncta, is not bisected in my

specimens of L. proboscidea.

I have eight (3 2) specimens from Tres Marias Islands, Western Mexico (Forrer),

which may be either a variety of L. proboscidea or a different species still. These have

all the brown marks of the wings larger, so as to produce a somewhat different

appearance of the whole pattern, the antero-proximal portion of the wing especially

containing much more brown. In this respect they are intermediate between L. pro-

boscidea and L.disjuncta. The first posterior cell is not bisected ; the scaly covering

of the body seems to be the same, but the specimens are not very well preserved, and

do not allow a close comparison.

An individual from Northern Sonora (Morrison) has the brown pattern of the wings

somewhat different from the typical specimens—all the veins ending in the posterior

margin (except the very last) having a small, round, pale brown spot close to the tip,

the other spots somewhat larger, and the five spots on the principal bifurcations and

cross-veins paler in the centre and, for this reason, appearing ocellate. The scaly

covering of the abdomen is more uniformly fulvous, and I do not see any silvery scales.

This may, again, be a different species.

LEPIDANTHRAX.—ANTHRAX, Lit

3. Lepidanthrax angulus, sp.n., ¢. (Tab. I. fig. 9.)

Face and front densely clothed with golden-yellow, appressed, scaly hairs, the black ground-colour appearing on

the vertex only ; antenns with the basal joints red, the third joint black, subglobular, and with a long

style; the portion of the proboscis reaching beyond the oral margin shorter than the head; oral margin

reddish ; occiput with greyish, appressed, scaly hairs. Thorax with a collar-like fringe of long pale-fulvous

hair in front; a cross-band of whitish-grey, short, appressed tomentum between the roots of the wings,

proad in the middle, attenuate on the sides; a similar whitish cross-band runs from side to side across

the scutellum ; in the interval between these two cross-bands a short, appressed, fulvous tomentum.

Abdomen with an appressed, dense, fulvous tomentum, and with cross-bands of a whitish tomentum on the

second, third, and fifth segments, that on the second segment being the most distinct ; the lateral fringe

consisting of black and fulvous scaly hairs, the black ones being real cuneiform scales, a side-view

showing long, black, erect hairs along the edges of the segments ; the tip sometimes rufous. Legs

reddish, with black bristles; tarsi darker. Halteres brown. Wings hyaline ; the root and the costal cell

yellowish-brown ; a pale brown spot on the anterior cross-vein and on the bifurcation near it; a brown

cloud between this spot and the brown on the costa; a small spot near the end of the first vein, and another

on the tip of the second vein; the cross-veins and bifurcations faintly clouded; the usual sinuosity

of the second vein, nearly above the bifurcation of the third, sometimes forming an angular indentation,

provided with a minute stump of a vein; second submarginal cell unusually short, the third posterior

cell likewise (this is owing to the comparative shortness of the whole wing).

Length about 7 millim.

Five male specimens.

Hab. Norvn America, California (0. Sacken).—Mzxtco, Northern Sonora (IMor-

vison).

Two specimens from the same locality are only 3°5 to 4 millim. long; they have no

brown spots at the tip of the first and second veins; and the spots on some of the bifur-

cations and cross-veins are absent, or almost imperceptible (the wing is figured, Tab. I.

fig.10). I believe these specimens to be merely a variety of L. angulus. Ihave a

specimen obtained by myself on Lone Mountain, San Francisco, June 29, 1876, which

is larger, but has the same coloration of the wings.

ANTHRAX.

Anthrax, Scopoli, Entomol. Carniol. 1763.

The genus Anthraw, as understood after the separation of Kxoprosopa and Argyra-

meeba, is not homogeneous ; it is merely a residue of species which could not be referred

to other genera. Its characters are principally negative: it differs from Exoprosopa in

having only two, not three, submarginal cells, and the styliform prolongation of its

antenne not separated from the basal portion of the third joint by a distinct suture ;

and from Argyrameba by its antennal style not being bisected by a suture, and the

tip not bearing a tuft of hairs, but only a single microscopic bristle. To this negative

definition may be added: the species have the eyes separated on the vertex in

both sexes, and that the anal cell, as far as I have observed, is always open. The

other characters vary in different species: the face is sometimes conically projecting,

sometimes only gently convex ; the antenne have the third joint in all transitions from

112 DIPTERA.

an elongate cone to a flattened onion with a filiform style; the front tibie are either

smooth or beset with spinules; the front tarsi vary in shape and in the nature of their

pubescence ; the front ungues vary in size; the pulvilli, generally absent, are in some

species fully developed ; the proboscis, usually withdrawn within the mouth, in some

cases projects considerably beyond the oral margin.

The number of species from all parts of the world which belong to the genus

Anthrax thus circumscribed is still very large, and the next step to take would be to

arrange them in natural groups; to define, as far as possible, these groups ; to point out

which of them are cosmopolitan and which only peculiar to certain countries; and to

discover the conditions of life of each group. With the small materials before me 1

cannot, of course, accomplish such an undertaking; I have nevertheless attempted to

pave the way towards it by grouping the small number of species which I can examine,

and have even given names to two or three groups which | thought sufficiently well

characterized ; but I treat them merely as subgenera, with the exception of Lepidanthrax,

which I thought sufficiently distinct for an immediate separation.

In the subgenus Anthrax, sensu stricto, I place the species in the relationship of

the original Anthrax, the European Anthrax morio, Scopoli, and the North-American

A. morioides, Say, and A. seminigra, Loew. Their face is only slightly convex, and not

conically projecting ; their proboscis withdrawn; their antennz have the third joint

more or less short-conical, with a more or less abruptly beginning, long, undivided style ;

their front tibie are provided with very minute, easily abraded spinules ; the front tarsi

have, above and below, the characteristic pubescence of minute, erect hairs; some of the

species have very distinct and others only rudimentary (although perceptible under

a magnifying-power) pulvilli; the prevailing colour of the body and wings is black.

(The details will be given below.)

My subgenus Hyalanthrax contains the group with hyaline wings and a yellow fur

on the body, a group equally well represented in Europe and North America, the species

having been bred from pupe of ‘ Lepidoptera,’ principally Noctue. The species have

some characters in common, which will be detailed below.

A considerable number of the species described by me (sub Nos. 1-13) belong to a

large group which have a conical face ; smooth front tibie ; tapering front tarsi, with

more or less indistinct joints, a characteristic delicate pubescence above and below, and

very small ungues ; a more or less elongate-conical third joint of the antenne, gradually

merging into a style, &c. In all these characters this group shows, if not some

relationship, at least some analogy, to Exoprosopa. Within this group several smaller

groups can be formed, like that of A. alcyon, &c. (Nos. 3-5), which seems peculiar to

America, and has a characteristic coloration of body and wings; the group of A. selene,

sp. n. (No. 11), also represented by a series of species in Europe (A. fenestrata &c.), with

characteristic fenestrate spots on the wings and white cross-bands on the third and

fourth, and not on the second, abdominal segments; the group of A. fulvohirta (see

ANTHRAX. 113

Anthrax, Nos. 8-10) &c. A species of tropical aspect, A. cyanoptera, Wiedem., belongs

in the same relationship of species with a conical face and Exoprosopa-like front legs

and tarsi; its proboscis is much more elongated than that of the other species, its

colours metallic. |

All the above-mentioned groups have smooth front tibie. A smaller number of

species have the front tibiee beset with spinules. Among these, Anthrax cuniculus,

A. consul, and A. palliata (Nos. 15-17), besides some common characters in the coloration

of the body and wings, have the front tarsi with very distinct joints, the underside beset

with minute, dense bristlets and hairs, while the pubescence on the upperside is incon-

spicuous, and comparatively large ungues; in the structure of the third joint of their

antenne (more or less elongate-conical gradually merging into a style) and their conical

face they resemble the group of species sub Nos. 1-13. ‘Their wings are brown on

the antero-proximal half, the brown encroaching but little on the axillary cell, and not

showing any darker or paler spots, except the usual subhyaline spot before the discal

cell. The A. ephebus (No. 14) seems to be closely allied, but has the cross-veins infus-

cated in the brown as well as in the hyaline portion.

Anthrax castanea (No. 18) has the same conically projecting face and the conical third

joint of the antenne; the structure of the front tarsi is likewise the same as in the

preceding group, but the coloration of the wings is different (brown cross-bands,

alternating with hyaline ones).

Finally, A. rex (No. 19) and A. parvicornis, Loew, have nearly the same structure of

the front legs and coloration of the body and wings as Nos. 15-17; but in these species

the face is rounded and not conically projecting, the third joint of the antenne is almost

onion-shaped and with an abruptly beginning filiform style, and the proboscis projects

far beyond the oral margin.

Thus, among a comparatively small number of species, we find structural differences

which, in other families than the present, would justify a generic separation. It is

possible, however, that, with the increase in the number of species known and studied,

intermediate forms may occur. The best course to pursue, in order to avoid uncertainties,

as well as a too great multiplication of genera, will be to go on with the formation and

definition of groups, but to treat such groups merely as subgenera; intermediate forms

of uncertain location thus would be left in the genus Anthrax in the wider sense. The

subgenera, admitting of a closer definition, may receive names formed of combinations

of the word Anthraz, like Lepidanthrax, Hyalanthrax, Thyridanthrax, Pecilanthraz,

Chrysanthraxz, &c. The advantages of such a grouping within a large genus for

purposes of describing and identifying species are evident. The genus Trypeta has

been treated in the same fashion ; its numerous subdivisions are mere subgenera, and the

genus 7'rypeta, sensu latiori, is still maintained; but these subdivisions have greatly

simplified descriptions, and rendered determinations more easy.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., December 1886. g

114

DIPTERA.

I continue to use Anthrax as feminine, as it has been used since Fabricius and

Meigen, although the Greek word is masculine.

For the easier determination of the species described, or merely mentioned by me, I

have constructed an analytical table, based on a purely artificial grouping :-—

1 (36).

2 (8).

8 (2).

4 (5).

5 (4).

6 (11).

7 (8).

8 (7).

9 (10).

10 (9).

11 (6).

Analytical table of the species of Anthrax described below.

Wings not altogether hyaline.

Wings without any hyaline spaces.

Wings uniformly dark brown, with bluish reflections . . 1. cyanoptera, Wiedem.

Wings uniformly grey, somewhat ferruginous towards the .

base. . - . - . . . . . 2 lucifer, Fabr.

Wings partly dark-coloured, partly hyaline. .

Wings with alternate brown and hyaline cross-bands . . 18. castanea, Jaen.

Wings variegate, but not with alternate brown and hyaline

cross-bands. . 3. arethusd, sp. 0. ; 4, pecilogaster, sp.n.; 5. fuliginosa, Loew.

Wings black, brown or brownish on the antero-proximal

half, hyaline or subhyaline on the postero-distal (4).

Cross-veins and bifurcations (within the brown of the antero-

proximal part) distinctly clouded with a darker shade of

brown . . ee ee el ee te t+ 6, edititia, Say; 7. poradoxa, Jaenn.

Cross-veins and bifurcations (within the brown &c.) not, or

indistinctly clouded with a darker shade of brown.

The enlarged distal end of the marginal cell containing a brown

spot.

Fourth posterior cell altogether hyaline. . . - + * + + 23. scylla, sp. n.

Fourth posterior cell more or less encroached upon by the

brown.

A brown spot on the costa at the distal end of the first sub-

marginal cell ok we we ee + + 24, sinuosa, Wiedem.

No brown spot on the costa at the distal end of the first

submarginal cell tee es . 25. sp.?

The enlarged distal end of the marginal cell hyaline.

12 (35). The brown of the wings not encroaching upon the second

submarginal cell.

13 (20). The anterior and posterior cross-veins, although on dark

ground, having a distinct pale aureole around them.

14 (15). Proboscis projecting a long distance beyond the oral margin. 19. rez, sp. n.

15 (14). Proboscis short, mostly withdrawn.

16 (19).

Anal and axillary cells infuscated (except their extreme

ends).

17 (18). Third antennal joint in the shape of a long cone, ending in a

style . . . =. - . . . . . Ll. selene, sp. n.

18 (17). Third antennal joint short, onion-shaped, with a long style . 21. chimera, sp. n-

ANTHRAX. 115

19 (16). One third or more of the distal end of the anal and axillary

cells hyaline. . . . 2. 1... ~ . . . « 26. sp.?

20 (18). The anterior and posterior cross-veins on dark ground, and

without any pale aureole around them.

21 (24). Anal and axillary cells altogether filled with brown (the

extreme distal end sometimes hyaline).

22 (28). Thorax black, with a stripe of white hair on each side . . 22. ewmenes, sp.n.

23 (22). Thorax black, with more or less fulvous pile. . . . . 8-10. spp.?

24 (21). A considerable portion of the anal and axillary cells hyaline.

25 (28). A brown spot on the bifurcation of the third vein.

26 (27). The cross-vein at the base of the second posterior cell bearing

a brown spot as large as the spot on the bifurcation of

the third vein ; tibie without spinules; tarsi with in-

distinct joints . . . oe tee . . 12. sp.?

27 (26). The cross-vein at the base of the second posterior cell bearing

a brown cloud, much weaker than the spot on the bifur-

cation of the third vein ; tibize with spinules; tarsi with

distinctly marked joints. . . . . . « « « 14. ephebus, sp. n.

28 (25). No brown spot on the bifurcation of the third vein.

29 (30). Face not conically projecting; abdomen black, with two

distinct white cross-bands . . . . . . . . . . 20. lepidota, sp. n.

30 (29). Face conically projecting.

81 (84). Prevailing colour of the abdominal pubescence yellowish.

32 (33). Abdominal segments 6 and 7 without white tomentum . . 17. palliata, Loew. : ct

33 (32). Abdominal segments 6 and 7 with a white tomentum . . 16. consul, sp. n. :

34 (81). Prevailing colour of the abdominal pubescence whitish . . 15. cuniculus, sp. 0.

35 (12). The brown of the wings encroaching upon the second sub-

marginal cell . 2. 2. 1 ee ee eee + 18, galathea, sp. n.

36 (1). Wings altogether hyaline. (A separate analytical table is ;

given below, sub nos. 26-82.) SS

1. Anthrax cyanoptera.

Anthrax cyanoptera, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 638 -

Hab. Mexico ! (Truqui, coll. Bellardi).

“‘ Nigro-chalybescens, collari rufo ; alis chalybeis——Long. 11-12 millim. Antenne

black ; third joint ina gradually tapering point. A collar of bright rufous hairs.

Thorax and abdomen bright blackish-blue; near the scutellum several whitish hairs, on

the sides of the abdomen only black ones. Wings very broad, six lines long, of a

handsome metallic blue; the venation of the second cell of the inner margin some-

what different from the usual form.—Berlin Museum; which also contains a variety,

smaller in size, and with a greenish abdomen. This species must not be confounded

‘with A. ioptera from Brazil.”

116 DIPTERA.

So far according to Wiedemann. A Mexican specimen (collected by Truqui) im

Prof. Bellardi’s collection is easily identified as belonging to this handsome species

of tropical aspect.

In A. cyanoptera the proboscis projects considerably beyond the oral margin ; the

face is conical; the front tibiae are smooth; the front tarsi slender, smooth, slightly

tapering, with indistinct joints; the contact of the fourth posterior cell and the

discal almost punctiform ; the anterior branch of the third vein with a stump; a

small stump in the third posterior cell. Wiedemann’s reference to the venation I do

not quite understand.

2. Anthrax lucifer.

Anthrax lucifer (Fabr.), Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 294’.

Hab. Mexico, Cuantla (de Saussure !).—West Inpizs 1.

I translate Wiedemann’s description :—

“Nigra, flavido-tomentosa ; abdomine fasciis nigris; alis fuscis; basi areaque costali

ferrugineis.—Long. 12 millim.

“ Antenne black, first joint reddish ; face, cheeks, and front yellowish (wax-colour) ;

the front with a black pubescence ; vertex black. Thorax with a yellowish tomentum, ©

and with paler hairs on the sides; the collar of hairs in front of the thorax yellowish ;

the rubbed off scutellum chestnut-brownish at the tip. Abdomen with the sides every

where beset with golden-yellow hair, its upperside likewise clothed with appressed

golden-yellow hairs; each segment, however, has a black posterior margin, which

is attenuate on both sides, especially on the more proximal segments (the abdomen

might just as well be described as black with yellow cross-bands at the base of the

segments). Venter blackish, with pale yellow, appressed hairs. Wings brown, the

costal vein blackish-brown, but the costal cells, the second, third, and penultimate veins,

and the interval between these veins from the root upwards to a certain distance,

ferruginous-yellowish. Halteres ferruginous-yellow, with a whitish knob. Legs black,

with a yellowish tomentum (collections of Fabricius and Wiedemann).”

Two specimens from Cuantla, Mexico (coll. Bellardi), agree with this description.

In the ‘ Western Diptera,’ pp. 240, 241, T have noticed the probable occurrence of this

species in Texas, and also the existence in the United States of conflicting forms. The

front legs are of the Exoprosopa-type.

8. Anthrax arethusa, sp.n.,¢ @. (Tab. Il. fig. 11.)

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison), Presidio (Forrer), Orizaba (Swmichrast) ;

GUATEMALA, near the city (Champion) ; Costa Rica, Irazu (Rogers).

I distinguish under this name a series of specimens, principally from Central

America and Mexico, which resemble A. alcyon, Say, in having the third posterior cell

bisected, but which, at the same time, show marked differences. A. alcyon has a more

ANTHRAX. 117

northern distribution. I have seen specimens from different localities between British

America and Colorado. It has been very well described by Say, Long’s Exped. ii. p. 371.

In Wiedemann’s description (Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 288) the statement “vom

dritten Abschnitte an sind die Seitenrinder schwarzbehaart ” must not be taken literally :

the sides of the abdomen are beset with yellow hair, but on the distal half of the

segments, beginning in most specimens with the third, there is a tuft of black pile;

in some specimens there are some black hairs on the sides of the second segment also. °

Wiedemann’s other statement—“ in der Mitte des Hinterleibes haben die Abschnitte

am Hinterrande einen breit dreieckigen Fleckhen ohne gelbliche Behaarung "—does not

apply to well-preserved specimens. That Wiedemann had the true A. aleyon, Say, is

proved by the figure of the wing which he gives, and which shows the characteristic

bisection and stump in the third posterior cell (J. ¢. t. 3. f. 6.) The bisecting cross-

vein is often wanting from both wings, sometimes from one wing only.

A. arethusa differs from A. alcyon in the following principal characters :—The abdomen

is red on the sides on all segments ; the black forms a broad stripe in the middle occu-

pying the whole breadth on the first segment, and is gradually attenuated posteriorly ;

on the seventh segment the black occupies but a small spot in the middle. The wings

are narrower and lighter in colour; the interval between the hyaline spot in the

discal cell and the posterior margin is almost altogether hyaline, crossed by two veins,

the second of which is more or less clouded; the cross-vein, bisecting the third

posterior cell is differently placed: in A. alcyon it connects

the end of the discal cell with the intercalary vein, and the

stump:does not come in contact with it; in A. arethusa it as ee U-

connects the intercalary vein with the stump, so that the

latter seems to issue from the curve of the cross-vein; in

some cases the end of the stump disappears, and then the convex cross-vein alone

remains (see the annexed woodcut, fig. 1, A, alcyon, figg. 2 and 3, A. arethusa.

In both species the subhyaline spot commonly occurring in the species of Anthrax

near the proximal end of the discal cell is nearly obsolete; in this they differ from

A. pecilogaster.

In size the average A. arethusa is a little smaller and narrower than A. aleyon. I

have before me six specimens from Guatemala city, five from Irazu, two from Northern

Sonora, two from Presidio, and one from Orizaba (coll. Bellardi). A specimen

which I took at Manitou, Colorado, August 17, 1876, also seems to belong here ;

it is larger than the average A. arethusa, the black dorsal stripe of the abdomen is

remarkably narrow, and the tufts of black hair on the sides of the abdomen consist of

a few hairs only, hardly visible among the yellow hairs.

N.B.—Say wrote alcyon, Wiedeniann halcyon; both Aleyone and Halcyon occur in

the classics: alcyon, being the original spelling of Say, is perhaps preferable.

A. aleyon, Macq., Dipt. Exot. ii. 1, p. 68, t. 19. f. 7, is certainly not Say’s species,

but A. ceyx, Loew.

Fig. 1. Fig. 2. Fig. 3.

118 DIPTERA.

A, alcyon, v. d. Wulp, Tijdschr. voor Ent. xxv. t. 9, f. 1, from Arizona is, I suspect,

my A. pecilogaster.

4, Anthrax pecilogaster, sp.n.,g ¢. (Tab. II. fig. 12.) |

Head yellowish, almost wax-colour, with an appressed, golden pubescence, and black, erect hairs ; vertex black,

the upper part of the occiput greyish, beset with pale orichalceous appressed hair ; basal joints of the antenne

reddish, the third joint black. Thorax greyish-brown, with an appressed fulvous pubescence forming a pair

of indistinct stripes in the middle, and longer, erect fulvous hairs in front and on the sides (when the pube-

scence of the thoracic dorsum is abraded and the surface is not greasy, two darker stripes are visible on

the greyish-brown ground-colour). Scutellum reddish, black at the base. First segment of the abdomen

black, the others rufous, with a transverse black spot in the middle of each, beginning with the second

(these spots are visible in abraded specimens only) ; the hairy covering of the abdomen consists of a partly

rufous, partly yellowish-white tomentum, the latter predominating on the sides and on the anterior

portion of the second segment; in well-preserved specimens, in the middle of each of the segments 2, 3, 4,

there is a short, tuft-like cross-band of black hairs, broadly interrupted in the middle, the interruption

being filled with a whitish tomentum ; tufts of black hairs along the sides of the abdomen, beginning with

the second segment ; legs rufous, the tips of the tarsi darker. Knob of the halteres whitish. Wings on

the pattern of A. aleyon, Say, but narrower ; a stump of a vein within the third posterior cell; a hyaline

spot close by the axillary incision across the middle of the axillary cell, sometimes reaching across the

anal cell also; the ends of the second and of the upper branch of the third vein thickly clouded with

brown ; the hyaline space within the discal cell rather large and in contact with the anterior branch

of the fourth vein ; the hyaline space connecting this spot with the posterior margin rather clear, the

intercalary vein crossing it being alone a little clouded ; the hyaline spot at the distal end of the second

basal cell very distinct ; the brown colour not very dark and variegated with yellowish and rufous.

Length 11-12 millim.

Hab. Norra America, California—Mexico, Northern Sonora (orrison), Tehuacan

(coll. Bellardi). Seven specimens.

A. pecilogaster differs from <A. arethusa as follows:—1, the third posterior cell is

not bisected, but contains a stump of a vein; 2, the black tufts on the sides of the

abdomen are very distinct on the second, as well as on the following segments; 3, the.

hyaline spot in the distal half of the second basal cell, near the proximal end of the

discal, is not obsolete, but on the contrary very distinct; 4, there is a more or less

distinct hyaline spot across the axillary cell, close to the axillary incision, and reaching

sometimes into the second basal cell; 5, well-preserved specimens show, on segments

2, 3, 4 of the abdomen, short, tuft-like, interrupted cross-bands of dark hairs, easily

abraded. I notice also that in all my specimens the ends of the second vein and of the

anterior branch of the third are distinctly diverging, while they are more or less

parallel in A. arethusa.

I have five specimens from Shasta district, California (Adwards), which somewhat

resemble A. pecilogaster, but are, on the average, a little larger and broader; the

wings are less variegated, more uniformly brown; there is no subhyaline space in the

axillary cell, the hyaline spots in the third and fourth posterior cells are smaller; the

tomentum on the abdomen is principally yellow, and not mixed with whitish. The

- ANTHRAX. 119

third posterior cell is not bisected, but hasa stump of a vein (asin 4. pecilogaster). Is

this, again, a different species P

5. Anthrax fuliginosa.

Anthrax fuliginosa, Loew, Centur. viii. no. 31°.

Hab. Norra America, California :—Mextco, Northern Sonora ? (Morrison).

I refer to this species a single specimen from Northern Sonora which agrees quite

well with the description. An almost exactly similar specimen from Texas (coll. von

Roeder) has a distinct stump of a vein in the third posterior cell.

N.B.—Anthrax alcyon, arethusa, alpha, pecilogaster, ceyx, flaviceps, and fuliginosa

form a natural group, distinguished by the Exroprosopa-like front legs (short; tibie

without spinules ; tarsi very gently tapering, with rather indistinctly marked joints, and

a delicate pubescence of erect hairs on both sides ; ungues very small); the face conically

produced, the proboscis not projecting beyond the oral margin ; the third joint of the

antenne in the shape of an irregular cone, gradually tapering off into a long point (but

not a style). The colouring of the wings characteristic, brown, with a clear space at the

- apex, traversed by the more or less distinctly clouded S-shaped anterior branch of the third

vein; a clear space in the discal cell, more or less connected with the posterior margin;

supernumerary cross-veins often occur, bisecting either the third posterior or the second

submarginal cell; a stump of a vein in the third posterior cell is very often present.

Another peculiarity of this group is that the impressed line which, in most species of

Anthrax, issues from the emargination of the occipital orbit, and crosses a portion of

the eye, is very short and almost obsolete here.

This group may be called “ Pacilanthrax,” and, as far as known, is peculiar to the

American fauna. The species seem to be numerous, and are rather difficult to dis-

criminate and to characterize ; it may be that, in some cases, constant local varieties —

occur; I have alluded to such a case in my ‘ Western Diptera,’ p. 240. It may be,

for this reason, difficult in some cases to determine such species without examining a

considerable number of specimens.

6. Anthrax edititia. (Tab. II. fig. 13.)

Anthrax edititia, Say, Compl. Wr. ii. p. 353 (no locality).

(?) Anthrax gorgon (Fabr.), Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 803 *.

Hab. Unite States, Texas, Dallas (Boll).—Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison),

Tehuacan (Sumichrast, in coll. Bellardi)—West INDIES '*.

In this insect the whole body is clothed with a yellowish-fulvous, appressed tomentum,

which is dense enough almost to conceal the ground-colour and to impart a uniform

fulvous hue. Abraded specimens show an opaque, dull brown ground-colour of the

body, rufous along the edges of the mouth and on the lower part of the face; the

120 DIPTERA.

posterior half of the scutellum, the sides and the tip of the abdomen also more or less

rufous, the boundary of the black in the middle of the latter being ill-defined and

irregular. Antenne: basal joints pale rufous, the third joint black ; the latter in the

shape of an elongated cone, gradually becoming styliform, and with a microscopic bristle

at the tip. Face conically projecting; front, besides the fulvous tomentum, with black,

erect hair; proboscis usually withdrawn, sometimes projecting beyond the oral margin.

Legs pale rufous, beset with orichalceous scale-like hairs; front tibize smooth ; tarsi

brown beyond the first joint, the front pair tapering, with indistinct joints, and beset on

both sides with delicate, erect hairs; ungues very small. Halteres rufous; knob

whitish-yellow. Wings pale rufous-brown on the antero-proximal half, greyish-

hyaline on the postero-distal ; in the dark portion the veins are mostly rufous, except

in some places, especially at the origin of the second vein, and on the cross-veins near the

discal cell ; small rounded brown clouds on the proximal ends of the discal cell, and of

the four posterior and the two submarginal cells ; proximal ends of the third and fourth

posterior cells coincident, or nearly so. Length 7-12 millim.—Seventeen specimens.

N.B.—It is very probable that A. gorgon, Fabr., from the West Indies, is the same

species. Wiedemann’s description agrees very well, excepting the mention of black

hairs on the sides of the abdominal segments. A few such hairs can only be discovered

with the magnifying-glass on the sides of A. edititia.

Ten specimens from Tres Marias Islands, Western Mexico (Forrer), have the fulvous

pubescence replaced by a brownish-rufous one, which, at the same time being less dense,

allows the ground-colour to be visible, and thus gives the specimens a very different

appearance; they are much darker, the brown on the proximal half of the wings is

darker, &c. Is it a different species ?

7. Anthrax paradoxa.

Anthrax paradoxa, Jaenn. Neue exot. Dipt. 31, t. 2. f. 16°.

Hab. Mexico!.—Porto Rico (v. Roeder).

I have a single specimen from Dallas, Texas (Boll), which apparently belongs to this

species. The wings are exactly like the figure given by J aennicke, except the un-

important difference that the two small brown dots which, in the figure, are placed on

the last sinus of the second vein, are wanting in my specimen. The ground-colour of

the abdomen is not black, but reddish, the middle alone being black; it is entirely

hidden under the reddish-fulvous tomentum. The legs are reddish, the tarsi brown

(Jaennicke has “ pedibus brunneis ”’).

In general appearance this species is very like A. edititva, Say, but is easily distin-

guished by the strongly bisinuate second vein and the much more distinct brown clouds

on the cross-veins. The front legs have the same structure as in A. edititia. The

bifurcation of the second and third veins coincides exactly with the small cross-vein,

both in my specimen and in Jaennicke’s figure.

ANTHRAX. 121

When in the ‘ Western Diptera,’ p. 237, I compared 4. paradoxa to Dipalta

serpentina, I was under the erroneous impression that the spot figured by Jaennicke

in the middle of the first submarginal cell represented a cross-vein. 4. paradoxa is,

however, an Anthrax, closely allied to A. edititia; Dipalta serpentina has quite a

different appearance, comparatively larger wings, and is nearer to Exoprosopa.

Van der Wulp (Tijdschr. &c. xxi. p. 189) records specimens from the Argentine

Republic, which he identifies with 4. paradoxa, Jaenn., at the same time referring the

latter species to the genus Diplocampta, Schiner (Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, 1867,

and Reise d. Novara, p. 119, t. 2. f. 9). Déiplocampta, judging from Schiner’s state-

ments and his figure, besides the presence of three submarginal cells, has a very round

head, without any development of the occiput behind the eyes, the eyes almost coming

in contact on the vertex, the wings broad and rounded towards the apex, the contact

of the fourth posterior cell with the discal rather long; the third antennal joint is

described as round with a short, stout style; the abdomen is short, rather conical; the

typical species, D. singularis from Chili, is, for an Anthracid, remarkably small,

measuring less than five millimetres. None of these characters are applicable to what

I take for A. paradoxa, Jaenn.; for this reason I cannot refer it to the genus Diplo-

campta.

8-10. Anthrax, spp. 2

Three closely allied Central-American species and another from Texas before me form

a natural group, which I propose to call Chrysanthrax, and which is distinguished by the

presence of fulvous pile on the thorax, and nd often of a golden-fulvous tomentum on the

abdomen ; a dark brown antero-proximal half of the wings, without any paler aureoles

on the cross-veins within the brown; the contact of the fourth posterior and discal cells

punctiform ; the smooth tibie; the tapering and indistinctly jointed front tarsi, beset

on both sides with delicate, erect hairs; the small front ungues; the third antennal

joint in the shape of a cone, merging into a style; the face short, conical, &c. As

my specimens of these four species are neither numerous nor well preserved enough to

enable me to prepare recognizable descriptions, I will merely indicate the differences

between them. A. sagata, Loew, Centur. viii. no. 34 (Matamoras), may, perhaps,

belong to this group.

I. The boundary of the brown on the wings running some distance (at least a millimetre and a half)

along the second vein.

a. Proboscis not projecting; a conspicuous yellowish spot within the boundary of the brown,

across the middle of the first basal cell and the proximal end of the marginal; axillary and

anal cells filled with brown, and a very small subhyaline space at their end. Length 12

millim.—Two specimens from Panama, Bugaba (Champion).

aa. Proboscis projecting more than a millimetre beyond the oral margin; the yellowish space

within the first basal cell inconspicuous; axillary and anal cells filled with brown, but the

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., December 1886. 7

122 DIPTERA.

hyaline space at their end equal in length to the small cross-vein ; third joint of the antennz

longer than in the preceding species. Length 12-13 millim.—Two specimens from Mexico,

Tuxpango (Sumichrast, in coll. Bellardi). Very like the preceding species, but certainly

distinct. This may be the Anthrax astarte, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. ii. p. 637,

from Mexico; but the projecting proboscis is not mentioned in the description, and the

description of the wings is too indefinite.

II. The boundary of the brown simply crossing the second vein, or else running along it for a very

short distance (less than a millimetre).

6. The fringes of hair on the sides of the abdomen containing mostly black hairs; a tuft on each

side of the first segment only pure yellowish-rufous; proboscis projecting ; the brown of

the wings encroaching very little on the first submarginal and first posterior cells (less than

the length of the anterior cross-vein); the extreme end of the anal and axillary cells hyaline.

Length 14 millim.—A single specimen from Guatemala, San Gerénimo (Champion). This

species is perhaps allied to A. diagonalis, Loew, Centur. viii. no. 33 (California), judging from

the description, but cannot be identified with it. The abdomen of the specimen is abraded ;

the surface seems to have been clothed more with black than yellow hairs; I see traces of

the latter on the sides only.

bb. The hair on the sides of the abdomen as well as the tomentum on its surface, on the

venter, and on the thoracic dorsum golden-fulvous; the proboscis not projecting; the

brown entirely filling the axillary and anal cells to their very end. This is A. fulvohirta,

Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 308, which is common in Texas, and will undoubtedly

be found in Mexico. The entirely brown colour of the axillary and anal cells is characteristic

and is mentioned as such by Wiedemann, Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. ii. p. 637.

11. Anthrax selene, sp.n.,¢. (Tab. II. fig. 14.)

The black ground-colour of the body becoming sometimes more or less rufous towards the end of the abdomen ;

scutellum reddish-brown, darker at the base. The collar of hair in front of the thorax very pale yellowish ;

two stripes of hair on the sides of the latter, passing above the root of the wings, more white; the

rare, appressed tomentum on the thoracic dorsum very pale yellowish, forming two or three very

indistinct stripes; the tomentum on the seutellum more whitish. On the abdomen the prevailing

colour of the tomentum on the second segment is black; the sides, however, are beset with long, white

hair, which partly covers the first segment, and also invades the anterior angles of the second;

segments 3 and 4, and, in a lesser degree, 5-7, covered with an appressed whitish tomentum, which

leaves a black, longitudinal stripe in the middle; the components of this stripe, on each segment, are

black truncate triangles, the narrow side foremost, formed by the black ground-colour, covered by some

black, appressed tomentum. Pleurz and venter clothed with white hair; on the venter the penultimate

segments show a patch of brown hairs in the middle ; along the sides of the abdomen are tufts of black hairs,

beginning at the posterior margin of the second segment. Face and front with the usual black, erect

pile, and pale orichalceous, recumbent tomentum, which, along the sides of the oral aperture, becomes

more whitish ; ground-colour of the sides of the face more or less rufous; occipital orbits fringed with dense

white scales. Basal joints of the antenne rufous; the third joint black, and in the shape of an elongated

cone, gradually becoming styliform. The brown of the antero-proximal portion of the wings is not unlike

that in A. rex (see Tab. II. fig. 17) in its shade of colour and in the outline of its boundary ; only this

boundary is a little more advanced towards the apex, and the cells only partly invaded by the brown have

more of it than in A. rex; the axillary and anal cells are thus entirely brown, except along the edge of

the wing, which is sometimes subhyaline; the angle formed by the brown within the discal cell is deeper

here; the paler spots or cross-veins and bifurcations are the same as in A. rex. The enlargement of the

costa, near the root of the wings, is clothed with pale orichalceous scales, mixed with white ones, and

ANTHRAX. 123

also with black hairs. Legs pale reddish, densely clothed with whitish scales; femora at the base and

the tarsi darker.

Length 12-14 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

Two male specimens.

This species belongs to the same natural group as the European A. fenestrata and

A. perspicillaris, Loew. A. elegans, Hoffm., and its allies, and very probably the

other species mentioned by Loew (Beschr. eur. Dipt. i.) as closely related to

A. fenestrata, also belong here. This group may be called Lhyridanthrag (from

Thyris, window), and is characterized by its colouring. The antero-proximal half of

the wings is more or less dark, with more or less large subpellucid spots or cross-veins

and bifurcations; the dark abdomen has white stripes on the third and fourth

segments; the third joint of the antenne is in the shape of an elongate cone,

gradually merging into a style, which is not longer than the cone; the face moderately

projecting; the proboscis withdrawn (projecting a little in A. elegans, Hoffm.); the

front tibize smooth ; the front tarsi comparatively stout, slightly tapering, beset on both

sides with delicate, erect hairs, but no spinules; the front ungues rather small; no

pulvilli.

Those species of Anthrax (sensu stricto) which have the wings of nearly the same

colour as Thyridanthrax differ from the latter in the shape of the antenne, in the

presence of spinules on the front tibiee, in the colouring of the abdomen, and some-

times in the presence of more or less distinct pulvilli.

Anthrax pertusa, Loew, Centur. vili. no. 28 (from Pecos River), is a Thyridanthrax.

12. Anthrax ——?

Hab. Mexico (Sumichrast).

Not unlike A. ephebus; the differences are :—the larger brown spot on the cross-vein

at the base of the second posterior cell, in size fully equalling the spot on the

bifurcation of the third vein; the front tibie smooth, without spinules; the front

tarsi with indistinct joints and small ungues; the brown on the antero-proximal half

of the wings a little darker, its boundary well defined and not evanescent, a difference

which is especially marked between the discal cell and the costa. The four specimens

in Prof. Bellardi’s collection are a little smaller than the average ones of A. ephebus,

and measure from 6 to 8°d millim.; they are abraded and covered with dust, so as

to be unfit for description.

13. Anthrax galathea, sp.n.g. (Tab. II. fig. 15.)

Deep velvety-black ; the sides of the thorax in front of the wings beset with golden-fulvous hairs, the pectus

with similar but paler hairs; similar hairs, on each side, behind the wings, also at the base of the

abdomen, on the sides of the first and second segments; fifth segment black in the middle, and beset

on each side of the black with golden appressed scaly hairs, the hairs not quite reaching the sides of the

124 | DIPTERA.

segment which are again black; segments 6 and 7 are black in the middle, and have tufts of yellowish--

white hairs on the sides, with some golden hairs nearer the middle. The rest of the upper surface of the

body black, except some scattered reddish-fulvous appressed hairs in front of the scutellum and some

similar hairs along its posterior edge, and some fulvous hairs on the first abdominal segment; the rest of

the surface of the abdomen clothed with short black hairs and soot-like appressed scaly pile. On the

venter the hind margins of the segments have fringes of whitish hairs. Legs black. Antenne black;

basal joints very short; third joint short, conical, with a long style, tapering at its base. Face black,

beset with orichalceous short hairs, the hairs whiter near the orbits; the black front with similar

orichalceous hairs above the antenne, mixed with a black pubescence; vertex comparatively narrow (d );

occiput black, the lower occipital orbits silvery. The antero-proximal two thirds of the wings of a deep

brownish-black, not variegated by any darker or lighter shades on the cross-veins and bifurcations; the

boundary of the black begins at the tip of the anal cell, forms an angle at the distal end of the discal cell,

and then reaches the end of the first vein: thus the extreme distal edge only of the discal, the end of the

first posterior, two thirds of the second submarginal, the curved portion of the first submarginal, and the

enlarged portion of the marginal cells remain hyaline.

Length 11 millim.

Hab. Costa Rica, Cache (Rogers).

A single male.

The front tibie are smooth and not beset with spinules; the front tarsi have small

ungues, and a delicate, erect pubescence on both sides; the latter are less slender and

less tapering than in those species which have almost Exoprosopa-like tarsi, and the

joints are more distinct.

14. Anthrax ephebus, sp. n.,¢ 2.

The dark greyish-brown ground-colour more or less hidden under a yellow tomentum, which on the abdomen

forms broad cross-bands occupying almost the whole segment and leaves on the posterior margins but.

narrow spaces clothed with a black tomentum; the sides of the abdomen have fringes of similar yellow

hairs, interspersed with tufts of black hair which begin with the end of the second segment; venter

with yellow hairs. Thorax beset with yellow hairs, a little more reddish in front; rufous macrochete

on the pre- and post-alar callosities and on the scutellum. Face conically projecting ; proboscis withdrawn

(sometimes a little projecting); face and front with a yellow, appressed tomentum ; front with a black,

erect pubescence. Antenne brown; third joint short, conical, gradually merging into a long style.

Halteres with a yellowish knob; stem brown. The reddish or brownish ground-colour of the legs

is hidden under reddish scales; the front tibie beset with spinules; tarsi brown, the front pair with

distinct joints, comparatively large ungues, and beset with microscopic bristles on the underside (the

delicate, erect pubescence, which, in some species, exists on both sides of the front tarsi, is not visible

here); the ungues with a tooth-like projection at the base. Antero-proximal half of the wings brown,

within which the bifurcations and cross-veins on both sides of the discal cell are clouded with darker

brown, the boundary of the brown rather diluted; axillary cell almost entirely hyaline; the brown in the

anal cell does not reach beyond the posterior cross-vein, it occupies a little of the fourth and third posterior

cells, less than half of the discal, and has in the first posterior and first submarginal cells an evanescent

boundary running obliquely towards the end of the first vein; in the hyaline portion there is a brown

cloud on the bifurcation of the third vein, and another on the cross-vein separating the second posterior

from the discal cell.

Length 9-12 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Tehuacan (Sumichrast).

Two male and two female specimens in Prof. Bellardi’s collection.

These specimens are dusty and abraded, especially about the thoracic dorsum and

ANTHRAX. 125

scutellum ; there are characters enough, nevertheless, to render the species recognizable.

The description of A. leucothoa, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. ii. p. 638 (Mexico),

agrees quite well with this species, except “the three last segments of the abdomen

densely covered with a silvery-white tomentum.” I do not see any trace of such a

tomentum on the four specimens of both sexes before me. The statement about the

third joint of the antenne being somewhat globular, “ etwas kugelig,” likewise does not

agree with Prof. Bellardi’s specimens.

15. Anthrax cuniculus, sp.n.,¢ 2. (Tab. II. fig. 16.)

Ground-colour of the body black; the hair on the front part of the thorax very pale yellowish ; on each side,

above the wings, a stripe-like patch of white hairs not quite reaching the humeri; an appressed white

tomentum of moderate density on the scutellum and on the abdomen; the latter with only the fourth

segment darker (which, so far as I can see in two tolerably preserved specimens, is not due to abrasion) ;

the sides of the abdomen fringed with white hair; a tuft of black hair on the fourth segment; rufous

macrocheetee on the post-alar callosities ; pleuree and venter with white hair. Face conically projecting ;

face and front rather dark, with the usual rather dense covering of orichalceous appressed tomentum and

black erect hairs ; proboscis not protruding ; antennee—basal joints somewhat reddish on the underside ; the

third joint black, short but broad, conical, with a style not longer than the cone. The reddish or brownish

ground-colour of the legs hidden under a covering of whitish or yellowish scales; tarsi dark brown.

Antero-proximal half of the wings of a but moderately intense brown, which reaches but very little

beyond the large and small cross-veins; the encroachment of the brown on the first submarginal and

third posterior cells is also very trifling, but in the discal cell it occupies about one third; the brown

nearly fades away before the end of the anal and also from the whole of the axillary cell, which is more

grey than brown; the usual subhyaline spot before the proximal end of the discal cell is large and distinct,

but there are no other subhyaline spots within the brown; the tip of the subcostal cell is hyaline; the

contact of the fourth posterior cell with the discal is short.

Length 7-8°5 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

Four specimens.

The description has been principally drawn from a well-preserved male.

16. Anthrax consul, sp. n.,¢.

Thorax with pale fulvous hair in front, and black hair on the pectus (dorsum and scutellum abraded) ; long

black macrochsetze on the post-alar callosities and on the scutellum ; a fringe of yellowish-white hairs

on the sides of the thorax behind the wings, as well as on the sides of segments 1 and 2 of the abdomen ;

the sides of segments 3-7 beset with tufts of black hair; the surface of the abdomen (very much

abraded) seems to have had a pale yellow tomentum on segments 2-4 anteriorly, and a covering of some

black scaly hairs on the same segments posteriorly ; segments 6 and 7 are covered with a white, almost

silvery, tomentum, their posterior margins being beset with black hair; venter black. Legs black.

Halteres with a pale brownish knob(?) Face conically projecting, black, with the usual orichalceous

tomentum, and black, erect hairs; antenne black, the first joint rather long, the third an elongated cone

gradually merging into a style; occiput clothed with pale golden-yellow tomentum and pile; proboscis.

not projecting ; the oral margin above it beset with short, black bristles. Antero-proximal part of the

wings of a not very dark brown ; axillary cell hyaline, except a little brown in its proximal portion. The

brown in the anal cell reaches a little beyond the great cross-vein, encroaching very little upon the fourth

and third posterior cells, and filling a little less than the proximal half of the discal cell ; it encroaches on

the first posterior cell a little more than the length of the anterior cross-vein, and then runs obliquely

126 DIPTERA.

towards the end of the auxiliary vein. The contact of the fourth posterior cell with the discal is shorter

than the anterior cross-vein.

Length 10-11 millim.

Hab. Guatemaa, San Gerdénimo (Champion).

A single female. In this insect the front tibie and tarsi are formed like those of

A. cuniculus.

17. Anthrax palliata, s ¢°.

Anthrax palliata, Loew, Centur. viii. no. 32°.

Hab. Unirep States, Illinois!, Detroit, Michigan (0. Sacken).—Mexico, Oaxaca

(Sumichrast). |

“Black, opaque, with luteo-fuscous hairs and tomentum, the thoracic dorsum mostly

beset with black hair; the hind margins of the last abdominal segments beset with

some black hairs; face drawn out in a cone; the third antennal joint conical; legs of a

saturate luteo-testaceous; half of the wings black, the limit of the black colour sub-

equal and very oblique.

“ Allied to A. fulvo-hirta, Wiedem. Black, opaque, the scutellum of the same colour.

Head black, the face conical, of a saturate luteous colour, except a stripe in the middle ;

hair of the front and of the face black, the tomentum luteo-subfuscous. Proboscis not

projecting. Antenne black; first joint dark luteous on the underside, with black

pile; third joint conical. Hairs of the thorax fusco-luteous, those on the thoracic

dorsum nearly all black; a good many black hairs on the pleure; tomentum of the

thoracic dorsum fusco-luteous. The hairs on the abdomen are fusco-luteous, except

a few slender black ones on the posterior angles of each and also along the hind margins

of the last segments; the tomentum on the abdomen of the same colour as the hairs,

whitish on the disc of the last segment. Venter black, the pile and a sparse tomentum

luteous. Legs luteo-testaceous, the tarsi black towards the tip. Wings hyaline, the

basal half black ; the limit of the black colour subequal, very oblique, almost straight,

very slightly concave anteriorly, more distinctly convex posteriorly: it reaches from the

tip of the auxiliary vein to the last third of the axillary angle.” —Loew, J. ¢.

I have before me a specimen from Detroit, Mich., which I have compared with the

type in Cambridge, Mass. The cone of the third joint of the antenne is rather short,

but has a linear prolongation which exceeds its own length. There are distinct tufts

of whitish-yellow pile on each side of the thoracic dorsum above the roots of the wings.

I do not perceive the whitish hair on the last segment which Loew mentions. The

brown of the wings is rather even in colour, and has no subpellucid spots on the

bifurcations and cross-veins, except the usual spot near the proximal end of the

discal cell. The surface of the abdomen of my specimen is abraded, and Loew’s type,

so fax as I remember it, is in the same condition. My specimen is 11-12 millim. long.

ANTHRAX. 127

I have several specimens from Dallas, Texas (Bol/), which perhaps belong to the

same species, although they are only 8-9 millim. long. The well-preserved abdomen

is covered with a dense, appressed, yellowish tomentum, but the first segment, the

posterior half of the second and third segments, and nearly the whole of the fourth

(except the anterior angles) are black.

In Professor Bellardi’s collection in Turin there is a very much abraded specimen

from Oaxaca (Sumichrast), which I take for A. palliata. |

_ N.B.—The three preceding species (A. cuniculus, A. consul, and A. palliata) form a

Tout hatural group, having a conically protruding face, the same structure of the antenne

(a cone with a long linear prolongation), the same coloration of the wings (brown

antero-proximal half, leaving a considerable part of the axillary cell hyaline; no sub-

hyaline spots or cross-veins &c.), and same structure of front legs (tibiee with spinules ;

tarsi with distinct joints).

18. Anthrax castanea.

Anthrax castanea, Jaennicke, Neue exot. Dipt. 30, t. 2. f. 15.

Hab. Mexico (Jaennicke); Guatemaua, San Gerénimo (Champion). Five specimens.

The original description having been made from imperfect specimens, I give a more

complete one :—

Face projecting in a pointed cone, brown, reddish along the sides, the front black ; both

are clothed with a fulvous tomentum ; short, black, erect hairs on the front; first joint

of the antenne reddish, the third black, conical, and with a long styliform prolongation ;

proboscis not projecting beyond the oral margin (or projecting very little). Thorax with

long fulvous pile, and a shorter, fulvous tomentum, between which two greyish stripes,

interrupted some distance before the scutellum, are visible on the dark ground. Abdomen

with long fulvous pile, and a shorter, fulvous tomentum ; the two last segments, in the

middle, are beset with white hairs, forming a conspicuous white spot. (I believe that

both sexes have this spot, because one of the specimens, which I recognize as a female,

shows some white hairs at the end of the rather rubbed off abdomen.) Legs reddish,

the tarsi darker. The wings (very well figured by Jaennicke) have a brown base,

two cross-bands, and some smaller brown spots at the ends. Length 10-14 millim.

N.B.—The front tibiz are beset with spinules; the tarsi have distinct joints, com-

paratively large ungues, and no pubescence on the upperside. The interval between

both eyes, in both sexes, is comparatively broad.

19. Anthrax rex, sp.n,¢ 2. (Tab. IL. fig. 17.)

Ground-colour of the body black (sometimes reddish at the tip of the abdomen); face rounded, but little

projecting ; proboscis long, the portion reaching beyond the oral margin not quite so long as the head ;

face and front black, beset with black, erect pile, and a shorter, orichalceous tomentum. Antenne black ;

first joint very short, slightly marked with red; third joint short, onion-shaped, with a slender style,

beginning abruptly, and almost twice as long as the rest of the antenna, and a microscopic, bristle-like

128 DIPTERA.

appendage at the tip. Thorax with a pale fulvous fringe of hairs in front and on the sides, that on the

latter passing under the wings, where it becomes whitish-yellow, and strongly contrasting with the black

of the pectus; the thoracic dorsum, besides the usual pile, shows a rare, appressed, easily rubbed off,

reddish tomentum. Scutellum with a conspicuous band of whitish tomentum at the base. Abdomen rather

evenly covered with a dense, appressed, fulvous tomentum ; the black, triangular spaces, occupying nearly

the whole middle of segments 3 and 4 (sometimes also 2), show but very few fulvous hairs, which form an

indistinct stripe in the middle. Venter black, beset with black hair. Legs dark chestnut-brown. Knob

of the halteres pale yellow. Wings brown (not very dark) on the antero-proximal, and hyaline on the

postero-distal portion; the brown does not quite cover the extreme end of the axillary and anal cells,

almost reaches the middle of the discal cell, occupies a small space at the proximal end of the first posterior

and first submarginal cells, and reaches the costal cell at the tip of the auxiliary vein—thus the extreme

end of the subcostal cell remains hyaline; the edge of the brown is rather jagged; in the brown

there are some subhyaline or simply paler spots—at the proximal end of the second anal cell, within

the second anal, near the proximal end of the discal (the usual spot rather large here), in the middle

of the first anal, and on the anterior and posterior cross-veins; moreover, the inner, side of all the

cells is a little paler. The contact of the discal and fourth posterior cells is narrow, shorter than the

anterior cross-vein.

Length 7-12 millim.

Hab. Mrxico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

Twenty specimens of both sexes.

A. parvicornis, Loew, Cent. viii. no. 36 (Illinois), is exceedingly like A. rex, and I was

somewhat tempted to regard the Sonoran insect as the same species. I have an example

of A. parvicornis before me which I believe to be correctly determined, because I

compared it with the type in Cambridge, Mass.; it agrees with two others from

Dallas, Texas, and with some specimens from the same locality which I have seen

unnamed in the Berlin Museum. All these differ from my numerous representatives

of A. rez in having large tufts of yellow hair on the pleure, between the humerus

and the middle coxee (this agrees with Loew’s description) ; while in A. reg there is a

tuft of yellow hairs on the humerus, extending backwards to the root of the wing, but

the hairs below this tuft are black. The face and legs in those specimens which I refer

to A. parvicornis are rufous. The scutellum described by Loew as “preter basim

nigram obscure rufum,” has sometimes that colour, but is sometimes nearly black.

Loew omits to describe the band of whitish tomentum at the base of the scutellum,

which was probably abraded in his specimen; the coloration of the wings is the same in

both species.

N.B.—A. rex and A. parvicornis, on account of the structure of the antennz (which

are like those of Lepidanthrax) and the prolonged proboscis, belong to a distinct, some-

what aberrant group. The front tibie are beset with spinules, principally on the

upperside; the front tarsi have distinct joints, and are moderately stout. No pulvilli.

Front comparatively broad, broader in the female.

Subgenus ANTHRAX.

Front tibie provided with minute spinules; front tarsi rather stout, furnished on both

sides with the characteristic delicate, erect pubescence, the joints distinct ; in some species

ANTHRAX. 129

(genus Hemipenthes, Loew) with distinctly developed pulvilli, which in others are very

small (A. sinuosa) or rudimentary (A. lepidota, A. scylla). Face very little projecting,

only slightly convex ; proboscis not projecting ; third antennal joint short-conical, some-

times very short (A. scyl/a), with an abruptly beginning long undivided style, bearing a

microscopic bristle at the tip. The prevailing colour of the known species is black, with a

black pubescence, and the antero-proximal portion of the wings to a greater or lesser

extent black or dark brown. White stripes on the sides of the thorax and white cross-

bands on the abdomen occur in the European A. mawra and the American A. lepidota

and A. chimera. Although, in their dark colouring, these species somewhat resemble

Argyrameba, they are abundantly and easily distinguished by the structure of the

antenne (undivided style; no tuft of hairs at its tip), the front tarsi (much shorter,

stouter, differently pubescent), the venation (none of the stumps of veins so common in

that genus), &c.

Loew introduced the genus Hemipenthes (Centur. viii. no. 44, 1869), which he separated

from Anthrax on account of the presence of pulvilli; he adds no other characters, and

names the European 4. morio and the American A. seminigra, Loew, as types. In his

Beschr. europ. Dipt. i. p. 172, published in the same year (1869), he says distinctly

that, besides A. morio, he knows of no other European species of Hemipenthes. But he

seems to have overlooked the fact that distinct pulvilli exist in the European 4. velutina,

Hoffm. (as was noticed by Schiner in his ‘ Fauna,’ i. p. 50, 1862), and in its American

representative A. sinuosa. Still smaller are the appendages visible, under the micro-

scope, at the base of the ungues of the European A. maura and its American repre-

sentative, A. lepidota; a repeated examination convinces me, nevertheless, that they

are minute pulvilli. Even in A. scylla I perceive something similar. Thus it seems

that within the present group the development of the pulvilli is subject to variation

and gradation. |

I deem it preferable, therefore, to leave the genus Hemipenthes in abeyance, and to call

the present group Anthrax (sensu stricto). Two reasons militate in favour of retaining

the name Anthrax for this particular group: first, because the original Anthrax morio,

Scopoli, belongs to it; and, second, because the name Anthrax (meaning coal) is the

best adapted for this group of black species. In this case we have not only priority,

but an appropriate name in Anthraz.

In speaking of my genus Jsopenthes (comp. above, p. 96), I have alluded to the

remarkable affinity between that genus and the present group of Anthrax (sensu stricto).

Tsopenthes has all the characters attributed above to the present group, including

distinctly, although moderately, developed pulvilli. If the cross-vein bisecting the

first submarginal cell were wanting in Jsopenthes, I do not see how that genus would

be distinguishable from Anthrax sensu stricto; J. jaennickeana, apart from the

presence of this cross-vein, differs very little from Anthrax sinuosa (compare under

that species, p. 133). This subject deserves the attention of those to whom fresh

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., January 1887. 8

130 DIPTERA.

specimens, fit for dissection, are accessible. The question is, whether we have here a.

mere outward resemblance or a real relationship.

The species belonging to this group and described by me may be tabulated as

follows :—

The expanded distal end of the marginal cell hyaline.

Axillary cell and more than half of the anal one hyaline.

Abdomen with two distinct white cross-bands . . . .-. . 20. lepidota, sp. n.

Abdomen almost entirely covered with a yellow tomentum . . 26. sp.?

Axillary and anal cells, except their extreme ends, brown.

Cross-veins and bifurcations, within the brown, with very distinct

pale margins (or aureoles) . . . . . . + + «+ « Ql. chimera, sp. n.

Cross-veins and bifurcations without any distinct pale aureoles

(except the usual pale spot at the proximal end of the

discal cell) . 2. . . . oe ee . . . 22. eumenes, sp. n.

The expanded distal end of the marginal cell more or less filled out by

a brown spot.

Axillary and anal cells, except their extreme ends, brown.

The brown spot filling the expanded end of the marginal cell

followed by another smaller spot at the end of the first

submarginal cell . . . . . 24. sinuosa, Wiedem.

No brown spot at the distal end of the first submarginal cell . 25. sp.?

The distal half of the axillary and anal cells hyaline . . . . . 28. scylla, sp. n.

20. Anthrax lepidota, sp.n., ¢. (Tab. II. fig. 18.)

Black ; a stripe of white hair between the humerus and the post-alar callosity ; cross-bands of similar hair on

the first and fourth abdominal segments; tufts of longer and finer snow-white pile in front of the halteres

and behind them on the sides of the first and second abdominal segments; the collar-like fringe in front

of the thorax and the tufts on the pleure pale yellowish; on the surface of the thorax are traces of an

appressed reddish-fulvous tomentum (mostly rubbed off in my specimen); surface of the abdomen with a

black soot-like covering of short, appressed, scaly hairs. Face and front black, with the usual black erect

pile and a pale yellow appressed tomentum ; face not conically protruding ; proboscis withdrawn ; antenne

(broken). Legs black; hind femora and tibize beset on both sides with conspicuous fringes of long black

scales. Halteres with a yellowish-white knob. Wings: the dark brown of the antero-proximal half

begins at the axillary excision, fills about one third of the anal, the whole of the second basal, and the proximal

end of the discal cells; encroaches upon the first posterior and first submarginal cells a little beyond the

anterior cross-vein ; and reaches the costa at the tip of the auxiliary vein—thus the extreme end of the

costal cell and the whole of the third and fourth posterior and axillary cells are hyaline. Except the

usual subhyaline spot before the proximal end of the discal cell, there are no other conspicuous paler spots

within the brown, nor any brown clouds in the hyaline portion of the wing; the contact of the fourth

posterior and diseal cells is short.

Length 8 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison). <A single male.

It is possible that the female of this species has no fringe of scales on the hind legs.

The front tibiz (at least in my specimen, compare below) do not show any spinules ;

the joints of the front tarsi are rather distinctly marked; the front ungues very small ;

ANTHRAX. 131

the posterior ungues have at the base minute appendages, which may perhaps be taken

for rudimentary pulvilli.

The European A. maura seems to be a near ally of A. lepidota: the colour of

the body, with its white thoracic stripes and abdominal cross-bands, is nearly the same;

the front legs have the same structure—only that the front tibiee, in well-preserved speci-

mens, show distinct, though very small and delicate, spinules. These spinules seem to fall

off easily, and the same may be the case with A. Jepidota. The posterior ungues show the

same appearance of rudimentary pulvilli. The third joint of the antenne of A. maura

is onion-shaped, with a long style, beginning abruptly. .4. maura is remarkable for its

variable size, the specimens before me ranging from 6 to 12 millim. in length.

21. Anthrax chimera, sp. n., 3.

_ Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

I have two specimens that are not well preserved enough for a full description, but

which I have nevertheless named, in order to define at once their difference from

A. lepidota, to which they bear a striking resemblance. The colour of the body seems

to be exactly the same, only as the abdomen is somewhat abraded I cannot describe the

first of the two cross-bands upon it, although I see traces of it; the second cross-band,

on the fourth segment, is like that in A. lepidota. ‘The principal difference between

the two species consists in the extent of the black on the wings: in A. chimera it fills

the axillary and anal cells (except their extreme ends), a little less than half of the

fourth posterior cell, and the proximal end of the third and more than half of the discal

cell ; paler spots, within the brown, occur on the anterior and posterior cross-veins, on the

proximal ends of the first submarginal and third posterior cells, and within the first basal

cell. Altogether, the colour of the wings is like that of A. rex (of. Tab. II. fig. 17),

only the brown is darker. The antenne have a short onion-shaped third joint, with a

long style, beginning abruptly (exactly like the antenne of the European A. maura; see

above, under A. lepidota); front legs as in A. lepidota. The size of our specimens is

only 5-6 millim., but it is very probable that much larger ones occur.

92. Anthrax eumenes, sp.n., ¢ ?. (Tab. Il. fig. 19.)

‘Body black ; head with the usual black erect pubescence and @ scattered orichalceous tomentum on the face

and front; antennz black, the third joint short onion-shaped and with astyle beginning abruptly ; occiput

with a yellowish tomentum. Thorax with the usual collar-like fringe of pale fulvous hairs ; a stripe of impure

white hair on each side, above the root of the wings, between the humerus and the post-alar callus; the

dorsum and the scutellum with the usual reddish rare and scattered tomentum. Abdomen with white erect

hairs on the sides of the first and second segments ; distinct tufts of black hair along the sides, beginning

with the end of segment 2; on segment 7, on each side, there is in the male a tuft of white hair, which I

do not perceive in the female. Another difference seems to exist between the sexes in the tomentum

covering the abdomen: in the female the segments, beginning with the first, have a delicate fringe of

whitish hairs along the posterior margin, the seventh being entirely covered with them, and also

patches of whitish tomentum on the sides above each of the lateral tufts of black hair; in the

132 DIPTERA..

male (the specimen is more abraded than the female) I perceive similar white patches, but the fringes

along the margins seem to be less distinct. Venter clothed with whitish pile. Legs yellowish-brown,

the tarsi darker ; pulvilli distinct. Knob of the halteres yellowish-white, brown at the base. The boundary

of the brown of the wings leaves hyaline—the tips of the axillary and anal cells, about two thirds of the

fourth posterior cell (within which it forms an angular sinus), cuts off the proximal end of the third

posterior cell, runs across the middle of the discal cell, strikes the small cross-vein, thence running along

the fourth vein, which it leaves a short distance before the end of the discal cell in order to strike &

perpendicular upon the second vein, follows the latter for a short distance, and then cuts across the marginal

cell, reaching the extreme end of the first vein; the cross-veins within the brown have no pallid aureoles

(at least the pale colour around them is quite inconspicuous, and perceptible under the magnifying-glass

only); the usual subhyaline spot before the proximal end of the discal cell is present.

Length 12 millim.

Hab. Mextco, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

I have a male and a female specimen.

This is certainly not A. morioides, Say, Compl. Wr. ii. p. 58 (Missouri), because Say

distinctly describes the aureoles on the cross-veins, Nor can I recognize Hemipenthes

seminigra, Loew, Centur. viii. no. 44 (Saskatchewan), in the present species; the

description of the abdomen and of the legs (* pedes nigri” &c.) does not agree, nor the

“ cellula posterior prima anguste aperta ;” the first posterior cell of A. ewmenes, although

coarctate after its expansion at the end of the discal cell, has a rather broad opening ;

Loew’s species is smaller.

Nevertheless, this is a true Hemipenthes in Loew’s sense; the pulvilli are distinct ;

the boundary of the brown on the wings is very like that of the Kuropean A. morio

(comp. Meigen, ii. Tab. 17. f. 14), but the hyaline angle within the discal cell is

much deeper, and there is a little more hyaline at the end of the anal and axillary

cells.

In my ‘ Western Diptera’ (p. 241) I have noticed the existence of several species in

the western regions which may be regarded as belonging to Hemipenthes.

The wings of A. eumenes must be very like those of A. bigradata, Loew (which I do

not know); but I cannot identify the description of the abdomen of the latter. Besides,

Loew would not have overlooked the pulvilli.

23. Anthrax scylla, sp.n., ¢. (Tab. III. fig. 1.)

Head black, with black erect hairs, between which are shorter fulvous ones ; face very little protruding ; pro-

boscis withdrawn. Antenne brownish ; basal joints short ; third joint very short-conical, with a long styli-

form prolongation, and a microscopic bristle at the tip. Thorax brownish-black, with pale yellowish hair

forming a collar in front and an indistinct stripe on each side between the humerus and the scutellum,

Abdomen brownish-black, with a dense covering of erect hairs, these latter appear dark when seen from

above, except those on the distal third which (in some specimens more than in others) look

whitish; in a reflected light, however, from a side view, the whole hairy covering appears dull

whitish; the sides are beset with a fringe of hairs, consisting of an uninterrupted row of tufts,

which are pale yellow at the base, then whitish on the anterior part of the second segment,

and black on the posterior part of the same and the other segments; this fringe is longer here

than in the allied species. Among the longer hairs on the thorax and abdomen there is a scattered

appressed tomentum of reddish copper-coloured hairs (they are easily rubbed off) Knob of the

halteres whitish at the tip. Legs more or less covered with fulvous scales ; ground-colour yellowish-brown,

ANTHRAX, 133

the tarsi darker; pulvilliindistinct. Wings hyaline, except the antero-proximal third and a spot at the distal

end of the marginal cell, which are black; the boundary of the black starts near the axillary excision,

crosses obliquely the anal cell near its middle (so as to strike the cross-vein at the distal end of the second

basal cell), cuts off a small corner of the discal cell (which thus remains hyaline, except that little spot),

crosses the first posterior and first submarginal cells a short distance beyond their proximal ends, follows

for a short distance the second vein, crosses the marginal cell, and follows the first vein to its very end.

The black spot is immediately at the tip of the first vein, and fills out a part of the expanded end of the

marginal cell; a much smaller spot, in contact with the large one, is placed on the costal margin, between

the ends of the second and of the anterior branch of the third vein.

Length 9-10 millim., and smaller specimens down to 5 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

I have seven specimens, apparently all males.

24. Anthrax sinuosa.

Anthraz sinuosa, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 301; O. Sack. Western Diptera, p. 239 (for

the synonymy see my Catal. N.-Am. Dipt. 1878).

Hab. Untrep States.—Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

I have a single worn specimen from Sonora before me which may be referred to this

species ; I have compared it with several similarly rubbed-off specimens from Texas. This

species is most remarkably like [sopenthes jaennickeana; and if the cross-vein bisecting

the submarginal cell in the latter were wanting, it would not be easy to distinguish them.

Even the peculiar sericeous appearance of the surface of the wings, so much apparent in

I. jaennickeana, exists, although ina lesser degree, in A. sinuosa. I regret not having

intact specimens of the latter for a closer comparison ; all I can notice at present is

that the first posterior cell in J. jaennickeana is more coarctate towards the end and

more expanded about the middle; that the clear spots on the cross-veins within the

brown are less clear in the latter species; and that in the fourth posterior cell nearly

the whole distal half is hyaline, while in A. sinwosa it is only the distal end. The

small pulvilli are quite distinct in both species.

25. Anthrax %, od.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

I have a single male specimen which is very like 4. sinuosa, but certainly distinct :

it is 7-8 millim. long, has the black ground-colour very little hidden by pale yellowish

pile, and the sides of the segments, beginning with the end of the second, with tufts of

black hair. The brown on the wings is not unlike that of A. s¢nuosa, but less dark ; the

clear margins on the cross-veins and bifurcations are, on the contrary, more distinct; the

hyaline along the posterior margin is broader, as it occupies at least one half of the

fourth posterior cell and more than half of the first posterior and first submarginal

cells: the bifurcation of the third vein is some distance from the boundary of the

black, while in A. sinwosa it is close upon it; finally, the small brown spot on the

134 DIPTERA.

costa, at the end of the first submarginal cell, which exists in 4. s¢nuosa, is wanting

here. The pulvilli are distinct.

96. Anthrax ——%, °.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

Characters of Anthrax (sensu stricto), as defined above. The black ground-colour of

the abdomen partly hidden under a yellow tomentum ; the latter forms a conspicuous cross-

band on the hind margin of the first segment, and the other segments seem to have been

entirely covered by it, the bare and therefore black spaces being, apparently, abraded ;

nevertheless, the black cross-bands on the anterior portions of segments 2 and 3 are in

part clothed by a black scaly tomentum ; the sides of the abdomen beset with a fringe

of black hairs, which begins in the middle of the second segment ; the sides of the first

segment have whitish hair; venter black, with yellow hair. Thorax with a yellow

tomentum; on each side a stripe of whitish-yellow hairs, passing from the humeri

above the root of the wings. Head with a yellowish-red tomentum and the usual black

erect pile on the front; vertex with a fulvous tomentum. Hialteres brown. The dark

brown antero-proximal half of the wings is very much like that of A. ewmenes, except

in the anal and axillary cells: in the anal cell the brown does not reach beyond the proxi-

mal end of the fourth posterior cell; in the axillary cell it occupies a portion of the

proximal half only, and does not reach the margin. Length 7 millim. (itis very probable

that larger specimens occur). A single female.

N.B.—The pulvilli are small, but distinct. I cannot see the spinules on the front

tibie ; but the specimen is not well preserved.—This insect must be very near A. bigra-

datus (Loew, Centur. viii. no. 37, Cuba), but I cannot identify it with certainty.

Subgenus HyYALANTHRAX.

Front tibie sometimes provided with spinules, sometimes smooth ; front tarsi not

unlike those of Anthrax sensu stricto, rather stout, provided on both sides with the

characteristic, delicate, erect pubescence, the joints distinct ; no pulvilli. Face very little

projecting, only slightly convex ; proboscis withdrawn ; third antennal joint short-conical,

with a styliform prolongation, the latter gently, but distinctly, tapering from the base to

the tip, and in this respect different from the linear style of Lepidanthrax ; the separation

of the eyes on the vertex comparatively narrow, distinctly narrower in the male than in

the female. The wings of the known species are hyaline, sometimes the costal cell only

is darker; the venation is like that of Anthrax sensu stricto. A peculiarity of those

species having the front tibie beset with spinules consists in the unusual development of

the patagia-like organs at the base of the wings, these organs being usually clothed with

a dense covering of scales and often with a brilliant silvery or golden reflection ; similar

scales, in such cases, adorn the enlargement of the base of the costa; the pre-alar hook

ANTHRAX. 135

is concealed under these scales, and becomes visible after their removal only; the shade

of colour of the scales is sometimes different in the two sexes. In the same group of

species the cross-bands of a yellow tomentum sometimes existing at the base of segments

9-4 are more conspicuous in the female; in the male they are hidden under longer hairs

of the same colour, these hairs being more dense in this sex.

Species of Hyalanthrax occur both in Europe and in North America, and those of

one continent show remarkable analogies to those of the other. They are difficult to

discriminate, and still more difficult to describe ; even the European species are not suf-

ficiently worked out. The group distinguished by its smooth front tibie (A. faustina,

A, sabina, A. lateralis, Say, &c.) seems to be peculiar to America.

I need hardly repeat here that the presence of hyaline wings alone is not sufficient

to characterize a Hyalanthrar. 1 have before me an undescribed species from Texas

with hyaline wings and a dense covering of golden fulvous hair; this species, however,

is abundantly distinguished from Hyalanthraa by the long, conical, third antennal joint,

the conically projecting face, the front tarsi without the characteristic delicate pubes-

cence of erect hairs, the different shape of the whole body, &c.

Synopsis of the Species of the Subgenus Hyalanthrax described below.

Sides of the abdomen with tufts of black hair on segments 3, 5,

and 6.

Front tibia smooth, without any spinules ; abdomen with narrow

cross-bands of a scaly tomentum on all the segments.

Second abdominal segment with a white cross-band.

Knob of the halteres infuscated ; abdomen of the male

with silvery scales at theend . . . . . . 27. faustina, sp. n.

Knob of the halteres yellow; abdomen of the male

without silvery scales at the end . . . . . 28. sabina, sp.n.

Second abdominal segment with a yellow cross-band like

that of the other segments . . . - . - + + 29 sp.?

Front tibiz beset with spinules.

Abdomen without distinct cross-bands ; the enlargement at

the base of the costa in the male clothed with

silvery scales; general colour of the pubescence

greyish... 2 es ee . . . 380. moneta, sp.n.

Abdomen with conspicuous cross-bands of yellowish-white

scaly hairs; the tufts of black hair on the sides of

the abdomen large and conspicuous. . 31. stenozona, Loew (?).

Sides of the abdomen with tufts of black hair on segments 5 and 6 .

only.

The fringe of hair on the sides of the abdomen short and but

little conspicuous . . . . . . + 82 livia, sp. n.

The fringe of hair on the sides of the abdomen rather long and

conspicuous; patagia of the male clothed with bright

silvery, those of the female with more yellowish, scales. 33. agrippina, sp. n.

136 DIPTERA.

27. Anthrax faustina, sp.n., 3 °.

Male. Ground-colour of the whole body black. Face, cheeks, front immediately above the antenne and occipital

orbits densely beset with snow-white scaly hairs ; some scattered yellowish appressed hairs a little higher up

on the front ; the rest of the head with the usual black, erect pubescence ; antenne black ; face very. little pro-

minent. The collar of hairs in front of the thorax and the long hair on the pleuree and chest of a pale whitish-

yellow; ashort stripe of hairs above the root of the wings, and a tuft in front of them, whitish; a

cross-band of golden tomentum before the scutellar suture, but only a trace of such a tomentum at the

tip of the scutellum ; the tomentose covering of the surface of the thorax and of the scutellum consisting

of very delicate scales (very little conspicuous and perceptible under a lens only) of a dark metallic

brownish or greenish hue. Knob of the halteres infuscated. Abdomen: second segment with a narrow

cross-band of white hairs; the following segments each with a narrow cross-band of fulvous scales, that

on the third segment occupying its anterior margin, those on the following segments being nearer the

posterior margins; seventh segment entirely concealed under a thick covering of silvery scales.

Sides of the abdomen fringed with white hair, except on segments 3, 5, 6, which have tufts of black hairs

or rather scales. Venter with dense white pile, interrupted by narrow black stripes at the base of the

segments (these are less visible when the segments are contracted); the hairs or scales on the third and

the following segments sometimes pale yellowish or fulvous; anus with a tuft of black hair. Legs

pale rufous, with the usual scaly covering; knees and tarsi dark brown ; tips of the tibie often infuscated.

Wings hyaline, including the costal cell; the root only, before the basal cross-veins, yellowish-brown ;

costal enlargement clothed with bright fulvous scales, mixed with black ones.

Female. Differs from the male in having the fringe of golden yellow appressed tomentum along the posterior

margin of the scutellum more distinct ; on the abdomen the second segment has a cross-band (narrower

in the middle than on the sides) of pale, almost whitish-yellow, tomentum anteriorly; nearly the whole

of the fourth and sixth segments covered with a tomentum of the same shade of yellow; a narrow

cross-band on the anterior part of the third segment, and another on the fifth, of a more saturate

yellow ; no silvery scales on the seventh segment,

Length 10-11 millim. .

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

The description is drawn from unabraded specimens; I had perhaps four or five such

out of twenty-six. In most of the examples the yellow cross-bands were more or less

abraded ; the white cross-band on the second segment of the male and the silvery scales

at the tip of the abdomen are, however, more persistent. The absence of a distinct border

of golden tomentum from the posterior margin of the. scutellum of the male will also help

to distinguish this species ; in fresh specimens there is a trace of such a tomentum at the

tip of the scutellum only. The females are more difficult to separate from those A. sabina :

the cross-bands on segments 2 and 4 in the latter are narrower and of a purer white; the

fringes of hair on the sides of segments 4-7, and especially the tufts of white hair on

segment 7, are shorter and less conspicuous. But both sexes of A. faustina will be

distinguishable from A. sabina by the infuscated knob of the halteres.

The sides of the second segment of the abdomen are, as usual, rufous, as may be

seen in abraded specimens; sometimes this colour extends to the first and third

segments. The legs are variable in colour; black femora often occur; as a rule, the

smaller the specimens, the darker the legs.

The size given is taken from normal specimens; smaller ones sometimes occur.

Fifteen males and eleven females were sent by Mr, Morrison.

ANTHRAX, 137

The differences between A. faustina and A. lateralis, Say, are detailed below, under

species No. 29. |

28. Anthrax sabina, sp.n., ¢ 2.

Ground-colour of the whole body black. Face, cheeks, front for some distance above the antenna, and occipital

orbits densely beset with snow-white scaly hairs; antenne black. The collar of hairs in front of the

thorax very pale yellow; a short stripe of hairs above the root of the wings and the hair on the pleure

and chest of a purer white; a cross-band of golden tomentum in front of the scutellar suture; posterior

margin of the scutellum beset with a golden tomentum (the delicate tomentose covering on the surface of

the thorax and on the scutellum is nearly abraded in my specimens, but seems to have consisted of blackish

and greenish minute scales). Knob of the halteres yellow. Abdomen: second and fourth segments each

with a narrow cross-band of white hair at their base ; segments 3,5, 6 each with a narrow cross-band of

yellow hair at their base; segment 7 with a tuft of snow-white hair on each side. Venter clothed with

white scaly hairs, with a black cross-band on each of the segments 3,5,6. The sides of the abdomen

fringed with white hair, except the segments 3, 5,6, which have tufts (or scales) of black hair. Legs

black, more or less beset (the femora especially) with reddish scales ; middle femora reddish, except at the

tip. Wings hyaline, including the costal cell, the base yellowish-brown.

Length 7-11 iillim. :

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

Very like A. faustina: the differences are indicated on the preceding page.

Abraded specimens show the rufescent colour of the sides of the second abdominal

segment.

29. Anthrax, sp.?

In addition to A. sabina and A. faustina, I have some doubtful specimens belonging

to the group of Hyalanthrax with smooth front tibiee :—

1. Two males and a female from Northern Sonora resemble A. sadina, but are larger,

11-14 millim. long; the cross-bands on segments 2 and 4 are broader, and not pure

white, but yellowish-white. Without further proof I cannot take them for specimens

of A. sabina. |

2. Specimens in Professor Bellardi’s collection (from Mexico, collected by Truqui),

11-13 millim. long, have all the abdominal cross-bands yellow. I have much smaller

specimens of the same colour from Texas. If J] am not mistaken, these specimens

are identical with a species occurring in the Middle States of the Union, and which

I used to call A. alternata, Say (Compl. Wy. ii. p. 61), with the doubtful synonym of

A. consanguinea, Macq. (Dipt. Ex. ii. 1, p. 69); but I am by no means sure of the

correctness of my previous identifications. These specimens are certainly distinct from

the above-mentioned insect from Sonora. More material and local observation will

perhaps solve these difficulties.

This may possibly be a species of common occurrence in the Atlantic States, which I

called A. lateralis, Say, in my collection. I have a specimen from the White Mountains

before me, which I refer to this last-named species; it is a male, and resembles the

same sex of A. faustina; has silvery scales on the last abdominal segment, but the

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., January 1887. | t

138 DIPTERA.:

hairs on the thorax and on the sides of the abdomen are of a bright yellow, and not

whitish at all; the scaly cross-bands on the second and fourth abdominal segments are

yellow; the scales covering the enlargement at the base of the costa are black, and not

bright fulvous ; all the erect hairs on the surface of the thorax and of the abdomen are

less dense, and even seem to be shorter; the black tufts of hair on the sides of the

fourth segment are distinctly shorter; in a word, the male of A. faustina, placed

alongside that of A. lateralis, has a much more hairy appearance. The legs of

A. lateralis are almost black ; the costal cells are less hyaline, the veins forming them

seem to be stouter and are more clouded with brownish. I have little hesitation in

referring this specimen to 4. lateralis, Say (Compl. Wr. ii. p. 59), although Say must

have had a female, because he does not mention the silvery scales at the end of the

abdomen. |

30. Anthrax moneta, sp.n., ¢. |

Altogether covered with a thin fur of white hairs, between which the black ground-colour is distinctly visible ;

the usual collar of fur in front of the thorax with a slightly yellowish tinge ; the sides of the abdomen with

a fringe of white hairs, except on segments 3, 5, and 6, which bear tufts of black hair ; the white hairs on

the sides of segment 4 form a more conspicuous tuft, reaching a little inwards; a pair of tufts of snow-

white hair on each side of the end of the abdomen; the surface of the abdomen shows no cross-bands,

except in some specimens, where the white hairs at the base of segment 2 are a little more dense, and thus

produce a faint appearance of a cross-band. Venter beset with a white tomentum and longer white hairs.

Face densely beset with snow-white erect hairs, which, diminishing in length and density, encroacha little

upon the front, above the antenne; otherwise the front has the usual covering of black, erect hair.

Antenne black ; third joint short-conical, with a long, slightly tapering style. Face projecting very little ;

occipital orbits beset with white scales. Knob of the halteres yellowish-white. Legs black ; femora more

or less beset with whitish or somewhat yellowish scales ; front tibiee beset with spinules. Wings hyaline;

yellowish-brown at the root, before the basal cross-veins; costal cell with a tinge of brownish-yellow at

the proximal end only ; the enlargement at the base of the costa has a covering of white scales, which, in

an oblique light, give a bright silvery reflection: similar scales cover the patagia or scapules above that

enlargement.

Length 11-12 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison). Five males.

31. Anthrax stenozona?, 2.

Anthrax stenozona, Loew, Centur. viii. no. 40 (9 )'.

Hab. Unitep States, Illinois 1!—Muexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

I have a single specimen from Northern Sonora, which I doubtfully refer to this

species. The tomentum in front of the scutellum, on its sides, and the tomentose cross-

bands on segments 2, 3, 4 of the abdomen are not of a pure white, but have a slight

yellowish tinge. On the venter the first four segments have a rather even whitish

tomentum. In other respects the description agrees well; the fringe of hairs on the

hind tibie mentioned by Loew is present. In this species the tufts of black hair on a the

sides of the abdomen are particularly long and conspicuous, |

ANTHRAX. 139

~ N.B.—There is another 4. stenozona, Loew, Beschr. eur. Dipt. i. p. 180, from Asia

Minor, likewise a Hyalanthrax. Both were published in 1869, but the American species

has priority.

82. Anthrax livia, sp.n., ¢ @. (Tab. III. fig. 2, 3.)

Ground-colour black, clothed with pale-yellow hairs and tomentum ; the hairs form a covering on segments

1-4, which is more dense in the male than in the female; in both sexes, however, this covering is not

dense enough to render less conspicuous the cross-bands formed by the tomentum (different in this from

A. agrippina, where the hairs are much longer and more dense); these cross-bands occupy the anterior

portion of segments 2,3,4, and are broader on the sides than in the middle (that on segment 3 is narrower

than the others, that on segment 4 the broadest, in some unabraded specimens the latter cross-band occupies

the whole segment) ; the same segments 2,3, 4 have a narrow fringe of yellow tomentum along the hind

margins, coalescing with the cross-bands on the next segment (these fringes are more distinct in the male

than in the female and often abraded); segments 5 and 6 are deep black anteriorly, owing to an appressed

tomentum of that colour, and their hind margins have a dense fringe of pale yellow hairs ; segment 7 is

beset with pale yellow and white hairs, the white hairs principally on the sides and beneath, and a little

more conspicuous in the male thanin the female. The venter is densely clothed with a whitish tomentum,

except on segments 5, 6, '7, which have more or less distinct black cross-bands, corresponding to the cross-

bands of the dorsum ; the cross-band on segment 5 is usually the most distinct. The sides of the abdomen, in

correspondence with the colouring of the dorsum and venter, are beset with pale yellow hairs, except the

segments 5 and 6, which have small tufts of black hair. Face densely clothed with white, sometimes

pale yellowish, hairs ; the lower part of the front with similar hairs, higher up they become more yellow ;

the front beset with the usual black, erect pubescence ; occipital orbits with a fringe of white, sometimes

silvery, scales. The hairs on the thorax above are pale yellowish, on the underside whiter; the usual

triangle of yellow tomentum in front of the scutellum, and a fringe of similar tomentum on its posterior

margin; unabraded specimens show three stripes of the same sort of tomentum on the thoracic dorsum.

Halteres pale yellow. The dark ground-colour of the legs nearly hidden under a dense covering of yellowish

and reddish-yellow scales, whiter or whitish on the femora; the tarsi and the tips of the tibie black.

Wings hyaline, including the costal cell; the root reddish-yellow ; auxiliary vein, fifth vein, before the

great cross-vein, and sometimes also a portion of the first, vein, rufous ; the enlargement of the costa has a

fringe of black hair, and on the disc yellow or reddish-yellow metallescent scales ; the scales of the patagia

are whitish or pale yellowish (seldom reddish), more or less metallescent in an oblique light (there is less

difference in this respect between the sexes, and the silvery reflection is less conspicuous here than in

A, agrippina).

Length 10-14 millim.

_ Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison). Six males, five females.

N.B.—Anthrax mucorea, Loew, Centur. viii. no. 43, from Nebraska, must be very like

A. livia, but I am not certain about their identity.

33, Anthrax agrippina, sp.n., ¢ 2. (Tab. III. fig. 3, 2.)

‘Ground-colour brownish-black, densely clothed with rather long, erect, fulvous hairs, which are especially —

conspicuous along the sides of the abdomen; the segments 5 and 6 alone have, on each side, a tuft of

black hair. Towards the end of the abdomen, especially in the male, the long erect hair increases the

apparent breadth of the segments and gives them an unusually bushy appearance ; the hairs being planted

in dense rows or fringes on the anterior part of the segments, the darker ground-colour of the posterior

part is more or less visible between the rows and produces a more or less distinct appearance of dark

cross-bands. In the female these black cross-bands are much more distinct, owing to the long, erect,

fulvous hairs being less dense, and the segments 2, 3, 4, &c. have, along their anterior margins, distinct

cross-bands (attenuate, or even interrupted, in the middle) of yellow tomentum ; the yellow cross-bands

t 2

140 . DIPTERA.

are broader on segments 2 and 4 than on segment 3, and they probably exist on the following segments also,

but are hidden by the rows of erect fulvous hairs which are denser here. The thorax is clothed with

similar fulvous hairs, which are paler on its underside ; the dorsum has, in addition, a scattered orichal-

ceous tomentum. Face and cheeks covered with dense pale yellow hairs; the front with the usual black

erect pubescence, under which an appressed yellow tomentum is visible. Antenne black; third joint in a

short cone, prolonged in a gradually tapering style; occipital orbits beset with a scaly tomentum, which is

whitish below, and yellowish behind the vertex. Halteres with ayellow knob. Legs densely beset with

reddish-yellow scales, which hide the dark ground-colour; tarsi black; front tibie beset with spinules,

Wings hyaline; costal cell only slightly tinged; venation normal; the enlargement of the costa near the

base has a fringe of black hairs in front, but its surface is clothed with white scales that, in an oblique

light, give a silvery reflection, the effect of which is increased by similar scales covering the patagia; the

latter are particularly large and conspicuous in this species ; in the female the scales on the costal enlarge-

ment and on the patagia are yellowish, and therefore less striking.

Length 14-16 millim. .

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison). Three males and one female.

Species of the genus Anthrax described from Mexico and Central America by former

authors, and not known to me :—

Anthrax astarte, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. ii. p. 637.—Mexico.—I have

mentioned above (ante, p. 122) that one of the species described by me

sub Nos. 8-10 is very probably 4. astarte.

abbreviata, Wiedem. loc. cit.—Mexico.—A very peculiar species, certainly

not among those I have before me.

sagata, Loew, Centur. viii. no. 34.—Mexico, Matamoras.—Allied to

A. celer and A. fulvohirta. Description incomplete, as Loew’s only

specimen had no head.

quinque-punctata, Thomson, Kongl. Svenska Fregatten Eugen. Resa,

Zool. p. 484.—Panama.—Perhaps a Lepidanthrax near L. proboscidea.

nudiuscula, Thomson, loc. cit. p. 482.—Panama.

leucothoa, Wiedem. loc. cit. p. 639.—Mexico.—This insect must resemble

my A. ephebus. Compare my remarks about that resemblance (ante,

p- 125). |

Jlaviceps, Loew, Centur. viii. no. 29.—Mexico, Tamaulipas.

The following species it ‘is as well to notice here on account of the possibility of its

occurring within our northern boundary :—

[Anthrax melasoma, van der Wulp, Tijdschr. voor Ent. xxv. p. 80, t. 9. f£. 2.—

Arizona.—In this species the brown on the wings reaches the bifurca-

tion of the third vein; it thus differs from all those above described by

me, except A. galathea. A. melasoma belongs to the group of

A. aleyon, Say.] .

ONCODOCERA. 141

ONCODOCERA.

Ogcodocera, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. ii. 1, p. 83, t. 15. f. 1 (1840).

Oncodocera, as amended by later writers.

In introducing the genera Anisotamia (op. cit. p. 81, t. 14. f. 2) and Oncodocera

Macquart correctly defined their differences from Anthrax, but he did not seem to be

aware that they are much more closely allied to Lomatia, and that, in this respect, his

definition was wanting. Loew (Siidafr. Dipt. p. 205) strongly suspects that the Ani-

sotamia centralis, Macq., from the Cape, is the same as Lomatia pictipennis, Wiedem.

The Anisotamia eximia from Mexico (syn. Anthrax valida, Wiedem.) was added much

later, in Macquart’s Suppl. iv. p. 115. Whether the latter is a true Anisotamia in

Macquart’s original meaning I cannot tell, but it seems to me that there is very little

reason for not placing it in the same genus with Oncodocera dimidiata, Macq. (synon. of

Mulio leucoprocta, Wiedem.). In my Catalogue of N. Am. Diptera, 1878, p. 90, I

have placed both species in the genus Oncodocera.

Oncodocera valida has the antenne approximate at the base, the first joint short, the

second round, the third subulate (awl-shaped) and with a microscopic, indistinct

appendage at the tip; proboscis withdrawn within the mouth; frontal triangle rather

large ; eyes separated on the vertex in the female, contiguous in the male for a rather

short interval; ocellar triangle (in the male) small and narrow, wedged in between the

eyes. Abdomen beset with very long, bushy hairs, especially on the sides; with

seven distinct segments; the seventh broader in the female than in the male; a small

eighth segment, withdrawn within the seventh, is distinctly visible in the male; the

forceps concealed within the eighth segment; the female shows not the usual coronet

of spinules but that circle of concentric hairs which is visible in the same sex of

Aphebantus, Triodites, and the allied genera. The pulvilli distinct. Front tibie

beset with spinules; hind tibie with a fringe of hairs on the upperside, not unlike

that of some Tabani. Wings: bifurcation of the second and third veins close to the

origin of the second, and very far from the small cross-vein; the latter is oblique

and considerably beyond the middle of the discal cell ; anal cell closed ; first posterior

cell closed, sometimes, however, narrowly open; the end of the auxiliary vein very

near the end of the first longitudinal vein ; contact of the discal and fourth posterior

cells broad.

Oncodocera leucoprocta shares the same characters, and the differences must be con-

sidered as having a merely specific value; the third joint of the antenne is a little

broader at the base, and therefore like a flattened cone or triangle (the figure in

Macquart is very incorrect); the hind tibiz have no fringe of hairs, but in both sexes

only scattered spinules; the first posterior cell is open.

The differences between Lomatia and Oncodocera are considerable: in Lomatia the

eyes of the male are not contiguous on the vertex, but separated by a narrow interval ;

142 ‘DIPTERA. °

the proboscis protrudes a little beyond the oral margin, and has much narrower lips;

the anal cell is open; the antenne of the known species have a somewhat different struc-

ture, the third joint being stouter at the base and more suddenly attenuate (but the last

two characters may be merely specific). The differences in the general characters

and in the nature of the hairy covering are obvious. |

The genital organs are very much alike in structure in both genera: the male

forceps withdrawn symmetrically within the abdomen; the ovipositor with a thick

covering of silky fibres like that of Bombylius. In both genera there are no macrochete

on the scutellum and post-alar callosities differing in size from the other hairs; two

or three macrochete are perceptible on the pre-alar callosities only. In this respect

Lomatia and Oncodocera differ from the majority of the “ Anthracina.”

1. Oncodocera valida. L236

Anthrax valida, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. ii. p.647’. 7 lr?

Anisotamia eximia, Macq. Dipt. Ex. Suppl. iv. p. 114, t.11.f.27.

Oncodocera valida, O. Sacken, Catal. N. Am. Dipt. 1878, p. 99. Y

Hab. Mexico+? (Sumichrast & Craveri, in coll. Bellardi) ; Guatema.a, San Gerénimo

(Champion).

I have a pair from the latter locality before me; both specimens are entirely

abraded.

2. Oncodocera leucoprocta.

Mulio leucoprocta, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 330 (¢) (sine patria).

Anthrax terminalis, Wiedem. loc. cit. ii. p. 639°.

Ogcodocera dimidiata, Macq. Dipt. Ex. ii. 1, p. 84, t. 15. f. 1 (9).

Oncodocera leucoprocta, O. Sacken, Catal. N. Am. Dipt. 1878, p. 90.

Hab. SovutHern United States.— Mexico },

, Aa

f / Pe ae

Z y AA

EPACMUS*.

Leptochilus, Loew, Centur. x. no. 40 (1872) (nomen preocc.).

The name Leptochilus being preoccupied in Hymenoptera (Saussure, 1852), I am

obliged to adopt a new generic name in place of that of Loew.

1. Epacmus modestus.

Leptochilus modestus, Loew, Centur. x. no. 40°.

Hab. Unirep States, Texas}, California—Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

Loew is quite right in describing the hairs above the oral margin in the female of

this species as “non raro ferrugineis, vel fuscis, interdum nigris.” My few specimens

show these differences.

* éraxpos, pointed.

EPACMUS.—APHEBANTUS. 143

Besides these examples I have seen several others (two males, four females) from

Tehuacan, Mexico (Sumichrast, in coll. Bellardi) which are a little larger; have a

distinct stump on the upper branch of the third vein (one of them, however, with a

rudiment only of such a stump, and one of the females no stump at all); the row of stiff

bristles along the oral edge rather long, dense, intensely black, and for this reason much

more conspicuous than in the other specimens; the wings more or less infuscated at the

base and along a part of the costa; and the row of black bristles overshadowing the

male forceps (and mentioned in Loew’s description) being particularly conspicuous.

Nevertheless these two males, as well as one of the females, do not show a trace of

the depression, or emargination, in the middle of the scutellum which Loew describes,

and which exists in the other specimens. (All these Mexican specimens are very

mouldy, and unfit for a closer comparison.) I incline to believe that H. modestus is a

very variable species; but the question of the identity of the Tehuacan specimens I leave

in abeyance. That they belong to this genus is certain; and therefore it is equally

certain that the absence of a stump and the presence of the emargination on the scutellum

should be struck out from among the generic characters. But whether that emar-

gination is a specific character, or merely an individual aberration, I cannot tell. The

principal characters of Epacmus may at present be summed up as follows:—1l. The

bifurcation of the second and third veins taking place not far from the origin of the former,

and along distance before the small cross-vein. 2. The glabrous eyes being contiguous

in the male, with a comparatively large triangular front between them and the antenne.

3. Antenne: basal joints short ; third joint unsymmetrically short onion-shaped, pro-

longed in a style which ends ina very minute bristle. 4. Oral opening large, elongated,

elliptical, patulous posteriorly ; proboscis elongated, projecting beyond the oral margin,

linear, ending in narrow lips (thus producing an almost imperceptible incrassation).

5. Face short, projecting in the profile in front of the eyes. 6. Legs beset with delicate

spines. 7. Pulvillinone. 8. Posterior cells open; anal cell usually open (almost closed

in some specimens); upper bray +h of the third vein with or without stump. 9. The

abdomen of the male rather nam ow, almost club-shaped at the end, the club being

formed by the large male forceps, the two halves of which seem to be encased in the

cup-shaped last ventral segment; that of the female showing at the end the circle of

converging hairs common to many genera of the present group.

Forms related to Epacmus, and also to Aphebantus, occur in Central Asia (Berlin

Museum, from Loew’s collection).

APHCEBANTUS.

Aphebantus, Loew, Centur. x. no. 39 (1872).

Besides Epacmus (Leptochilus, Loew) the western regions of the United States, as

well as Northern Mexico, contain a number of closely allied species belonging to the

group in which the bifurcation of the second and third veins takes place some distance

144 DIPTERA,

before the small cross-vein, the antenne are remote at the base, and the contact of the

eyes in the male leaves a comparatively large triangular front above the antenne. These

species have—1, nearly the same structure of the antenne: short first and minute

second joints; the third joint unsymmetrical, short onion-shaped, with a styliform prolon-

gation, not separated (so far as I can see) by a suture, and ending ina minute, sometimes |

scarcely apparent joint, with a bristle; or else, the incrassate base and the style of the

third joint become less differentiated (in other words, the onion-shape becomes more

elongate and the style merges into it, and the minute joint with the bristle remains

[A. ratéus]); 2, the same venation (with or without stump on the third vein; anal and

posterior cells open) ; 3, nearly the same structure of the male genitals (quite different

from those of Anthrax). These species differ from Epacmus in having small, but distinct,

pulvilli ; a shorter proboscis, with larger, fleshy lips at the tip; the oral opening

smaller, and usually filled up by the proboscis and its lips, when the former is: with-

drawn ; the oral margin less projecting in front of the eyes, and therefore the face

more retreating. They differ from Lomatia and Oncodocera in having the antenne remote

at the base.

For one of the species of this group Loew formed the genus Aphebantus (Centur. x.

no. 39, 1872), but he did not define it so successfully as Leptochilus. He merely

indicates between it and certain Argyramebe differences that are obvious, and points

out the presence of pulvilli and of a stump to the third vein; the latter character,

in this group especially, has no importance whatever. Loew had but one species,

Aphabantus cervinus, and that in the female sex only. The long bristle at the end of

the hind metatarsus, mentioned by Loew in the specific description of A. cervinus

(Centur. x. no, 39), exists more or less in all the species of this group, as well as in

Epacmus; the degree of its development is generally proportionate to the size of the

other bristles on the legs; it becomes inconspicuous in A. rattus and A. cyclops, in

which the tibial spinules are but little stronger than hairs.

I have described below nine species belonging to this group, and it is very probable that

many more will be discovered in the western regions of North America. Some of these

species may be considered generically distinct from the typical A. cervinus, Loew;

but, loosely defined as the genus Aphebantus is, I prefer to leave all these species under

that heading, until further discoveries suggest a better arrangement. Aphebantus, in

the present, provisional sense, would answer Loew’s definition, with the omission of the

presence of a stump, which is an untrustworthy character.

When I proposed the genus T’riodites (‘ Western Diptera,’ p. 225) for a species of the

same group, I did not know the genus Aphebantus except from the description, and the

stress laid by Loew on the presence of a stump prevented me from placing my Triodites

mus in that genus. ‘The loose definition of Aphaebantus which I provisionally adopt

now would admit Z'riodites mus within that genus; the adoption or rejection of the

genus J'riodites must therefore be deferred until the final settlement of the genera of

APHEBANTUS, 145

this group. Although I have devoted a great deal of time to the working-out of the

small material at my command, I am far from satisfied with the result, and only hope

that it may facilitate and not impede the work of others. I am greatly indebted to

Dr. Williston, of New Haven, U.S., for the communication of specimens. Several of the

species described below were only found outside of the geographical limits of the

‘Biologia Centrali-Americana’; it would have been inexpedient to omit these in a first

attempt at a monographic treatment of this group; and, moreover, they all belong to

the same zoological region, and will very likely be discovered south of the Mexican

border. The species not yet detected in our region are placed in brackets.

Synopsis of the Species.

Scutellum hairy, but without any bristles that are distinctly

longer and stronger than the rest.

Third antennal joint conical, prolonged in a style about

as long as the cone; first abdominal segment, poste-

riorly, with a conspicuous fringe of white tomentum ;

legs black, the knees reddish, pubescent; the

spinules on the tibiz small and weak . . . . . 1. A. cyclops, sp.n., g 2.

Third antennal joint elongate-conical, with a minute joint

ending ina bristle at the tip . . . . . + [2 A. rattus,sp.n., @@.] 2? RIL LAY

Third antennal joint subglobular or onion- shaped (unsym-

metrical), prolonged in a style at least one and a half

times as’ long as its basal portion; first abdominal

segment, posteriorly, with a fringe of yellowish hairs

less conspicuous than the fringes on the following seg-

ments; femora black, the knees and tibie reddish-

brown, the ground-colour almost concealed under

a covering of silvery scales; the spinules on the

tibiz longer than in A. cyclops . . . . . . [8. A., sp.?}

Scutellum (generally also the pra- and post-alar eallosities) with

more or less distinct bristles or stronger hairs.

The hind femora, on the outer, lower side, showing a series

of a few spinules, which are distinctly stronger than

ordinary hairs.

Abdomen black, the hind margins of the segments with

a more or less distinct white tomentum. . . 4. A. (Triodites) mus,O.S., 3 2.

Abdomen clothed with a more or less dense yellowish-

brown tomentum.

Front beset with black, erect hairs . . . . . [5. A. cervinus, Loew, ?.]

Front beset with whitish, erect hairs . . . . [6. A. conurus, sp.n., ¢.]

Abdomen white at the base, with alternating ochreous

and white cross-bands, formed by the tomentum

on the following segments . . . . . . . 7%. A. bisulcus, sp.n., 2.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., January 1887. u

146 _ DIPTERA.

The hind femora, on the outer side, beset with long, soft

hairs, without any series of stronger spinules.

Face with white, erect hair; male forceps projecting,

but of moderate size. . . . . . 8. A. carbonarius, sp. n., d 2-

Face with black, erect hair; male forceps nearly as

long ashalfthe abdomen . ... . . . 9. A. peodes, sp.n., 3.

1. Aphebantus cyclops, sp.n., ¢ @. (Tab. III. figg. 4, 4 a-c, 3.)

Male. General covering of the body greyish-black ; thoracic dorsum, scutellum, and abdomen clothed, besides the

longer hairs, with a short, appressed, rather rare fulvous tomentum, not dense enough to conceal the ground-

colour; in the middle of the mesonotum this tomentum forms three, often indistinct, stripes, the lateral of

which contain many white hairs, especially on their anterior portion, and thus appear (at least in well-

preserved specimens) whitish ; on each side, between the humerus and the post-alar callus, above the root

of the wing, is another stripe of short, white, erect hairs ; pleura with a large tuft of white hairs in front

of the root of the wing, and another one below more or less coalescent with it ; first segment of the abdomen

posteriorly with a dense fringe of short white hairs, forming a distinct cross-band which is slightly interrupted

in the middle; almost imperceptible whitish fringes on the other segments; the whole abdomen clothed

with a fur of long, soft hair, the whitish colour of which becomes visible in a certain light only, especially on

the sides and at the tip; the last ventral segment (enclosing the forceps) conspicuously expanded down-

wards, within it (when viewed in the direction of the axis of the body) three pieces, composing the forceps,

may be seen, with a Y-shaped incisure between them. Front, face, and occiput beset with whitish hairs ;

upper part of the occipital orbits with a silvery reflection. Antenne black ; third joint subconical at the base,

unsymmetrically prolonged in a style about as long as its basal portion, and ending in a microscopic joint

with a bristle. Halteres whitish-yellow. Legs black, the knees slightly reddish ; hind femora clothed on the

outer side with a short appressed whitish, moderately dense, tomentum, and with a fringe of long soft

hairs on the underside ; stiff hairs or spinules on the bind tibie; no long bristle at the end of the hind

metatarsus. Wings hyaline, yellowish-brown at the root; a spot of the same colour near the origin of the

second vein,

Female. General colouring of the body greyish-black ; thoracic dorsum, scutellum, and abdomen clothed with a

short, appressed, rather rare, fulvous tomentum, not dense enough to conceal the ground-colour ; the stripes

which this tomentum forms on the thorax of the male are almost (sometimes altogether) invisible here ;

a stripe of white hairs each side above the root of the wings, between the humerus and the post-

alar callus; pleure beset with white hairs; hind margins of the abdominal segments with more or less

distinct fringes of white hairs (more distinct than in the male); the fringe on the first segment broader

and slightly interrupted, and the erect hairs on the abdomen shorter and much less conspicuous than in the

male. Interval between the eyes rather broad on the vertex ; face and front clothed with a short, appressed:

fulvous tomentum, the short, erect hair on the same parts having a dark appearance, but showing in some

specimens and ina certain light a silvery or yellowish reflection ; frontal and occipital orbits whitish; the

orbits near the vertex dark. Antenne and legs as in the male. Wings hyaline, very little yellowish at

the root; a stump on the fork of the third vein often, but not always, present.

Length 6-8 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison). Three males, four females.

A female specimen, somewhat larger (9-10 millim.), has the hind margins of the

abdominal segments without any white hairs, and even the scale-like hairs on the first

segment yellowish. I am not sure whether it is the same species. A. cyclops seems to

be variable as to the distinctness of the stripes on the thorax ; specimens in which they

are very distinct are comparatively rare.

APHEBANTUS. 147

2. [Aphebantus rattus, sp.n., ¢ 9°.

Not unlike .A. cyclops in general appearance and colouring, but easily distinguished by the shape of the black

antenng : the third joint in the form of an elongated cone, somewhat flattened from the sides, and without

styliform prolongation ; a minute joint, ending in an equally minute bristle, at the tip. The black greyish

ground-colour of the body is rather uniformly clothed with a short, appressed, pale yellowish tomentum,

which does not form any cross-bands on the hind margins of the abdominal segments, but is rather uni-

formly spread over the whole abdomen; on the thorax this pubescence forms indistinct stripes, especially

visible on the sides, between the humerus and the post-alar callus (I see this in the female; the male is

greasy, and for this reason its colour is indistinct). Hairs on the face and front yellowish. Legs black ; afew

delicate spinules on the hind tibie are visible in the male, but hardly perceptible in the female ; the longer

bristle at the end of the hind metatarsus inconspicuous. Last ventral segment in the male large, and

projecting downwards with its considerable convexity (as in A. cyclops, 3). No stump on the third vein.

The proboscis in this species is more pointed, the lips being narrower, and for this reason the oral

opening is more patulous (I cannot discern the palpi); in my female specimen the proboscis even projects

a little beyond the oral margin, perhaps accidentally ; the face is a little less retreating than in A. cyclops ;

the pulvilli are rather small. In all these characters this species approaches Epacmus.

Length 6—7 millim.

Hab. Norta America, Dallas, Texas (J. Boll). A male and a female. |

3. [Aphoebantus

Of the same size and general colouring as A. cyclops, but showing well-marked differences :—1. The knees and

tibiee are reddish-brown, but the ground-colour is almost hidden under a covering of silvery scales; on

the femora and tibie there are delicate spinules or bristles, distinctly differentiated from tho hairs, and

longer than in A. cyclops; a small number (three ?) of similar spinules form a row on the underside of the

hind femora, on the tibise they are more numerous. 2. There is no conspicuous fringe of white hairs on

the hind margin of the first abdominal segment (as in A. cyclops); on the other segments the whole distal

third is clothed with a short, dense, appressed pale golden-yellow pubescence, forming regular cross-bands,

the intervals being black ; the long, erect pubescence on the sides of the abdomen is very pale yellowish ; the

scutellum is clothed with appressed tomentum and erect hairs, but has no distinct bristles. 3. The third

antennal joint has the basal, incrassate portion shorter than in A. cyclops; it is almost onion-shaped, with

a style equal to about one and a half times its own length; a distinct bristle at the tip. 4. Third vein

without stump.

Length 6-8 millim.

Hab. Nortau America, Western Kansas (EF. W. Guild).

A single specimen received from Dr. Williston. |

4, Aphebantus mus, ¢ °.

Triodites mus, O. Sacken, Western Diptera, p. 245; Riley, Packard & Thomas, Second Report

of the U.S. Entomol. Commission, 1880, pp. 262-269, t. 16 (¢ ? figured) (reproduced in

Amer. Naturalist, June 1881).

Hab. Norru America, Western United States—Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

In the absence of my original types, I refer to this species eight females and one male

from Northern Sonora. The knees in all these specimens are distinctly yellowish. I

also perceive on the abdomen, in both sexes, a covering of short, scale-like, coal-black

hairs, not unlike soot, besides the white scales and downy hair. The shape of the

abdomen of the male I would call “ subconical,” rather than “ cylindrical”; the occiput

148 . DIPTERA.

of the female “tumid,” rather than “slightly tumid.” The size of the specimens varies

from 7 to 11 millim. The knob of the halteres is more infuscated in this species than

in its allies.

5. [Aphebantus cervinus, ¢.

Aphebantus cervinus, Loew, Centur. x. no. 39.

Hab. Norta America, Texas (J. Boll).

This species has much stronger macrochetz on the scutellum and on the pre- and

post-alar callosities than any of its congeners. The long spinule noticed by Loew at the

end of the hind metatarsus exists in many of the allied species (see above, the gene-

ralities on Aphebantus). The male is as yet unknown. |

6. [Aphebantus conurus, sp. n., . er 2eS

Face and front clothed with a yellowish-white erect pile, under which the C epish ground-colour, with an occa-

sional silvery reflection, is perceptible. Antenne black; the style of the third joint about as long as the

incrassate basal portion; terminal bristle comparatively large. Body greyish-black, clothed with an

appressed yellowish-fulvous tomentum ; the rounded posterior edge of the scutel, except a small spot in the

middle, glabrous, black, shining, beset with a number of rather conspicuous black macrochete ; similar

macrochete, black or reddish, on the pre- and post-alar callosities ; a number of black bristles in front of

the scutellum ; pleure grey, clothed with white, scale-like, appressed hairs; a tuft of whitish erect pile

between the root of the wing and the humerus. Abdomen subconical, slightly coarctate in the middle,

showing, besides the comparatively dense, appressed, yellowish-fulvous tomentum, rows of rather long, black,

erect bristles along the posterior margins of the segments, beginning with the second ; tip of the abdomen

but little incrassate ; the last ventral segment, enclosing the forceps, placed obliquely, end upwards

(only the upper portion of the forceps, longitudinally bisected, is visible), black, reddish at. the tip. Hal-

teres more orless brownish. Legs black; densely clothed with scales, silvery on the femora, more yellowish

on the tibia; knees reddish; posterior tibie beset with spinules, the hind femora, on the outside, also

showing a series of four or five. Wings hyaline from the very base; third vein with a stump.

Length 7-8 millim.

Hab. Nortu America, Kern Co., California (Williston). Two males.

This species will be easily distinguished from its congeners by the shape of its forceps,

and the rows of black bristles along the hind margins of the abdominal segments. In the

shape of the abdomen and of the forceps it somewhat approaches the genus Epacmus. |

7. Aphebantus bisulcus, sp. n., 2.

Greyish-black ; thorax with a short appressed golden, tomentum on the dorsum; pleure grey, with white

hairs ; scutellum deeply bisected, as if consisting of two rounded, black, shining protuberances, the

groove between the latter, as well as the base, beset with a yellowish tomentum; macrochetw on

the scutellum of moderate length and strength, black, those on the sides of the thorax reddish or

brown. Abdomen with a white tomentum at the base, and with a tuft of longer white hair on each

side of it ; the following segments clothed on their anterior part with an ochre-coloured tomentum, on

their distal half with a similar, but much less dense, white one ; on the last segments the ochreous tomentum,

prevailing. Femora black, with silvery scales; tibiee yellowish-red, the tarsi brownish ; posterior tibie

beset on the upperside with five or six long, delicate spinules ; a few spinules also near the end of the

hind femora, on the underside. Halteres yellow. Wings hyaline; third vein with arudiment of a stump:

APH@BANTUS. « 149

Face with a silvery pubescence; front pollinose yellowish-grey, with short, erect, black hair; antenne

black; the third joint triangular, onion-shaped, the style but slightly longer than the incrassate base.

Length 5 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison). A single female.

This species bears a singular resemblance to Epacmus modestus, from which, however,

it is generically distinct ; the latter has a somewhat similar bisected scutellum, and its

abdomen is clothed in nearly the same way with alternately ochreous and white scale-

like hairs. The bisection of the scutellum does not seem to be a constant character of

E. modestus ; it remains to be seen whether this also applies to 4. bisulcus.

8. Aphebantus carbonarius, sp.n., ¢ ?.

Face greyish-black, with a pubescence that, in an oblique light, looks silvery ; front hoary above the antenne, with

a black pubescence, mixed with a few pale yellowish hairs; the third joint of the antenne very short-conical

or onion-shaped, unsymmetrical, prolonged in a style which is more than twice as long as the joint itself,

with the usual minute joint and bristle at the tip. Thorax black, thinly beset with yellowish semiappressed

hairs on the dorsum, and with longer and denser white hairs on the pleure. Abdomen deep black, with

fringes of scale-like yellowish-white hairs on the hind margins of the segments, the fringe on the first

segment the broadest, the black intervals between the fringes covered with scattered deep black scales

‘ resembling soot; the sides showing scattered whitish-yellow scales, the venter more dense silvery

ones especially at the base; a fan-like tuft of longer, pale yellowish-white hairs on each side at

the base; in the male a fringe of long, delicate whitish hairs along the sides. Halteres yellow. <A

number of rather weak macrochsetee on the scutellum and on the pre- and post-alar callosities (in my

specimens they are brownish-red or reddish-yellow). Femora black, beset with silvery scales ; knees,

tibie, and tarsi reddish-yellow ; the latter brownish towards the tip (one of my specimens has the tibize

and tarsi dark brown, nearly black); tibie beset with silvery scales and with delicate spinules. Male

forceps projecting, although only slightly club-shaped ; its two halves enclosed within the concavity of the

last ventral segment, which, from a side view, is not projected downwards. Wings hyaline, without stumps

on the third vein.

Length 6-8 millim.

Hab. Norra Amurica, Washington Territory and Western Kansas (Williston).—

Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison). One male, three females.

This species seems to be allied to A. (Triodites) mus, on account of its general

appearance, and of the deep black, soot-like scales on its abdomen. It is, however, usually

smaller, the tibie and tarsi are more reddish, the knob of the halteres yellow and not

brownish, and the thorax of a purer black (not greyish) and less downy ; the margins of

the abdominal segments of a less pure white. The male sex is easy to distinguish by

the structure of its forceps: small and concealed within the abdomen in A. mus,

larger and projecting in A. carbonarius; in the former the posterior segments of the

abdomen have but indistinct white margins; on the contrary, in the latter they are

equally distinct in both sexes.

9. Aphebantus peodes, sp.n., ¢ 2.

Face black, with short, erect, black hairs (I perceive some traces of white pollen on the upper part only); front

in the male with a strong silvery reflection and with the hair upon it principally whitish (apparently the

150 DIPTERA.

specimen is somewhat injured), in the female black with black pile. Antenne black, the second joint very

small; third joint short onion-shaped, with a style twice the length of the incrassate portion, the bristle very

distinct. The black ground-colour of the thorax modified, without being entirely covered up, by short,

appressed, whitish hairs, which are denser and whiter on the pleure; scutel black, shining, with similar

hairs at the base only; the macrochetz on the sides of the thorax and on the scutel, although long,

rather weak. Abdomen black, the hind margins of the segments with distinct borders of whitish,

scale-like hairs; a tuft of longer white hairs on each side at the base. Male forceps remarkably

large, more than half the length of the whole abdomen, black, with a greyish pollen above, and soft, long,

scattered greyish hairs; formed by the usual concave ventral plate, whose under surface is parallel to

the axis of the body; seen from above, a deep fissure separates the two halves of the forceps, and a small

triangular piece is inserted between them. Halteres with a brownish stem and an ivory-white knob.

Legs black, beset with white, scaly hairs; the spinules on the tibie very weak; the single spinules

on the outer side of the hind femora existing in other species replaced here by long, soft hairs. Wings.

hyaline from the very base; no stump on the third vein.

Length, ¢, 5-6 millim.; 92, 6-7 millim.

Hab. Muxico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

A male anda female. Ihave but little doubt that the female belongs to the same

species as the male, as it agrees with it in many characters.

A. peodes differs from its congeners in the large development of the male forceps, and

in the weakness of the thoracic macrochete and of the spinules on the legs; it forms a

passage to the group of A. cyclops.

BOMBYLIUS.

Bombylius, Linneus, Fauna Suecica, 1758.

1. Bombylius ——1,¢ 9.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

This insect agrees quite well with 3B. atriceps, Loew, Centur. iv. no. 49 (Florida,

Virginia); but the scutellum and abdomen cannot be called “subnitida;” the front

femora are darker than “dilute lutei.” I cannot decide without comparing types.

Numerous specimens.

2. Bombylius ——?, s.

Hab. Guatemaua, San Gerénimo (Champion).

Of the group of B. varius, Fabr., but smaller. Two males,

The collection of Prof. Bellardi also contains two or three species of Bomdylius,

represented by one or two specimens each, in a bad state of preservation, and therefore

difficult to determine. Altogether this genus is but very poorly represented in the

collections before me. I find only three previously described species of the genus from

Mexico or Central America; they are :—

COMASTES.—PANTARBES. 151

Bombylius mexicanus, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 338; Loew, Neue

Beitr. iii. p. 24.— United States, Mexico.

helvus, Wiedem. loc. cit. p. 336.—Mexico.

ravus, Loew, Centur. iv. no. 50.—Mexico, Matamoras.

COMASTES.

Comastes, O. Sacken, Western Diptera, p. 256 (1877).

Heterostylum, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. Suppl. iii. p. 35 (1848).

In the ‘ Western Diptera’ I have described the female only of this genus. The head

of the male is much less broad than that of the female and much narrower than the

thorax; my description of the thorax must therefore be modified in that sense. The

eyes are almost in contact above the frontal triangle; a magnifying-glass shows,

however, a linear interval between them.

Since establishing Comastes I have discovered a passage in Loew’s writings which I

had overlooked before, and in which he foreshadowed its introduction. In the Neue

Beitr. iii. p. 29, he notices the peculiarities of Bombylius basilaris, Wiedem., and

B. ferrugineus, Fabr., and says “that both would deserve to form the nucleus of a

separate genus.” Asacharacter of this future genus he notices the emargination of

the occipital orbit of the eyes, which is larger than in Bombylius. |

In my catalogue of the N. Am. Dipt. 1878 (Additions &c. p. 267), I have shown

that Heterostylum, Macq., is the same as Comastes. The principal character assigned

to it by Macquart, and from which he derived the name of the genus, is the supposed

pubescence of the third antennal joint. This has no existence in reality, for Macquart

mistook dust for a pubescence, and his name must therefore be cancelled. I saw the

type in Mr. Bigot’s collection.

1. Comastes robustus.

Comastes robustus, O. Sacken, Western Dipt. p. 256.

Hab. Norta America, Waco, Texas (Belfrage), Dallas (Boll).—Mextco (coll. Bel-

lardi), Presidio (forrer). |

I have before me a specimen from Presidio, and a pair, also from Mexico, in

Prof. Bellardi’s collection; all three are entirely abraded. Nevertheless I have no

reason to doubt that they are correctly determined as C. robustus.

PANTARBES.

Pantarbes, O. Sacken, Western Dipt. p. 254 (1877).

- Two new species of this genus enable me to correct and to complete the generic.

description. I reproduce it from my former publication with the necessary changes.

152 DIPTERA.

In describing P. capito I had but a single female, which I cannot examine now, and for

this reason my statements about it will be less precise than those regarding P. pusio, & -

Head large, considerably broader than the thorax. The breadth of the vertex in the male equal to at least

two thirds of the greatest horizontal diameter of the eye in P. capito and P. willistonz, to less than half

of that diameter in P. pusio. The vertex in the female is broader than in the male, in P. pusto

more than twice the breadth of the greatest horizontal diameter of the eye. The front, immediately

above the antenne, is three or four times as broad as the vertex in the male, the position of the eyes being

oblique; in the female of P. pusio the breadth of the front is but little more than that of the vertex.

The front and face descend almost perpendicularly towards the oral margin, the antenns therefore are

inserted at a much lower level than the vertex. The lower part of the front, the face, the base of the

antennw, and the oral opening are entirely concealed from view by a dense, tuft-like, crop of hair, similar

to that of Anastechus, and especially conspicuous in the male.

Ocelli placed on a prominence of the vertex ; the lateral ones large, and at a distance from each other which,

in the male, is at least one half larger than the interval between each of them and the nearest orbit of

the eye; in the female of P. capito the latter interval is a little larger than the distance between the

ocelli, in the same sex of P. pusio it is nearly twice as large.

Antenne inserted at some distance from each other; in P. capito the space between them is distinctly larger

than that of the ocelli, in P. pusio distinctly smaller ; first joint subcylindrical, concealed in the facial tuft

of hair; second joint short, not longer than broad; third longer than the first two joints taken together,

slender, sublinear, except a short basal expansion followed by an attenuation; a minute fourth joint at

the tip, bearing a microscopical bristle (this fourth joint is very small in P. pusio; much larger in P. capito,

where a moderate lens shows that it is two-jointed).

Eyes glabrous, almost elliptical, without excision on the posterior orbit; in the male the difference in size

between the large facets of the upper half and the smaller ones is more distinct in P. pusio and P. willistont

than in P. capito.

Oral opening oval, comparatively small, its upper edge reaching but little above the lower corners of the eyes ;

face and checks broad.

Proboscis porrected forwards, not tapering towards the tip; projecting but little beyond the antenne in

P. capito, somewhat more so in P. pusio and P. willistoni.

Thorax of moderate size, not gibbose, nearly on a level with the head; scutellum but little smaller than in

Bombylius.

Abdomen a little longer than the thorax and scutellum together ; as broad as the thorax at the base; gradually

_ tapering in the male, more semioval in the female; the genitals, in both sexes, hidden under the last

segment.

Legs comparatively shorter than in Bombylius; ungues curved, the pulvilli distinct and long.

Wings: first posterior cell closed, its terminal petiole as long as in an ordinary Bombylius; second vein gently

arched before the cross-vein connecting it with the anterior branch of the third (but not so deeply as

in Lordotus), its curvature beyond the cross-vein stronger than in Lordotus, so that the expanded distal

end of the marginal cell is bulging out beyond the end of the first submarginal cell; three submarginal

cells; the first of the two exterior submarginal cells almost crescent-shaped, in consequence of the cur-

vature of the veins forming it; a small cross-vein about the middle of the discal cell, and hence the

first basal cell is longer than the second; the bifurcation of the second and third veins taking place a

little before the middle of the distance between the origin of the prefurca and the small cross-vein, these

two veins becoming at once distinctly divaricate (and not approximate and parallel for a considerable

distance, as in Bombylius and Systechus); the rest of the venation as in Bombylius and Systechus ;

anal cell open, &c.

Paniarbes, in Greek, means “ full of fear.”

In the thickness of its beard, entirely concealing the outlines of the mouth, this genus

resembles Anastechus,O.8.; its closest allies, however, are the European genera Mulio

and Callostoma. It is easily distinguished from both these latter by the structure of the

antenna, the first joint of which is longer, and the third not incrassate on its proximal

PANTARBES, 153

half. The venation differs from that of Mulio obscurus in the first posterior cell being

closed; from that of Callostoma fascipennis, Macq. (cf. Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1881,

t. 14. f. 1), by the presence of three submarginal cells; and from both in the greater

curvature of the ends of the second and third veins (resembling in this respect Ploas

and Lordotus). .

Of the two species described below, P. pusio is the only one yet known to certainly

inhabit our country; the other, P. willistoni, I have no doubt will eventually be found

within our northern boundary, as well as in Arizona, and have accordingly for this

reason included it here.

1. Pantarbes pusio, sp.n.,¢ 9. (Tab. III. figg. 15, 15 a-d, 3.)

Body greyish-black, covered with white hairs below and greyish-white hairs above; wings hyaline.

Length 4°5—7 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

Front, lower part of the head, and occiput densely clothed with snow-white pile;

upper part of the front and the ocellar eminence beset with black hair; in the female

the sides of the very broad vertex beset with brown hairs; black hairs near the

orbits and on the ocellar eminence; the middle of the face showing a stripe of pale

brownish hairs, only a trace of which is sometimes perceptible in male specimens;

antenne and proboscis black. The upperside of the thorax and abdomen has a covering

of short, semirecumbent white hairs, not dense enough to conceal the ground-colour ;

between these hairs there are on the thorax some longer, erect ones, partly whitish,

partly brownish ; on the abdomen, along the hind margin of each segment is a row of

long, erect, blackish or brownish hairs (distinctly visible from the side). Halteres

yellow. Legs: the black ground-colour, sometimes yellowish at the base of the femora

and on the tibie, almost concealed under a covering of white scales. Wings hyaline,

slightly yellowish at the root; veins black. Twenty (¢ ¢) specimens.

N.B.—P. pusio is abundantly distinguished from the North-American P. capito by

its much smaller size, the hyaline wings, the rows of long dark hairs on the abdomen,

&c. The front in the male is proportionally narrower, in the female, on the contrary,

broader than in the corresponding sexes of P. capito.

9. [Pantarbes willistoni, sp.n., 3.

Body black, with a metallic bluish reflection; covered with black hairs on the abdomen and pale brownish ones,

mixed with black, on the head and on the front of the thorax.

Length 7-8 millim,

Hab. Norta America, Arizona (Williston).

Head with the tuft of hair covering the front part pale brownish; darker, almost

black, hairs prevailing along the edges, especially on the front; on the vertex a tuft of

brownish hairs, mixed with black ones. Antenne black. The hairs on the thorax

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., January 1887. £

154 . DIPTERA.

brownish, those on the posterior half darker. Legs black, with a not very dense

covering of yellowish scales. Knob of the halteres yellow. Wings hyaline, brownish at

the base.

A male specimen of this interesting species has been kindly given to me by

Dr. Williston, of New Haven, Conn. |

SPARNOPOLIUS.

Sparnopolius, Loew, Neue Beitr. &c. iii. p. 43 (1855).

Specimens in Prof. Bellardi’s collection (Mexico, Zruqui) may perhaps belong to

S. brevicornis, Loew, Centur. x. no. 43 (Texas, Belfrage).

LORDOTUS.

Lordotus, Loew, Centur. iv. no. 53 (1863).

Loew only described the female; the male has contiguous eyes, and the edge of the

costa denticulate on the distal half. The genus is easily distinguishable by the enormous

expansion of the end of the marginal cell. In the male I count eight abdominal segments,

besides the forceps; the eighth segment is short, and more or less withdrawn within

the preceding one; the forceps withdrawn within the abdomen in the usual unsym-

metrical fashion, with the opening of the ring turned towards the right.

In one of the female specimens I can count only five segments; in another, a large

sixth and a small seventh segment are extruded; the ovipositor does not show the

coronet of spinules, but, as far as I can see, there is a small bifid horny plate, with the

two ends rounded.

1. Lordotus gibbus.

Lordotus gibbus, Loew, Centur. iv. no. 53; O. Sacken, Western Dipt. p. 258°.

(?) Adelidea flava, Jaennicke, Neue exot. Dipt. p. 39; O. Sacken, Catal. N. Am. Dipt. 1878, p. 93,

note 162.

Hab. Nortsa America, Western United States!.—Muexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison),

Tehuacan (Sumichrast, in coll. Bellardt).

I have shown in the ‘ Western Diptera’ that this species is variable as to the colour

of the antenne and legs, and that for this reason many specimens do not quite agree

with Loew’s description. I have before me several specimens from Mexico, and a

single small one from Northern Sonora. In the latter the wings are hyaline, without

that yellowish-brown shade in the antero-proximal region which distinguishes normal

examples. Smaller specimens with a whitish, instead of yellow, fur are perhaps faded

representatives of the same species.

PARACOSMUS.—PHTHIRIA. 155

PARACOSMUS.

Paracosmus, O. Sacken, Western Diptera, p. 262 (1877).

Allocotus, Loew, Centur. x. no. 48 (nomen. preoc.).

1. Paracosmus morrisoni, sp.n., °.

Black; hind margins of the abdominal segments white; legs rufous; wings hyaline.

Length 6-7 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

Head black; a silvery mark, visible in a certain light only, on each side of the

mouth; a small silvery triangle a short distance above the antenne, on each side, near

the orbit (a hoary dust seems to exist all along the orbit, but it is indistinct in my

specimen); occiput with a thin greyish-silvery pollen; antenne black. Thoracic

dorsum with a white stripe on each side, the stripe reaching the scutellum and formed

by white pollen with some white pile upon it; two narrower stripes, of an impure

white, in the middle, the distance between them being a little greater than the

distance from the lateral stripes; in the intervals between these four stripes the

black ground-colour is somewhat modified by a microscopic, pollen-like, appressed,

yellowish pubescence; pleura shining black, with a silvery stripe across its lower

portion ; scutellum black, shining, y ellowish-pollinose at the base. Knob of the halteres

yellowish-white. Abdomen black, but little shining; segments 1-5 with a well-defined,

narrow, white posterior margin, becoming gradually narrower on each following

segment, especially on segments 4 and 5. Coxe black, the femora and tibie rufous;

tarsi, except the base, black; front and middle tibie with a slight, microscopic, silvery

down. Wings hyaline.

A single female specimen.

N.B.—This is the second species of this remarkable genus; I dedicate it to its

lamented discoverer.

PHTHIRIA.

Phthiria, Meigen, in Illiger’s Magazin, 1803; Klassif. 1804 (nec Wiedem., Rondani).

1. Phthiria consors, sp. n., ¢.

(?) Phthiria cingulata, Loew, Linn. Entomol. i. p. 388.

Black, with yellow marks; four anterior femora more or less yellow at the base, the hind pair black; wings

tinged with pale brownish.

Length 4-5 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Ciudad in Durango 8100 feet (Forrer).

Head yellow, with a black line in the middle of the front, expanded into a trans-

verse spot above the antenne, and ending in the black ocellar spot ; occiput, except the

broad yellow orbits, black ; proboscis, palpi, and antenne black ; the third joint of the

156 DIPTERA.

latter rather elongated, with microscopic hairs on the upper edge. Thoracic dorsum

black, brownish-pollinose, the pollen forming a pair of indistinct stripes; a yellow

stripe on each side, between the humerus and scutellum, interrupted above the root of

the wings; antescutellar callosities, an M-shaped spot between them, a space in front of

the scutellum, and the scutellum itself, yellow ; pleure pale greenish-yellow, with a black

stripe running from the collar backwards and ending under the root of the wing, and

another stripe immediately above the coxe (between the front and hind pairs);

metanotum black. Abdomen: first segment yellow, blackish at the base; the second

segment black in the middle, its lateral and posterior borders reddish-yellow; the

following segments black, with yellow hind borders which fully reach the lateral

margins (the yellow occupies half the breadth of the third segment; it is narrower on

the following segments, especially on the last two). Venter black, yellow at the base.

Halteres yellow, the knob infuscated on one side only. Front coxe yellow, this colour

on the other two pairs more or less mixed with black; legs black; on the underside of

the front femora, near the black trochanters, a yellow spot occupies more or less space

in different specimens (sometimes it invades the upperside even); middle femora

yellow, except the extreme base and the distal third. Wings subhyaline, with a uniform

pale brownish tinge; second vein straight at the end; second submarginal and third

posterior cells without any vestige of a stump of a vein. Five female specimens.

N.B.—In the ‘Linnea Entomologica,’ i. p. 383, Dr. Loew described a Phthiria

(belonging to the Berlin Museum) from Oaxaca, Mexico, thus :—

“Phthiria cingulata: nigra, hypostomate, oculorum orbita, pleurarum maculis,

scutello, abdominis incisuris, coxis femoribusque flavis; alis brunnescentibus. Long.

corp. 2 lin.”

This applies quite well to P. consors, except the “femoribus flavis.” There is a

specimen in the Berlin Museum which is very probably Loew’s type, although it was

not labelled when I saw it; it differs from P. consors in having the hind femora

yellow, the distal fourth only being brown, while my five specimens do not show any

vestige of yellow on the hind femora; it may be merely a variety of my species.

The only other species of this genus hitherto described from our country is :—

Phthiria thlipsomyzoides, Jaennicke, Neue exot. Dipt. p. 43, t.i. f. 11—

Mexico. Jaennicke, without any necessity, introduced the new genus

Pecilognathus for this species.

GERON.

Geron, Meigen, Systemat. Beschr. ii. p. 223 (1820).

This genus is represented by several specimens (in an unsatisfactory state of preser-

vation) from Mexico (Tuxpango and Orizaba, Swmichrast) in Professor Bellardi’s

collection, and I have also a single specimen from Northern Sonora (Morrison).

SYSTROPUS. 157

A Geron rufipes, Macq. Dipt. Ex. Suppl. i. p. 119, has been described from Yucatan,

Mexico.

SYSTROPUS.

Systropus, Wiedemann, Nova Dipter. Gen. Icon. Ill. (1820).

Authors are silent about the sexual difference of Systropus. The only one who

approaches the subject is Loew (cf. Dipt. Siidafr. p. 200), who confesses that he is in

doubt about the sexual differences in this genus. The examination of the specimens

before me proves that both sexes have contiguous eyes. Systropus shares this character

with the “ Cyrtide,” certain “‘ Blepharoceride,” and with Orphnephila. In the female

the eighth abdominal segment is flattened from the sides, and ends on the underside in

two little points, between which is a (probably double) projecting lamel. In the male

there is a distinct ninth segment, with a circular opening at the end, within which the

male appendages are visible.

The following synoptical table of the species of American Systropi at present known

is constructed principally from descriptions, and should therefore be used with caution

[Systropus (2) chilensis, Philippi, is omitted, the data necessary for its insertion in the

table not being sufficient ]:—

Abdomen black at both ends, red in the middle . . . . . . « macer, Loew, infuscatus,

angulatus, and imbecillus, Karsch; all from the United States.

Abdomen not black at both ends, red in the middle.

Front legs yellow.

Hind legs altogether black . . . . . . . . . « « mitidus, Wiedem. (syn. brasi-

liensis, Macq.); Brazil.

Hind legs not altogether black. .

First joint of the hind tarsi yellow.

Hind femora black at the BP ; tibize yellow. at

the base. . » 2 . « . rufiventris, sp. n.; Mexico.

Hind femora and tibie yellow at the tip.

Antenne yellow . . . . .. + . « «© sallei, Costa; Mexico.

Antenne black . .. . . . . . rogersi, sp. n.; Costa Rica.

First joint of the hind tarsi black ; hind femora reddish-

yellow. 2... see ee ee we ee Cerdo, sp. n.; Panama.

Front legs not yellow. .

Wings clouded with brown before the apex. . . . . . fumipennis, Westw.; Brazil.

jfemoratus, Karsch; Brazil.

Wings not clouded before the apex. [bia.

Hind legs altogether black(?). . . . . . « « columbianus, Karsch; Colom-

Hind tibia black, except a white dot at the base. . . fenoides, Westw.; Mexico.

Hind tibie with the distal third yellowish-white . . lugubris, sp. n.; Mexico.

158 DIPTERA.

1. Systropus rogersi, sp. n.,3 2.

Four front legs yellow; hind legs black, except the tip of the femora, the extreme root and the tip of the tibie,

and the first joint of tarsi, which are yellow; antenne black; abdomen black, slightly hoary on the

incisures.

Length 27-28 millim.

Hab. Costa Rica, Irazu 6000 to 7000 feet (Rogers).

Face pale yellow; frontal triangle yellow; palpi reddish-yellow ; antenne black, the

last joint about one and a half times the length of the preceding one. Thorax black,

except the following parts, which are pale yellow:—(1) a large spot above the front

coxee ; (2) the sides of the mesonotum in front of the root of the wings and including

the humeral callosity; this spot has the shape of a capital Greek gamma on the left

side, and of a gamma reversed on the right; (3) a small spot on the post-alar callosity ;

and (4) another spot on each side below the scutellum ; some reddish-yellow also below

the root of the wing. In the middle of the mesothorax a geminate, greyish stripe, show-

ing hoary reflections. Halteres yellowish-brown ; tip of the knob yellow. Coxe black ;

four front legs yellow ; hind legs black, except the end of the femora, the extreme root

and tip of the tibie, and the first joint of the tarsi, which are bright yellow. Abdomen

black: the hind margins of segments 2, 3, 4 with small lateral triangles of greyish

pollen, the first segment also greyish on the sides. Wings tinged with brownish ;

venation like that of S. macer. Five specimens.

2. Systropus cerdo, sp. n.,¢.

Antenne yellow, the third joint black ; legs reddish-yellow, the hind tibie and tarsi black; abdomen reddish,

with a brown line on the upperside of the basal segments.

Length about 17 millim.

Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 2000 to 3000 feet (Champion).

Face, frontal triangle, palpi, and antenne pale reddish-yellow; third joint of the

latter black. Thoracic dorsum shining black, with a microscopic punctuation; on the

left side of the mesonotum a pale yellow spot in the shape of a Greek capital gamma,

with a similar spot, only reversed, on the right side; from this spot a yellow stripe goes

down towards the front coxa; on the pleura there is a large black spot immediately

under the dorso-pleural suture, and another one above the middle coxa, both are

whitish-sericeous, separated by a yellow stripe; the interval between the hind coxe

and the root of the abdomen pale yellow, with a pair of elongated black spots

immediately above the coxe, and another pair of larger, circular spots towards the root

of the abdomen. MHalteres brownish-yellow; knob with a brown spot in the middle.

Scutellum and first abdominal segment black, whitish sericeous; the upperside of the

three following segments brownish; the rest of the abdomen as well as the under-

side of the basal segments reddish, with a fulvous microscopic pubescence. Legs

SYSTROPUS. 159

pale reddish-yellow, including the coxe; hind femora more reddish; hind tibie and

tarsi brown. Wings tinged with greyish; stigma brown. A single male.

3. Systropus lugubris, sp. n., 9 .

Black, including the legs; only the distal third of the hind tibiee yellowish-white.

Tength about 25 millim.

Hab. Mexico (Sumichrast, in coll. Bellardi).

Sides of the face yellowish ; facial orbits silvery ; antenne black, the third joint a little

more than twice the length of the second. Thorax black; the humeri with small pale

yellow spots; pleura hoary, beset with white hairs. Abdomen black; venter paler on

the first four segments; with fringes of silvery hair on the incisures of segments 2-4.

Legs black; front femora with a trace of reddish near the base on the posterior side ;

four anterior tibie silvery on the posterior side; distal third of the hind tibiz yellowish-

white, the extreme tip, however, black. Halteres black. Wings tinged with brownish-

grey, darker near the costa. A single female.

4, Systropus rufiventris, sp. n., ¢.

Four anterior legs yellow; hind legs black, with the bases of the femora and tibie, and the first joint of the tarsi,

except its tip, yellow; humeri and sides of mesonotum yellow; abdomen black at the base and along the

back, reddish on the underside and sometimes towards the tip also.

Length 22-25 millim.

Hab. Mexico (Sumichrast, in coll. Bellardi).

Sides of the face and the lower part of the frontal triangle yellow ; facial orbits silvery ;

antenne black, the third joint but little longer than the preceding one. Thorax black ;

sides of the mesonotum from the humerus to the root of the wings yellow: this yellow

sends out one branch which connects the humerus with the yellow front coxe,

and another shorter branch (separated by a black space from the corresponding

branch on the opposite side) forms the anterior margin of the mesonotum. Halteres

yellow. Abdomen: the first four segments black above, pale reddish-yellow below ;

the following segments more or less reddish-brown above, and reddish below, some-

times altogether reddish. Four front legs, including the coxe, yellow; hind legs

black; hind femora at the root more or less yellow, especially on the underside ;

proximal third of the hind tibie and the first joint of the hind tarsi (except the tip)

yellow. Wings tinged with pale brownish. :

5. Systropus sallzi.

Systropus sallei, Costa, Annuario del Museo Zool. della R. Univ. di Napoli, 1864, p. 151; O.Sacken,

Cat. of N.-Am. Diptera, 1878, Additions and Corrections, p. 265 (where the diagnosis is

reproduced).

Hab. Mexico (Sumichrast).

160 DIPTERA.

I have seen specimens in the Museum in Cambridge, Mass., and in Prof. Bellardi’s

collection.

6. Systropus fenoides.

Systropus fenoides, Westw. in Guérin’s Mag. Zool. 1842, Ins. t. 90, text p. 3°.

Systropus fenoides, Westw. Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1876, p. 578°.

Systropus funereus, Costa, Annuario del Mus. Zool. della R. Univ. di Napoli, 1864, p. 151.

Hab. Mexico 1? (Sumichrast).

Specimens are contained in the Oxford Museum, in Cambridge, Mass., and in Prof.

Bellardi’s collection.

LEPIDOPHORA.

Lepidophora, Westwood, London and Edinb. Phil. Mag. 1835.

The known species, to one of which I provisionally refer the Central-American

representative before me, of this New-World genus may (from the descriptions) be

grouped as follows :—

Wings uniformly brown.

Abdomen with spots of yellow scales ; second submarginal cell

without stump ofavein . . . .. . . . . « « lepidocera, Wiedem. (N. Amer.).

(Synon. egertiformis, Westw.)

Abdomen with spots of white scales; second submarginal cell

with astump ofavein. . . .... . +. + « appendiculata, Macq. (Texas).

Wings hyaline or subhyaline at the apex . . . . . . . - . vetusta, Walk. (Amazon R.).

secutor, Walk. (Amazon R.).

Wings brown along the anterior margin only .. . . . . culiciformis, Walk. (Para).

1. Lepidophora vetusta ?

Lepidophora vetusta, Walker, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1857, p. 145°.

Hab. Mexico (Sallé), Ventanas (Forrer); GuateMa.a, El Reposo 800 feet (Champion).

—Amazons 1.

I doubtfully refer to this species the very much abraded specimens from Ventanas

and El Reposo. They differ from Walker’s description in having the curved veins

in the apical portion of the wings more or less clouded with brown, and for this reason

I took them at first for a different species. The specimens in Prof. Bellardi’s collection,

however, have the wings as Walker describes them: the apex hyaline, including the

expanded end of the marginal cell; the posterior cells (2, 3, 4) and the anal cells also

hyaline. This coloration is not, however, constant: in one of the specimens in

Bellardi’s collection the expanded end of the marginal cell is filled out with brown; the

same is the case with the specimens from Ventanas, &c., and there is no reason for not

regarding them as the same species. Walker’s “femora partly ferruginous” might

apply to the sometimes reddish-brown femora, especially in old specimens. The type

in the British Museum is a single, very much abraded example.

TOXOPHORA.—ECLIMUS. 161

TOXOPHORA.

Toxophora, Meigen, in Illiger’s Magaz. ii. p. 270 (1803); Klassif. 1804.

1. Toxophora amphitea.

Toxophora amphitea, Walker, List &c. ii. p. 298°; Osten Sacken, Western Dipt. p. 267.

Hab. Nortu America, Middle and Southern United States, Florida 1.—MExico (coll.

Bellardi).

ECLIMUS.

Eclimus, Loew, Stett. ent. Zeit. 1844, p. 154, t. 1. ff. 12 & 13, and t. 2. ff. 9-11; Deutsche ent. Zeit.

1876, p. 209.

1. Eclimus (?) auripilus, sp.n.¢ 9. (Tab. III. fig. 5.)

Black, opaque, with short, scattered golden pile, and a denser pubescence of longer hairs of darker hue; wings

greyish, the veins margined with brown, the brown on the cross-veins assuming the appearance of spots.

Length 10-12 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Ciudad in Durango 8100 feet (forrer).

Black, opaque; the whole upperside of the body clothed with scattered, short, golden-

yellow pile, and with longer, erect hairs of darker hue (blackish or greyish, according

to the light); the underside of the body (of the head, and of the thorax, including the

pleure and the venter) greyish-white, with whitish hairs; the end of the abdomen of

the female with a tuft of rufous hairs. Third antennal joint a little shorter than the

first ; first and second joints beset with black hair. Halteres brownish-yellow, with a

brown knob. Coxe and femora black, the tibize brownish-yellow; tarsi brown, paler

at the base. Wings greyish, more brownish at the base and along the costa; with

brown clouds on the origin of the second vein, on the anterior cross-vein, and at the

base of the four posterior cells; the veins more or less margined with brown, especially

the fork of the third vein. Three males and three females.

N.B.—I place this species provisionally in the genus Hclimus, Loew. My hesitation

is owing to the presence of an exceedingly minute bristle at the end of the antenne in

these Mexican specimens, while Loew describes the antenne of Hclimus as ‘an der

Spitze ohne bemerkbaren Griffel.” The other differences which I am able to notice

between my specimens and Loew’s data are slight: the third antennal joint is broader ;

the anterior branch of the fork of the third vein is more S-shaped, that is, less ventricose

at first, but more curved towards the end. I would not establish a new genus on such

an uncertain foundation, the more so, as the relations of Eelimus, Thevenemyia, Bigot,

and Epibates, O. S., are yet to be determined; possibly upon the discovery of new

forms belonging to the same group it will be found more convenient to unite all these

genera. From Epibates, as characterized by me in the ‘ Western Diptera,’ Eclimus

auripilus differs in the thorax of the male not being muricate, and the wings not

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., February 1887. y

162 DIPTERA.

being granulate along the costa. Lclimus hirtus, Loew, Deutsche ent. Zeit. 1876,

p. 209 (Acarnania), with its opaque black colour and its golden pubescence, seems to

be nearer to E. auripilus than the other two species described by Loew.

Fam. THEREVIDE.

The small number of specimens before me belonging to this family represent about

half a dozen species, collected at Presidio, Mexico (Forrer), and in Northern Sonora

(Morrison). I cannot determine any of these from the existing descriptions, although

most of them reproduce very closely the well-known types of North-American ‘“Therevee,”

and especially “Psilocephale.” Many descriptions of Therevide are based on single

specimens, while the species are not quite constant in their coloration, especially in

that of their wings. I have, for instance, a Psilocephala, from Sonora, represented by

seven female specimens, which comes very near to P. platancala, Loew, and also to the

South-American P. stigmaticalis, Schin., but I cannot identify it with either, although

it may be one of them. I will therefore describe one species only, which, although

represented by a single specimen, is sufficiently characteristic.

THEREVA.

Thereva, Latreille, Précis des Car. gén. des ins. p. 167 (1796).

1. Thereva bolbocera, sp.n., 2.

Antenne with an onion-shaped third joint; front with a pair of velvety-black spots; body pale brownish-

ochraceous; wings densely variegated with brown spots.

Length 11 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Presidio (forrer).

Antenne: first joint short, cylindrical ; second joint small, rounded ; third joint onion-

shaped, but flattened from the sides, its base coarctate as usual in Thereva (but more

distinctly), its apical part showing an elongation nearly as long as the incrassate portion

of the joint and divided about the middle by a distinct segmentation; in colour pale

brownish-yellow, more brown on the incrassation, nearly black at the tip. Palpi club-

shaped, brownish-yellow. Face and front fawn-coloured (cervinus), sericeous; the front

flat, with a velvety-black, round spot on each side near the eye ; occiput greyish-pollinose,

more yellowish above, beset with black bristles. Thorax brownish-ochraceous, greyish-

pollinose on the pleuree; macrochete black. Abdomen brownish-ochraceous, beset

with short, black, erect pile, especially towards the end; female ovipositor with a

coronet of black spines. Legs brownish-yellow, the tarsi darker brownish towards

the end (the front pair is broken off). Wings densely variegated with brown spots and

dots; subcostal cell brownish-yellow ; stigma brown; a series of brown dots along the

second vein; more or less distinct brown clouds along the other veins (they are longer

THEREV A.—OCN AA. 163

on the cross-veins and on the bifurcations); very irregular brownish-grey clouds inside

the cells, more or less filling out their surface; venation normal, the upper branch of

the third vein somewhat S-shaped, the fourth posterior cell broadly open, although

coarctate. <A single female. |

N.B.—The chetotaxy, so far as I can judge from the scars (many bristles being

rubbed off), is the normal one of Thereva, as described in my essay on “ Chetotaxy.”

The same may be said of the bristles on the legs.

The following five species of Therevide have been described from Mexico (there are

none from other parts of Central America) :—

Thereva crassicornis, Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii. p. 88, t. 2. f. 16.—Mexico.

argentata, Bellardi, 1. c. 11. p. 89.—Mexico, Cordova.

Psilocephala univittata, Bellardi, 1. c. ii. p. 90.—Mexico, Puebla.

sumichrasti, Bellardi, 1. c. ii. p. 91.—Mexico, Tuxpango near Orizaba.

—— (Dialineura) nigra, Bellardi, |. c. ii. p. 92.—Mexico (a different species

from the following).

— (Thereva) nigra, Say, Complete Writings, ii. p. 57; van der Wulp,

Tijdschr. voor Ent. xxv, p. 118.—Pennsylvania, Mexico.

In this connection the “ Scenopinid” Pseudatrichia longurio, Loew, Centur. vii. no. 76, _

from Mexico, may also be mentioned.

Fam. CYRTIDE.

The following Cyrtide from Mexico have been hitherto described (there are none

from other parts of Central America) :—

Ocnea micans, Erichs. Entomogr. i. p. 155.—Mexico.

Apelleia vittata, Bellardi, Saggio &c. Append. p.19, f. 12.—Mexico, Playa

Vicente. (N.B.—Apelleta is an Ocnea with glabrous eyes; comp.

O. Sack. Berl. ent. Zeit. 1883, p. 25.)

Philopota truquit, Bellardi, 1. c. i. p. 77, t. 2. ff. 20, 20 bis——Mexico, Cuazi-

malpa.

To these I now add the following :-—

OCN ZA.

Ocnea, Erichson, Entomographien, i. (1840).

1. Ocnza grossa, sp.n., ¢. (Tab. III. fig. 7.)

Eyes glabrous. Antenne velvety-black ; the joints of the scapus of nearly equal length; the third joint at least

_ eight times the length of the preceding two together, a little stouter at the base, the tip obtuse. Thorax

black, clothed with a dense fur of brown hair, with fulvous reflections (the posterior part of the mesothorax

y 2

164 DIPTERA.

and the scutellum of my specimen are denuded, black, shining, with a microscopic punctuation); pleurs

and pectus also black, and with a similar covering of hair, Abdomen: prevailing colour honey-yellow on

the sides, black on the back; first segment black above; segments 4-6 deep black on the greater part of

the middle; an irregularly indented border on the sides, yellow; the dense hairy covering black, with

fulvous reflections on the black ground, yellow on the yellow ground; venter pale honey-yellow; single

segments with broad brown cross-bands in the middle anteriorly, their posterior margins yellow. Tegule

dark brown. Legs brown; tarsi yellowish-brown, the distal half of the last joint dark brown. Wings

brown, less saturate towards the apex; venation like Apelleia vittata, Bellardi, but the first posterior cell

closed some distance from the margin, and therefore petiolate (see Bellardi, Saggio &c. Append. t. 3.

fig. 12).

Length 14-15 millim.

Hab. Costa Rica, Rio Sucio (Rogers).

This species differs from the majority of the other Ocnee in having glabrous eyes.

It has this character in common with Ocnea vittata, Bell., and perhaps also with

Ocneea tumens, Walk. (at least the figure of the latter shows glabrous eyes; the letter-

press says nothing about them). But from O. tumens it differs very considerably in

the venation, while it agrees in this respect with O. vittata. From the latter again it

differs in the relative length of the third antennal joint, this joint being much longer in

O. grossa. This joint is peculiar in structure: it shows, externally, a longitudinal

groove, not quite reaching the apex, and thus has the appearance of being folded

lengthwise. I do not find any mention of such a structure in other species.

2. Ocnza trichocera, sp.n., ¢.

Antenne brown, the second joint yellowish at the tip; the third joint about five times as long as the first two

together, rather narrow, gradually attenuated towards the tip, its upper edge beset with distinct but

scattered hairs, afew of which project beyond the tip. Eyes hairy. Thorax, including the scutellum

and the callosities, brown, moderately shining, clothed with brownish-fulvous pile. Abdomen brown;

hind margins of the segments 2-5 brownish-yellow (the limits of this colour ill-defined), and with a

fringe of golden-yellow hair; the rest of the pubescence black; on the venter the yellowish hind margins

of the segments are narrower, but better defined. Tegule whitish-yellow, with brown borders. Legs

brown; tarsi paler, except the distal part of the last joint, which is brown. Wings with a brownish tinge,

subhyaline on the proximal third, yellowish along the costa; the venation is identical with that of O. grossa,

except that the first posterior cell is closed on the margin and therefore not petiolate.

Length 7-8 millim.

Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 2000 to 3000 feet (Champion). A single male.

ONCODES.

Ogcodes, Latreille, Précis des Car. gén. des ins. p. 154 (1796).

Oncodes, as amended by later writers.

I. Oncodes humeralis, sp.n., ¢.

Humeral and prescutellar callosities and also the pleure brownish-yellow; legs yellowish-brown, the tips of

the tarsi darker; wings subhyaline.

Length 4-5 millim., °

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

ONCODES.—PIALEOIDEA. 165

Face, vertical triangle, occiput, and antenne black; thorax of the usual brownish-

black, metallescent colour, with a dense, short, yellowish pubescence. Humeral and

prescutellar callosities and upper part of the pleuree brownish-yellow ; above the coxe

the pleure are black, shining. Legs yellowish-brown, including the front coxe ; extreme

base of the latter black; tarsi brownish; ungues and pulvilli black. Tegule honey-

coloured, without any perceptible darker margin. Halteres with a brown knob.

Abdomen brown, the hind margins of the segments white. Venter whitish-yellow ;

incisures darker. Wings subhyaline; very slightly tinged with brownish before the

apex, near the costa; auxiliary and first veins brownish ; the costa, beyond the junction

of the auxiliary vein, is dark brown and a little stouter. A single male.

Among the described North-American species, 0. incultus, O.8., alone has the humeri

of a paler colour than the thorax; but it is easily distinguished by its large size, its

brownish wings, &c.

PIALEOIDEA.

Pialeoidea, Westwood, Trans. Ent. Soc. London, 1876, p. 514.

1. Pialeoidea metallica, sp. n., ?.

Thorax metallic green; abdomen brown, shining, the segments with paler hind margins; legs reddish-yellow ;

wings brownish.

Length 5-6 millim.

Hab. Guatemata, Antigua (Stoll).

The third joint of the antenne is broken, and for this reason [ cannot refer the

species to the genus Pialeoidea, Westwood (loc. cit. t. 6. f. 3), with certainty. The head

is remarkably small, the eyes separated by a narrow front, and the wings very nearly

like those figured by Westwood; the scutellum is rather broad; but there are three

instead of two ocelli; and the occiput is very much developed (like J. ¢. fig. 3a), and if

seen from the side it occupies one half of the breadth of the head (different therefore

from I. ¢. fig. 36). The venation differs from J. c. fig. 3¢ in the following principal

points: the second basal cell is connected with the margin of the wing bya vein running

between the fifth posterior cell and the anal cell (in the figure quoted this vein is

omitted, and these cells coalescent ; is not this omission accidental 2); the fourth posterior

cell is not in contact with the second basal cell; and the second submarginal cell is of

a different shape, e. g. longer and broader at the base.

The vertical triangle is large, somewhat protuberant; the ocelli equidistant, The

eyes pubescent; beneath the vertical triangle approximate but without coming in

contact; below the antenne almost touching. The antenne are inserted in the

middle of the head, within a space formed by an emargination of the eyes; their basal

joints in close contact. Proboscis short. |

Head black ; basal joints of the antenne yellowish-brown; vertical triangle yreenish

166 DIPTERA.

metallescent. Thorax metallic green, beset with scattered, erect, moderately long,

yellowish hairs; scutellum more bluish metallic. Abdomen brown ; hind margins of

the segments with a whitish border, both on the dorsal and on the ventral sides;

pubescence short, dark, and little conspicuous on the upperside; paler hairs towards

the tip and on the venter. Stem of the halteres brownish; knob whitish-yellow.

Tegule pale, with a pale brownish border. Coxe blackish, paler at the tip; legs

brownish-yellow; ungues black. Wings pale brownish, somewhat darker along the

costa, and lighter within the basal cells; costal and first veins dark brown; the first

vein becoming perceptibly stouter towards the tip. A single female.

N.B.—The hind part of the mesonotum being injured by the pin, I cannot describe

the prescutellar callosities, &c.

LASTA.

Lasia, Wiedemann, Analecta ent. &c. p. 11 (1824) *.

1. Lasia scribe, sp. n., ¢.

Thorax metallic green, with violet reflections ; abdomen metallic violet, with bluish and greenish reflections

towards the end; legs black; antenne broken, but probably black; wings with a brownish tinge.

Length 17-18 millim.; proboscis 18 millim.

Hab. Guaremata (coll. O. Sacken).

In one of the specimens the violet (amethystine) reflections on the thorax take

distinctly the shape of stripes—in the middle a pair of longitudinal stripes, abbreviated

behind, and, on each side, another stripe, abbreviated in front; in the other specimen

these stripes are not distinctly marked. The surface of the thorax and abdomen are

finely, but densely punctate. A pale yellow, more or less recumbent pubescence is

visible principally on the anterior half of the thorax and on the last two segments of the

abdomen; on the pleure are more dense and villose pale yellow hairs; some stiff black

hairs among the yellow ones on the thorax, especially round the root of the wings and

at the base of the scutellum. The pubescence of the eyes is a generic character. The

tarsi, especially on the underside, are beset with short rufous hairs, so much so that the

hind pair appears almost rufous, although the ground-colour is black. Tegule yellowish-

brown, with a black margin. Wings of a uniform pale-brownish tinge, with black

veins ; the second vein ending in the first close before its tip; the anterior branch of the

third vein reaching the costa at the tip of the first vein. ‘Two specimens (the one is a

male, the other has the end of the abdomen injured). I dedicate this species to

Dr. Scriba, who kindly gave me the specimens. |

N.B.—The venation of this species differs from that of the Lasi@ whose wings have

been figured by Wiedemann (Aussereur. zweill. Ins. i. t. 4. f 8, and ii. t. 9. f. 2), or by

Guérin (Iconogr. t. 94. f. 9): the second vein ending in the first, and not in the costa,

* Lasia is also in use in Coleoptera, but Wiedemann’s name dates sixteen years earlier than that of Hope.

LASTA.—CERATURGUS. 167

and the anterior branch of the third vein reaching the costa at the very end of the

first vein.

That the venation in the genus Lasia is not always the same is proved by L. kletti,

O. Sacken (cf. Lieut. Wheeler’s Report on the Expl. and Surveys &c. v. Zool. p. 804),

in which the second vein reaches the costa at the end of the first (compare the figure,

l.¢.). The species is from Arizona, and not unlike Z. scribe in its general appearance.

Lasia auricoma, Westw. (Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. v. p. 93), from Brazil, to judge from

the description, may resemble ZL. scribe; but it is only half an inch long; the tarsi are

said to be “lutei,” the tegule “ chalybee.”

Fam. ASILIDA.

Section I. DASYPOGONINA.

LEPTOGASTER.

Leptogaster, Meigen, in Illiger’s Magaz. 1803; Klassif. 1804.

1. Leptogaster ——?

Nineteen species of Leptogaster from North America have been described. I have

three Mexican species before me, two from Ciudad in Durango, collected by Mr. Forrer,

and one from Northern Sonora, collected by Mr. Morrison; Ido not venture to describe

these, though some of the existing descriptions very nearly apply to them; the identi-

fication in any case would not by any means be certain. One of the species from

Ciudad, for instance, nearly answers the description of L. pictipes, Loew, from Illinois.

Two species have been previously described from Mexico :—

Leptogaster fervens, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. ii. p. 646.

truquii, Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii. p. 87, t. 2. £ 18.—Mexico, Yautepec.

CERATURGUS.

Ceraturgus, Wiedemann, Analecta ent. &c. p. 12 (1824).

There is not a single representative of this genus in the collections before me; the

Central-American species previously described are :—

Ceraturgus dimidiatus, Macq. Dipt. Exot. Suppl. ii. p. 35 (Dasypogon); Walker,

List &c. vi. p. 428 (Dasypogon); Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii. p. 61.—Mexico.

rufipennis, Macq. loc. cit. p. 32 (Dasypogon); Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii.

p-. 99.—Mexico.

vitripennis, Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii. p. 60.—Mexico, Cuantla.

geniculatus, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1878, p. 443.—Mexico.

168 DIPTERA.

MICROSTYLUM.

Microstylum, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. i. 2, p. 26 (1838).

The only described Central-American species is :—

Microstylum fulvigaster, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1878, p. 410.—Mexico.

OSPRIOCERUS.

Ospriocerus, Loew, Centur. vii. no. 51 (1866).

1. Ospriocerus 2

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

Two specimens from the above-named locality differ from all the described species in

having the abdomen, including the venter, red, with only the first segment and the

anterior corners of the second black, and the eighth segment darker. The colouring

in this genus being variable, it is possible that these specimens are varieties of described

species. The other characters defining the species have not been sufficiently insisted

on in the descriptions, and under such circumstances I cannot determine whether the

species before me is new or not.

2. Ospriocerus s#acus.

Dasypogon eacus, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. 1. p. 390.

Ospriocerus eacus, O. Sacken, Western Dipt. p. 290’.

Asilus (Dasypogon) abdominalis, Say, Long’s Second Exped. p. 875°; Compl. Wr. i. p. 255.

(?) Dasypogon spathulatus, Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii. p. 82, t. 1. f. 9° (synonymy apud Loew, Centur.

vil. no. 51).

Hab. Western Unitep States ! 2,—Mexico 2,

ABLAUTATUS.

Ablautus, Loew, Centur. vii. no. 63 (1866).

Ablautatus, Loew, Berl. ent. Zeit. 1874, p. 377.

1. Ablautatus trifarius ?

Ablautatus trifarius, Loew, Centur. vil. no. 63.

I have a single specimen from Northern Sonora, which I doubtfully refer to this

species.

STENOPOGON.

Stenopogon, Loew, Linn. Entom. u. p. 453 (1847).

This genus, as well as Scleropogon, is abundantly represented in New Mexico and

STENOPOGON.—DIZONIAS, 169:

California, and for this reason must be rather common in Mexico. There are no

specimens in the collection before me.

The only species described by earlier authors are :—

Stenopogon fuscolimbatum, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1878, p. 421.—Mexico.

Dasypogon (Stenopogon) truquit, Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii. p. 76, t. 1. f. 10.—

Mexico. (This is a Scleropogon.)

ARCHILESTRIS.

Archilestes, Schiner, Verh. z.-b. Ges. Wien, 1866, p. 672.

Archilestris, Loew, Berl. ent. Zeit. 1874, p. 377.

1. Archilestris magnificus.

Dasypogon magnificus, Walker, List &c. vi. p. 427°.

Dasypogon (Microstylum) magnificum, Bellardi, Saggio &c, ii. p. 79, t. 1. f£. 11°; Schiner, Reise d.

Novara, Zool. iii. Abth. i. p. 168°.

Hab. Mexico }, near the city (Craveri, Sallé), Yautepec (Zrugqui?), Huastec (de Saus-

sure), Ventanas (Forrer).—Sovuta AMERICA °.

I have three specimens from Ventanas. These have the third joint of the antenne

distinctly beset with hairs on the upperside, although Schiner asserts the contrary.

DIZONIAS.

Dizonias, Loew, Centur. vii. no. 53 (1866).

1. Dizonias Q

Hab. Mexico, Presidio (forrer).

A single male before me resembles D. bicinctus, Loew, Cent. vil. no. 54, but differs

in having greyish cross-bands at the base of segments 3~6, similar to the whitish ones

on segments 2 and 3 of D. bicinctus; the lowest hairs of the mystax are white; a few

bristles on the post-alar callus and in front of the scutellum are likewise white; the

segment preceding the male forceps has a fringe of snow-white hairs; the front coxe

are beset with whitish hairs.

In my Catal. N.-Am. Dipt. 1878, Note 103, pp. 280, 231, I have stated the reasons

why I regard D. guadrimaculatus, Bellardi (Saggio &c. ii. p. 80, t. 1. f. 8), as the same

species as D. bicinctus, Dr. Loew’s objections notwithstanding. I have also men-

tioned specimens where the white abdominal cross-bands are invisible. For these

reasons I cannot, without further evidence, treat the specimen before me as a new

species. D. dicinctus has a wide distribution. Van der Wulp had a specimen from the

Argentine Republic (cf. Tijdschr. voor Ent. xxv. p. 96); this also has whitish hairs on

the front coxe.

BIOL. CENTR.“AMER., Dipt., February 1887. Zz

170 DIPTERA.

2. Dizonias ——?

. Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison}.

A single male, black, with the abdomen, except the dorsal side of the two basal

segments, red. I do not perceive any white cross-bands on the abdomen. This speci-

men cannot therefore be identified with the descriptions of either D. phaenicurus, Loew,

Cent. vii. no. 53 (Mexico, Tamaulipas), or D. (Dasypogon) lucasi, Bellardi, Saggio &c.

ii. p. 81, t. 1. f. 7 (Mexico); nevertheless, it may be merely a variety of either.

STICHOPOGON.

Stichopogon, Loew, Linn. Ent. ii. p. 500 (1847).

1. Stichopogon catulus, sp. n., 3.

Abdomen black, the front angles of segments 2-7 filled up with large triangles of grey pollen.

Length 5:5-6°5 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

Face silvery, the beard and mystax white; front and occiput black, thinly greyish-

pollinose; antenne black. Thorax and legs with a thin greyish pollen on black

ground; the sides of the thoracic dorsum, along the dorso-pleural suture, having, in a

certain light, a white reflection; pleure hoary pollinose. Abdomen black; segment 1

greyish on the sides; segments 2—7 each with a large grey-pollinose triangle in the

anterior corners, one of the angles of the triangle reaching the hind margin, the other

quite or nearly touching the corresponding angle of the opposite side; eighth segment

grey. Halteres pale yellowish; tip of the knob sometimes darker. Wings hyaline. I

have two specimens from the above locality.

2. Stichopogon trifasciatus.

Dasypogon trifasciatus, Say, Proc. Acad. Phil. i. p. 51+; Compl. Wr. ii. p. 64; Wiedem. Aussereur..

zweifl. Ins. i. p. 405.

Thereva plagiata, Harris, Catal. Ins. Mass.; Walker, List &c. 1. p. 228 *

Hab. Untrep Status 1 2.—Mextco, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

A single specimen from Sonora.

3. Stichopogon ——?

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

A single specimen of an almost uniform dingy greyish colour cannot be referred to

any of the described species.

STICHOPOGON.—PLANETOLESTES. 171

. The only other described species from our region is :—

Stichopogon (Dasypogon) candidus, Macq. Dipt. Ex. Suppl. i. p. 67; Bellardi,

Saggio &c. li. p. 78.—Mexico.

Syn. Dasypogon gelascens, Walker, Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond. n. ser. v. p. 277 [Bellardi].

Dasypogon fasciventris, Macq. Dipt. Ex. Suppl. iv. p. 69, t. 9. f. 13 [apud Bellardi].

HOLCOCEPHALA.

Holcocephala, Jaennicke, Neue exot. Dipt. p. 51 (1867).

Discocephala, Macquart (nomen preoc.).

1. Holcocephala longipennis.

Discocephala longipennis, Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii. p. 286, t. 1. f. 14°.

Discocephala divisa, Walker, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. n. ser. v. p. 279’.

Hab. Mexico ?, Jalapa (Truqui!); Costa Rica, Cache (Rogers).

I have a single specimen from Costa Rica which agrees with Prof. Bellardi’s type ;

the latter has the dark spot at the tip of the wings much larger than the figure

represents it to be. Walker’s species is the same.

The other species from Mexico hitherto described (there are none from other parts

of Central America) are :—

Holcocephala (Discocephala) affinis, Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii. p. 86, t. 1. £13.

( ) deltoidea, Bellardi, 1. c. p. 85, t. 1. f. 12.

( ) minuta, Bellardi, 1. c. p. 83.-—-Tuxpango.

—— (—— ) interlineata, Walk. Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. n. ser. v. p. 279.

—— (Dasypogon) nitida, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. ii. p. 603; Bellardi,

lic. p. 84 (Jalapa, Truqut).

PLANETOLESTES.

Planetolestes, Arribalzaga, Asilid. Argent. p. 8 (in Anal. Soc. Cient. Argent. viii. pp. 145-153) (1879).

1. Planetolestes secabilis.

Dasypogon secabilis, Walker, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. n. ser. v. p. 276°.

Dasypogon (Saropogon?) secabilis, Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii. p. 63, tab.i. f. 4’.

Hab. Mexico}, Tampico, Cuantla (de Saussure *), Oaxaca (Sallé*), Cordova (Hége) ;

GuaTEMALa, Teleman (Champion); Panama, Bugaba 800 to 1500 feet (Champion).

‘J have compared the types in the British Museum and in the collection of Prof.

Bellardi in Turin. Walker’s description is very imperfect: on p. 275, line 1, for

‘front’ it should read ‘ face’; line 12, for [wings] ‘ cinereous,’ ‘ yellowish-brown.’

In Prof. Bellardi’s description the knob of the halteres is described as “‘ black ;” of

z 2

172 DIPTERA.

the six specimens in this author’s collection, five have yellow halteres, which is the

usual colour, and one only has them black. Among the specimens before me a

single one from Cordova has a deep black knob to the halteres ; in the three others

the knob is yellow. I do not know how to explain this unusual anomaly. (Van der

Wulp has also noticed this discrepancy in Bellardi’s description, ef. Tijdschr. voor

Ent. xxv. p. 90.)

Arribélzaga (J. c. pp. 6 & 73) and van der Wulp (/. c.) have fully discussed the

further synonymy of this species. Certainty on those points can only be obtained

through the comparison of original specimens. However, I agree with Arribalzaga

that, judging from the description, Senobasis awricinctus, Schiner, cannot be the same

species. About the rest of the synonymy, as adduced by Arribalzaga (‘ Catalogo de los

Dipteros &c. p. 139), I cannot express any opinion.

N.B.—I do not follow Arribélzaga and van der Wulp in calling Blepharepium the

genus to which this species belongs; I think that it should be called Planetolestes,

Arribalzaga, as this author was the first to point out the principal characters which

distinguish it from the allied genus Diogmites, (Arribalzaga) Loew, namely, the absence

of bristles on the scutellum, and the different length of the pulvilli on the front and

hind legs. The characters of Blepharepium, Rond., are applicable to several species of

Diogmites with an abdomen coarctate at the base (e. g. D. lindigii, Schin.), and I have

no doubt that Rondani himself would have taken the latter species for a Blepharepium.

Therefore Blepharepium and Planetolestes are not one and the same genus, the former

being based on illusory characters.

Planetolestes differs from Diogmites thus :—

(1) It has no bristles on the scutellum, the latter being much less projecting; in

Diogmites there is a pair of long bristles. (2) The pulvilli on the four posterior legs

hardly reach the middle of the ungues, and are therefore much shorter than those on

the front legs. (3) The macrochetz on the sides of the mesonotum are smaller; on

the post-alar callus one is not half as long as the other. (4) There are no macrochete

in front of the scutellum; in Diogmites prescutellar rows of bristles are of common

occurrence.

Arribdlzaga says there is no style at the tip of the antenne; I perceive a minute

style in my specimens—more distinct in the male, almost obsolete in the female. He

correctly describes: a pair of longitudinal rows of minute bristles on the mesothorax ;

but in my female specimens I perceive a third, intermediate, row which I do not see in

the male; the lateral rows are double. The denticulate projection at the base of the

metatarsus noticed by Arribdlzaga also exists in Diogmites, as well as in other Dasy-

pogonina provided with a hook on the front tibie.

DIOGMITES. 173

DIOGMITES.

Diogmites, Lioew, Centur. vii. no. 36 (1866).

(?) Deromyia, Philippi, Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, xv. p. 705 (1865).

In my attempts to determine the species of this genus, I have taken into account,

almost.exclusively, the described species from America north of Panama, and enume-

rated in my ‘ Catalogue of North-American Diptera’ (1878). A good many species

from South America, belonging here, have been described by different authors; these

are scattered in the genera Dasypogon, Saropogon, Seilopogon, Deromyia, &c. I deem

it, in most cases, impossible to determine-such species from descriptions, especially

when the specimens to be determined are from a distant locality. For the North-

American species I have had the advantage of examining Dr. Loew’s and Prof. Bellardi’s

types; by this means, if not attaining certainty, I at least increase the probability of

the correctness of my determinations.

Further study, based on a larger number of specimens from different localities, will

perhaps reveal new and more precise characters for the definition of the species of

Diogmites. Those used up to the present time are not sufficient. The difference, for

example, between D. ternatus, Loew, and D. misellus, Loew, seems, on paper, clear

enough ; but, with the types before me, I remained uncertain to which of them to refer

certain specimens. I have great faith in Loew’s eye for specific differences ; but these

differences must not only be felt, but defined, and in the ahove-quoted instance the

definition does not seem sufficient. The colour of the front end of the thoracic stripe,

the presence or absence of clouds in certain cells, and the colour of legs and palpi, are not

altogether “ constant characters.” In grouping specimens of Diogmites one is in doubt

whether to adopt a very large number of species or else to overlook apparently important

differences. I shall have occasion, in the sequel, to give utterance to many doubts of

this kind, and Prof. Bellardi has also expressed them in several passages (compare

this author’s remarks about D. cuagtlensis, D. rubescens, D. pseudojalapensis, &c.).

The greatest difficulties are met with in the group with three distinct velvety-black

thoracic stripes on golden ground, comprising the species ternatus, Loew, misellus, Loew,

rubescens, Bell., affinis, Bell., dubius, Bell., jalapensis, Bell., and pseudqjalapensis, Bell.

I believe that all these species are insufficiently defined.

I retain here, as I did in my ‘Catalogue of North-American Diptera’ (1878), the

name given to this genus by Loew in preference to Deromyia, the date of which is but

one year earlier; the latter applies to South-American species of a somewhat different

structure. In all the North-American species known to me the fourth posterior cell is

closed a considerable distance from the margin ; whereas it is open in Deromyia fulvipes,

Phil., and closed on the margin of the wing in D. gracilis, Phil. Should even the

generic identity be proved, Deromyia may remain as a subgenus ; but a change of name

in presence of such a difference in the typical species cannot, I think, be warranted.

174 DIPTERA.

Synopsis of the Species of Diogmites mentioned below.

1. Wings altogether brown . 1. saillei, Bell.

Wings not altogether brown . 2.

2. Prevailing colour black; abdomen uniformly black, bing 3. memnon, sp. 0.

Prevailing colour not black . . 3.

8. Thoracic stripes coalescent, forming a large deep- black spot on

the thorax . . . . 5. tau, sp. n.

Thoracic stripes separated by golden lines woe ee A

4, Palpi black or dark brown . . . . . eee + e+ e + 5

Palpi reddish. a 6)

5. Small species, 12-14 millimn. ; abdominal segments darker in

the middle, and therefore with lighter hind margins 7. jalapensis, Bell.

Large species, about 23 millim.; abdomen rather unicolorous,

the hind margins of the segments but little lighter . . . 8. Sp.

6. Abdomen deep black, with bright golden hind margins to the

segments; thorax with three deep-black stripes on golden

ground, the middle stripe bifurcate in front . . 2. lindigi, Schin.

Abdomen brownish-red, the hind margins of the segments con-

colorous ; thorax with three velvety-black stripes, the inter-

mediate stripe reddish in front 6. rubescens, Bell.

Abdomen brownish, the hind margins of the segments with a dull

orichalceous reflection; thoracic stripes brown rather than

black, the lateral ones obsolete . . . . + . +. . « 4 cuantlensis, Bell.

1. Diogmites salle#i. (Tab. III. fig. 8, 3.)

Dasypogon (Saropogon) sallei, Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii. p. 70°.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison), Ventanas 2000 feet, Presidio (Forrer),

‘Tuxpango 1.

The expression “alis subfuscis ad basim hyalinis” in Prof. Bellardi’s description is

somewhat misleading: it refers to the anal angle of the wing, which is sometimes of a

paler tinge ; the root of the wing is brown. I have seen the types in Turin.

2. Diogmites lindigi.

Dasypogon lindigii, Schiner, Reise d. Novara, Zool. ii. Abth.i. Dipt. p. 165°.

Hab. Panama, Bugaba 800 to 1500 feet (Champion).—Sovurn America},

The description agrees well, except the words “‘ Hiiften weiss schimmernd.” The

coxee are pale orichalceous.

8. Diogmites memnon, sp.n.,¢ 9. (Tab. III. fig. 9.)

Dark brown; distal half of the abdomen black, shining; yellowish-brown stripes along the dorso-pleural

suture only; legs chestnut-brown.

Length 20-24 millim.

Hab. Costa Rica; Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 2000 to 3000 feet (Champion).

DIOGMITES. 175

Face reddish-brown pollinose; bristles of the mystax variable—whitish, yellow,

brown, or a mixture of these colours; front brown; the occiput black, occipital orbits

pale orichalceo-pollinose ; palpi black. Antenne reddish-brown, beset with black hairs ;

last joint elongate-lanceolate, about one third longer than the two preceding joints

together. Thoracic dorsum on each side with a brownish-yellow pollinose stripe

reaching from the humerus to the scutellum; within and without these stripes there is,

on each side, an irregular, somewhat broader, deep velvety-black stripe; the remaining

dorso-central space is of a dull opaque smoky-black, and shows, in the shape of darker

black and greyish indistinct stripes, traces of the usual dorso-central stripes. Scutellum

and the sides of the metanotum brownish-yellow pollinose ; pleure velvety-black, with

brownish-pollinose reflections. Halteres yellowish-brown. Abdomen slightly coarctate ;

segments 1-3 brownish-pollinose, with spots of yellowish pollen in the hind corners; the

posterior half of segment 3 and the remaining segments shining black. Coxe whitish-

pollinose, with whitish hairs. Legs chestnut-brown; hind femora, except the base,

darker; sometimes the other femora and the tibie are more or less infuscate. Wings

with a yolk-yellow tinge in the antero-proximal region ; a brownish-grey shadow fills

the following cells:—the marginal, the first submarginal (except a narrow space along

the third vein), the second submarginal, the distal half of the first posterior, and the

second and third posterior, and forms triangles in the discal and fourth and fifth

posterior cells; the anal and axillary cells are subhyaline, with a slight yellowish tinge,

and without shadow, or mere traces of it. Venation normal; veins reddish.—A male

and four females. ,

N.B.—The wings of this species resemble those of the Mexican D. nigripes, Bellardi,

of which I have seen the type; but I did not recognize the same species in it; nor do

I recognize it in the description.

4. Diogmites onapitlensis.

Dasypogon (Saropogon) cuaptiensis, Bellardi, Saggio &c. 11. p. 67°.

Hab. Mexico, Cuaytla (de Saussure +); Guatemata, San Gerdénimo (Champion). he fecal 4,

. ry ’ )

I have two males and one female from Guatemala, which I have compared with the uauth beneg

types in Turin; the description also agrees very well. The dorso-central stripe arene, aLreankf

(Bellardi’s ‘‘ macula intermedia”) is very variable in the intensity of the colouring and Cua atlense's

the distinctness of the median dividing line. The third joint of the antenne has the Tacs, Qe-Yun

usual short bristles on its upperside. As Prof. Bellardi says, this species is very diffi-

, ; Aer 6X0, 279,

cult to characterize. The types alone would not have satisfied me; it was the agreement

of the description, which I read later, that convinced me. The usual thoracic stripes of

D. cuaptlensis are brown rather than black, the lateral ones often obsolete ; the brownish

abdomen has, along the hind margins of the segments, a dull orichalceous reflection ;

the wings have a dingy yellowish tinge, upon which the grey shadows are but little

<4. tt

176 DIPTERA.

_ visible, although they are rather extensive, nearly filling the discal cell and the discal

ends of the anal and axillary cells; the abdomen is not at all coarctate, but gently

tapering towards the tip. |

5. Diogmites tau, sp.n., 9. (Tab. III. fig. 11.)

Thoracic stripes deep black, coalescent, the anterior end of the intermediate one expanded into a distinct

knob; the shadows on the distal half of the wings rather dark.

Length 23-24 millim.

Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 3000 to 4000 feet (Champion).

Head orichalceo-pollinose ; mystax whitish ; palpi brown, with black hairs; antenne

rufous. Thoracic dorsum with a golden-pollinose border all round (in front of the

scutellum this golden border shows an expansion, which is emarginate in the middle

and fills out the space between the posterior ends of the lateral thoracic stripes); the

disc deep velvety-black, the three usual stripes coalescing completely (the anterior end

of the middle stripe, in front of the collar, expanding into a stout deep black knob,

slightly brownish anteriorly ; on each side of the middle stripe is an orichalceo-pollinose

excision between this knob and the anterior end of the lateral stripes) ; a slight yellow

margin along the transverse thoracic suture. Abdomen very slightly coarctate; of a

rich reddish-brown, somewhat lighter along the posterior margins of the segments ; the

surface beset with moderately dense, short, appressed reddish hairs. Halteres brownish.

Front cox orichalceo-pollinose, with sparse long yellow hair. Legs brownish-rufous,

the tarsi black; metatarsi and, on the four anterior legs, the second joint more or less

dark rufous; the usual short rufous pile on the inner sides of the front and hind tibize

and on the metatarsi quite conspicuous. Wings subhyaline, with an almost imper-

ceptible yellowish tinge; the usual shadows brownish-grey, quite conspicuous, and

filling the distal end of the marginal, the distal half of the first submarginal, the whole

of the second submarginal, the distal half of the first posterior, and the whole of

the second and third posterior cells; the discal cell contains a large, and the fourth

posterior cell a smaller, grey triangle, and the fifth cell a small shadow; the anal and

axillary cells are subhyaline, without shadow.—A single female. |

D. goniostigma, Bellardi (Saggio &c. ii. p. 65, t. 1. f. 6), from Mexico, has a thorax

somewhat resembling that of D. taw; it is, however, much smaller, and also differs in

other respects.

6. Diogmites rubescens.

Dasypogon (Saropogon) rubescens, Bellardi, Saggio &c. 1. p. 71?.

Hah. Mexico (de Saussure +1), Tuxpango (Sumichrast 1), Orizaba.

To Prof. Bellardi’s description I would add that the ocellar bristles are very short, and

that the hind femora have, on the antero-superior side, a brown stripe, which is more or

less distinct in different specimens, sometimes evanescent; the tips of the femora and

the distal third of the tibiz are also more or less dark. The abdomen is very slightly

DIOGMITES. 177

coarctate at the suture between the second and third segments; the segments do not

have any distinct hind margin of a lighter colour (though, when the specimen is looked

at with the end of the abdomen towards the light, a golden reflection is visible along

the margins), and appear to be only slightly darker brown on the disc. The grey

shadow on the wings does not occupy the proximal ends of the second submarginal and

the second and third posterior cells ; the triangle in the fourth posterior cell sometimes

coalesces with the shadow in the third posterior cell, sometimes it is separated from it

by a hyaline interval along the intervening vein; there is a grey triangle in the discal

cell, and grey shadows in the anal and axillary cells: all these shadows vary in extent

in different specimens. The reddish anterior end of the dorso-central stripe seems to

be characteristic.

N.B.—I have before me two Mexican specimens which Prof. Bellardi allowed me to

take from among his duplicates; these have the short appressed hair on the abdomen

black. Three examples from Costa Rica, Cache (Rogers), have this pubescence “ golden-

yellow”; the shadows of the wings darker, although their distribution is the same;

and the brown stripe &c. on the hind femora &c. very dark. Do the latter belong to

the same species ?

Two specimens from Mexico, Presidio (Forrer), are like the preceding, only the discs

of the abdominal segments are much darker, thus almost leaving a lighter border along

the hind margins. Do these specimens belong to a different species ?

D. misellus, Loew, Centur. vii. no. 39 (United States), must be very like D. rubescens ;

it has the middle thoracic stripe in front, and the palpi, reddish; and the anal cell is

described as having no shadow within it (in D. rubescens the shadow is very small).

That D. misellus is the same as D. winthemi, Wiedem., as Dr. Williston thinks (Tr.

Am. Ent. Soc. xi. p. 24), may be true, but requires further proof. ‘The comparison with

a type specimen, unless undertaken by some one who has made the genus a special

study, is not convincing. In fact, it is doubtful whether Wiedemann himself had suffi-

ciently specialized his species to be aware of its characteristics; his description is too

short, and would apply to many Diogmites.

7. Diogmites jalapensis.

Dasypogon (Saropogon) jalapensis, Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii. p. 65, t. 1. f. 57.

Hab. Mexico, Jalapa (Truqui 1).

I have before me a duplicate specimen kindly given to me by Prof. Bellardi. It

principally differs from D. rubescens by its smaller size, 12 to 13 millim., by its dorso-

central thoracic stripe not being reddish in front, and by its black palpi; the hind femora

have no trace of a darker stripe—they are reddish-yellow, black at the tip; the abdo-

minal segments are brownish in the middle, their margins being more yellowish ; and

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., March 1887. . oa

178 DIPTERA.

the grey triangles in the discal and fourth posterior cells are coalescent with the grey

along the apex of the wing.

A specimen from Guatemala, Teleman, Vera Paz (Champion), has the same characters,

and may, perhaps, belong here; but it is a little larger, 15 to 16 millim. ; the abdomen

has parallel sides, while in D. jalapensis it is slightly coarctate; and although the grey

shadows are much more intense, the anal and axillary cells are free from them, which is

not the case in D. jalapensis. The Mexican D. pseudojalapensis, Bellardi, Saggio &c.,

Append. p. 25, is an allied species.

8. Diogmites —— ?

Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).

I have a male and a female from the above locality, about 23 millim. long. 1 com-

pared them with the types of D. ternatus, Loew, in that author’s collection in Berlin.

They are a little larger; the palpi are black and not reddish ; the tarsi, except the first

joint, black ; the ocellar-tubercle black.

The following previously described species also belong to this genus :—

Diogmites angustipennis, Loew, Centur. vii. no. 41.—Kansas; Mexico, Mata-

moros.

Dasypogon (Saropogon) affinis, Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii. p. 73.—Mexico.

( ) bigoti, Bellardi, 1. c. p. 70.—Mexico.

( ) dbrunneus (Wiedem.), Bellardi, 1. c. p. 67.—Mexico.

( ) craverit, Bellardi, 1. c. p. 68.—Mexico. This species will be

hardly recognizable ; the two typical specimens were ina very bad con-

dition at the time when they were described.

( ) dubius, Bellardi, 1. c. p. 74.—Mexico, Cuantla.

( ) goniostigma, Bellardi, 1. c. p. 65, t. 1. f 6.—Mexico, Playa

Vicente.

( ) nigripes, Bellardi, 1. c. p. 75.—Mexico, Playa Vicente.

-——— pseudojalapensis, Bellardi, 1. c. Append. p. 25.—Mexico, Tuxpango.

Dasypogon duillius, Walker, List &c. ii. p. 340, from Honduras, is also a Diogmites,

and not represented amongst the species of that genus before me; it has infuscated

wings, like D. sallei, and is represented by a single specimen in the British Museum.

SARAPOGON.—LASTAURUS. 179

SAROPOGON.

Saropogon, Loew, Linn, Ent. ii. p. 489 (1847).

1. Saropogon senex, sp.n., 3.

Black, including the legs; head and thorax grey-pollinose ; wings brown.

Length about 9 millim.

Hab. MExico, Presidio (Forrer).

Face silvery-grey, almost white; bristles of the mystax black; front and occiput

thickly grey-pollinose, with black bristles. Thoracic dorsum and pleure thickly grey-

pollinose ; in the middle of the dorsum the place of the usual stripes is indicated by a

less dense pollen, showing more of the blackish ground-colour; macrochete black.

Knob of the halteres pallid whitish, the stem brownish at the base. Abdomen, including

the genitals, shining black, with a bluish reflection. Legs black, shining. Wings brown,

lighter at the tip; fourth posterior cell closed near the margin.—A single specimen.

N.B.—In front of the mesothoracic suture (that is, in the angle formed by it and the

dorso-pleural suture) I perceive three preesutural macrochete and even a small fourth

one. In the European specimens of Saropogon which I can now compare I perceive

but two presutural macrocheete.

The following species from our region have been referred to the genus Saropogon by

previous writers, but seem to be of doubtful position :—

Saropogon bicolor, Jaennicke, Neue exot. Dipt. p. 49.—Panama.

Dasypogon nigripennis, Macq. Dipt. Exot. Suppl. i. p. 34, t. 1. f. 6; Bellardi,

Saggio &c. ii. p. 75 (Saropogon).—Mexico.

—— (Saropogon) tricolor, Bellardi, 1. c. p. 72.—Mexico.

( ) virescens, Bellardi, 1. c. p. 69.—Mexico.

LASTAURUS.

Lastaurus, Loew, Bemerk. iiber die Fam. Asiliden, p. 11 (Berlin, 1851).

1. Lastaurus anthracinus. (Tab. III. fig. 10, 3.)

Lastaurus anthracinus, Loew, Bemerk. iiber die Fam. Asiliden, p. 12°.

Hab. Mexico!; Guaremata, Purula (Champion).

I have two male and two female specimens from Guatemala which very probably

belong to one species, although they differ in the colouring of the abdomen.

Male. The whole body, including the legs and antenne, uniformly velvety-black,

opaque ; the last two segments of the abdomen beset with pale yellow, sometimes slightly

reddish, hairs ; the genitals with black hairs; wings tinged with brown, and with metal-

lescent blue reflections.

2 a2

180 DIPTERA.

Female. The whole body, including the legs and antenne, uniformly velvety-black,

opaque, except the last four abdominal segments, which are black, shining, and with a

thinner covering of hairs; wings as in the male, only a little darker.—Length

22-28 millim.

Besides the difference in the colouring (which may be variable) this species differs

from L. mutabilis, Loew, in the following points:—1. The hairs on the abdomen are

much shorter, but more dense. 2. The last four abdominal segments are distinctly

longer and broader than the corresponding segments of L. mutabilis; this difference is

especially visible in the female. 3. The legs are stouter; the hind tibia are, on the

upper surface, distinctly arcuate, especially at the base; they are straighter in the

other species. 4. The wings are darker brown, and the bluish reflection is more

distinct.

N.B.—The synonymy with D. lugubris, Macq. (Dipt. Exot. Suppl. iv. p. 64), alleged

by Schiner, is very doubtful.

2. Lastaurus mutabilis.

Lastaurus mutabilis, Loew, Bemerk. iiber die Fam. Asiliden, p. 127.

Hab. Costa Rica, Rio Sucio (Rogers); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion).—

Sout America, Colombia and Venezuela} (Berlin Museum). |

A male, from Rio Sucio, has the abdomen, beginning with the second segment,

clothed with long pale yellow hairs; the genitals beset with rufous hairs. A female

from Volcan de Chiriqui has the hair on the abdomen more intensely yellow. I have

seen Loew’s types in Berlin. The species is very variable in the colouring of the hairs

on the abdomen. I would not call it “ betrachtlich kleiner” than L. anthracinus.

N.B.—The synonymy of this species with Morimna mallophoroides, Walk. Ins.

Saunders. p. 104, t. 4. f. 2, suspected by Schiner (Verh. z.-b. Ges. Wien, 1867, p. 373), is

possible ; but there are several contradictions between the diagnosis and the description,

and both had better be dropped. The type is not in the British Museum.

The synonymy with D. fallax, Macq. Dipt. Exot. Suppl. iv. p. 63 (Colombia, tempe-

rate region), is also possible ; Macquart’s description is perfectly unmeaning.

NICOCLES.

Nicocles, Jaennicke, Abh. Senkenb. Ges. vi. p. 354 (1867) ; Neue exot. Dipt. p. 47 (1867).

Pygostolus, Loew, Berl. ent. Zeit. x. p. 16 (1866); Centur. vil. no. 28; id. x. no. 24 (nomen

preeocc.).

The only species described is :—

Nicocles analis, Jaennicke, Neue exot Dipt. p. 47, t. 1. f. 18.--Mexico.

COPHURA. 181

COPHURA, gen. nov.*

Head as in Nicocles, disciform, with prominent eyes; face very slightly convex, almost flat; mystax composed

of a row of a few bristles placed at a short distance above the oral edge, and a second, still smaller, row

upon the edge itself; the rest of the face microscopically pubescent; ocellar tubercle salient, and with

four moderately long bristles, the front pair the shortest ; occipital bristles rather weak. Antenne: first

joint subcylindrical, the second obconical and nearly of the same length; the third joint about the length

of the first two taken together, or a little longer, sublinear or elongate-elliptical, with a short, subfusiform

style ending in a short, bristle-like point. Thorax gibbous, like that of Nicocles ; the usual bristles present

—three presutural, and a number of weak prascutellar, but none on the scutellum (in Nicocles two).

Abdomen rather flat, smooth, without punctures; ending in the male in a protruding forceps, in the

female in an ovipositor, bearing a coronet of spinules. Legs as in Micocles, of moderate length and

strength, with rather weak femora and straight tibia. Wings shorter and broader than in Micocles; first

and fourth posterior cells broadly open; anal cell closed near the margin.

This new genus belongs to the group of “ Dasypogonina” with a hook at the end of

the front tibize, and is allied to Micocles, which it resembles in the coloration of the

thorax and the legs. The abdomen, however, is flatter, and not expanded in the male,

as in that genus ; the third joint of the antenne is shorter, less linear, and with a stouter

and shorter style; the wings are comparatively shorter and broader, the venation similar ;

and the scutellum without macrochete.

Cophura has something of Holcocephala in its general appearance and colouring,

and might, at first sight, be mistaken for a species of that genus; but the head is much

narrower, and the eyes less projecting.

I deem it necessary to add that my comparison with Nicocles, in its detail, is based

on a single female of that genus.

Of Blacodes, Loew (Blax, olim), which belongs n the same vicinity, I have no speci-

mens for comparison ; the description of the antenne and of the venation proves it to

be a different genus.

1. Cophura sodalis, sp.n., ¢ ¢. (Tab. 1II. fig. 13, 2.)

Head and thorax yellowish-grey pollinose; the latter with three deep black stripes, the median one double ;

abdomen reddish-yellow, shining ; wings brownish.

Length, 3, 5-6 millim.; 9, 6-8 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Presidio (Forrer).

- Head yellowish-grey pollinose; mystax yellowish-white; antenne black. Thorax clothed

with the same kind of pollen, which, however, is yellower on the dorsum and greyer

on the pleure; the stripes well-marked, deep black—the dorso-central one distinctly

bisected by a longitudinal line, the latter anteriorly crossing over the collar (where it

is not bisected, however) and posteriorly dove-tailed and stopping short a considerable

distance before the scutellum; the lateral stripes represented by an oval, deep black

spot, bisected by the suture; macrochete pale yellowish ; scutellum yellowish-grey

pollinose. Abdomen reddish-yellow, shining, glabrous, or rather beset with sparse,

* «woos, blunt, truncate ; vipa, tail.

182 DIPTERA.

short, yellowish hairs (visible under the microscope only); forceps of the male brown,

beset with yellowish hairs; in some female specimens the last two segments are also

infuscate. Halteres reddish-yellow, the knob remarkably large. Legs: prevailing

colour reddish-yellow, with yellowish hairs and spines; the four anterior femora

brown on their proximal half, the brown often occupying two thirds of the femur; the

hind femora sometimes brownish on the upperside; the tibiee brown at the tip, as

well as the single joints of the tarsi (the tarsi in some specimens, and especially the

hind pair, might as well be described as brown, with the bases of the joints yellow).

Wings uniformly infuscated, including the anal cell and alula; the inside of some of

the cells paler (this varies in different specimens). I have before me one male and nine

females from the above-mentioned locality.

Section IJ. LAPHRINA.

DORYCLUS.

Doryclus, Jaennicke, Abh. Senkenb. Ges. vi. p. 365 (1867) ; Neue exot. Dipt. p. 58, t. 2. f. 3 (1867).

Megapoda, Macquart, Hist. nat. des Ins. Dipt. 1. p. 288 (1834) (nomen przocc.).

Ampyx, Walker, List &c. vii. p. 564 (1855) (nomen preocc.).

1. Doryclus varipennis.

Ampyx varipennis, Walker, List &c. vii. p. 564".

(?) Megapoda cyaneiventris, Macq. Dipt. Exot. Suppl. i. p. 71, t. 7. £. 12 (1846).

Hab. Guatemata, El Reposo (Champion).—Amazons, Santarem *.

A single female from Guatemala is identical with the Amazonian specimens of Ampyx

varipennis in the British Museum. The extent of the black on the legs, as well as the

intensity of the brown on the wings, varies in different specimens. Walker’s description

being short, I supplement it from the specimen before me.

Face brownish-red; palpi reddish; front and vertex dark reddish-brown, shining ;

antenne (broken; red in the Brit. Mus. specimen); occiput reddish-brown ; occipital

orbits silvery. Thorax: dorsum black, with a slight bluish opalescent reflection, and

with three stripes of greyish pollen—the intermediate one elongate-cuneiform and

longitudinally bisected by a black line, the lateral ones nearly reaching the scutellum ;

pleure reddish-brown, mixed with dark brown, shining, which colour encroaches upon

the mesonotum on its sides and in front. Abdomen metallic blue, with short, sparse,

whitish hairs; ovipositor black. Legs brownish-red, but with the tarsi, the anterior

tibie entirely, and the four hinder tibie at the tips, black. Wings with two pale

brownish cross-bands, which leave but little subhyaline on the distal half, though, in

addition to the ill-defined interval between these bands, there are subhyaline spaces

between the second submarginal and the third and fifth posterior cells.

N.B.—Schiner, Reise d. Novara, Zool. ii. Abth. i. 1, p. 156, recognized the identity

DORYCLUS.—ATOMOSIA. 183

of Ampyx, Walker (1855), with Megapoda, Macq. (1834); and Arribélzaga, Anal. Soc,

Cient. Argent. xiii. (1882) pp. 185 et seq., has shown that Megapoda is the same as

Doryclus, Jaenn. The three genera united contain seven described species, some of

which are probably synonymous. The species being apparently variable in the intensity

of their colouring, it would be unsafe to establish these synonyms merely upon

descriptions. Doryclus, like some “ Dasypogonina,” has a strong hook at the end

front tibie.

The synonymy of M. cyaneiventris, Macq., is very probable, but not certain.

PSEUDORUS.

Pseudorus, Walker, Ins. Saunders. Dipt. p. 103, t. 4. f. 5 (1858).

1. Pseudorus bicolor.

Pseudorus bicolor, Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii. p. 11, t. 1. f. 207.

Hab. Muxico, Playa Vicente (Sallé1); Guatemana, San Gerénimo (Champion).

I have compared a single specimen from Guatemala with Prof. Bellardi’s type, and

believe that it belongs to the same species. The Guatemalan example has the thorax

dark brown above, chestnut-brown on the pleure, and differs in this respect from

Bellardi’s description; the wings are uniformly brown (except the subhyaline spot

within the cells) and do not have the hyaline margin between the alula and the tip of

the sixth longitudinal vein, as indicated on the figure, but not mentioned in the

description. This is an accidental discoloration of one of the wings of the typical

specimen, as I ascertained in Turin. This species has only “ two” submarginal cells,

and not “three,” like P. piceus.

N.B.—Schiner says (Verh. z.-b. Ges. Wien, 1866, p. 653) that Pseudorus, although

figured with a closed marginal cell (he calls it subcostal cell), has in reality the marginal

cell open, and therefore bel ongs to the “ Dasypogonina” and not to the “ Laphrina.”

He had two specimens showing this structure. This is singular, because Walker,

‘Westwood, Bellardi, and myself have had specimens of Pseudorus with a closed mar-

ginal cell. I can only suppose that in Dr. Schiner’s specimens the edge of the wing

was somewhat folded, so as to conceal the narrow end of the marginal cell; in such a

case the second vein may appear as ending in the margin.

ATOMOSIA.

Atomosia, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. i. 2, p. 73 (1838).

The descriptions of Atomosie when read mostly leave the impression that they

represent one and the same species; nevertheless, as soon as we attempt to determine

a specimen it often happens that hardly any of the descriptions will be found to fit it

exactly. I have two species before me, neither of which I can recognize among some

forty existing descriptions of North- and South-American Atomosic.

184 DIPTERA.

1, Atomosia 2

Hab. Costa Rica, Cache (Rogers).

This insect has the usual metallic greenish-black body; the latter densely punc-

tate, the punctures being beset with minute golden hairs; the abdominal segments

edged with white, less distinctly so on the basal segments. Legs black, beset with the

usual hairs and bristles; the extreme base of the femora with a brownish-yellow ring,

which is narrow on the four anterior legs, much broader on the posterior pair ; knees

and the base of the tibize also brownish-yellow; hind tibie, except the distal third,

yellowish-brown. Wings greyish, their basal third more hyaline.

2. Atomosia mucida, sp.n.,¢ 9.

The black ground-colour hidden, especially on the thorax, by a dense, appressed pale golden pubescence ; pree-

scutellar callosities reddish-yellow ; legs pale yellowish, the fifth joint of the tarsi brown ; wings hyaline.

Length 8-9 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Presidio (forrer).

Head pale yellowish-white pollinose; mystax pale yellowish-white; beard purer

white. Antenne: first joint rather long, reddish, the third linear, about one and a

quarter times the length of the first two together, brown, sometimes reddish at the

base. Thorax: dorsum densely clothed with an appressed pale golden-yellowish pubes-

cence, concealing the dark ground-colour ; pleure grey-pollinose ; preescutellar callosities

reddish-yellow ; the bristles pale; scutellar macrochete rather weak. Halteres yellow,

the knob sometimes lemon-yellow, sometimes reddish. Abdomen of the usual shape

and with the usual punctate sculpture, clothed with a dense pale golden-yellowish

appressed pubescence, the pubescence not quite so dense as on the thorax ; the silvery

hind edges of the segments visible in a certain light only—those on segments 4 and 5.

more distinct than the others. Legs yellow or reddish-yellow; last tarsal joint, except

its base, brown or black ; ungues black, red at the base. Wings subhyaline; costa, and

the auxiliary and first veins, reddish-yellow, the other veins brown.—Five specimens.

N.B.—The structure of the antenne agrees with the genus Cerotainia, but that of

the first two posterior cells is not like that described by Schiner. Is Cerotainia a good

genus? I have no specimen for comparison.

The following species from Mexico (there are none from other parts of Central

America) described by earlier writers also belong to this genus :—

Atomosia beckeri, Jaennicke, Neue exot. Dipt. p. 51.

- (2) bigoti, Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii. p. 20.

macquarti, Bellardi, 1. c. p. 20.

sericans, Walker, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. n. ser, v. p. 282.

soror, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1878, p. 236.

ATOMOSIA.—LAPHRIA. 185

Atomosia tibialis, Macq. Dipt. Ex. Suppl. i. p. 76.—Mexico, Yucatan.

—— zanthopus, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 529 (from Brazil; is

also recorded from Mexico by Van der Wulp, Tijdschr. voor Ent. xxv.

p- 105).

Cormansis eupoda, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1878, p. 234.

Cerotainia nigra, Bigot, |. c. p. 238.

dubia, Bigot, l. c. p. 238.

Aphestia nigra, Bigot, |. c. p. 235.

LAPHRIA.

Laphria, Meigen, in Illiger’s Magaz. ii. p. 270 (1803).

1. Laphria numitor, sp. n.,°.

Thoracic dorsum black, with orichalceous-pollinose stripes ; abdomen yellowish-red, with a black cross-band on

each of the segments 1-6.

Length 21-22 millim.

Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson).

Head, including the occiput, pale yellowish-pollinose ; face beset with yellow hairs

that reach up to the antenne ; facial prominence moderate; beard and mystax yellow;

_ palpi brownish at the tip ; two pairs of long, erect, black vertical bristles; ocellar bristles

small or none (?). Antenne yellowish-red; third joint slightly brownish, lanceolate,

about one and a half times the length of the preceding two together. Thorax: dorsum

black, moderately shining, a V-shaped figure on the anterior half, on each side, formed

by orichalceous pollen (the lower branch starts at the root of the wings, and runs

along the usual transverse suture, where it stops short, some distance before meeting

the corresponding stripe on the other side; from this point the other branch starts,

running towards the humeral callus, and expanding a little, as it comes in contact with

it); humeral and post-alar callosities yellow, yellowish-pollinose, the latter connected

by a yellow-pollinose border in front of the scutellar suture; scutellum yellowish-polli-

nose, its end black. Halteres reddish. Abdomen yellowish-red, with a black cross-band

at the base of each of the segments 1-6, the cross-band not quite occupying half the

segment and not reaching the lateral margins. Pleure and coxe reddish-yellow,

orichalceous-pollinose ; legs yellowish-red, with yellow hairs and bristles. Wings with

a brownish-yellow tinge; veins reddish-brown ; first posterior cell broadly open.—A

single female.

2. Laphria ichneumon, sp. n.,¢. (Tab. III. fig. 6, 2.)

Slender, ichneumon-like, deep black, abdomen with a purplish reflection ; antennz and legs black ; wings brown ;

the ordinary bristles on the head, thorax, and legs thin and soft, hardly differentiated from the longer

hairs.

Length 18-20 millim.

Hab. Guatemaa, Purula 4000 feet (Champion).

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., March 1887. 2b

186 DIPTERA.

Face with a very slight brownish pollen, which is but little visible under the dense

hair; facial protuberance prominent, rising abruptly, densely beset with long, com-

paratively slender, black hairs; on each side a small inconspicuous tuft of short

yellowish-white hair (the only hairs on the whole body that are not black); antenne

black, the third joint elongate-linear, one and a half times the length of the preceding

two joints together ; proboscis straight, ending squarely, as in Dasyllis; hairs of the

beard and upper portion of the occiput dense and soft and with no conspicuous macro-

cheetee among them; a pair of long, soft hairs on the ocellar tubercle.. Thorax opaque-

black ; an inconspicuous brownish pollen on the pleure ; the usual macrochete not

much stronger than ordinary hairs; the edge of the scutellum beset with a dozen or

more long, soft hairs. Halteres dark brown. Abdomen moderately shining ; black,

with a purplish reflection, the first segment with a bluish one ; comparatively slender,

narrowest at the base, gradually expanding, broadest on segments 4 and 5; its back

convex, its profile a curve. Legs black, the hind pair metallic bluish or purplish ; hind

femora swollen on the distal half only, slender at the base ; hind tibie nearly straight ;

all the hairs soft (no conspicuous stronger bristles); pulvilli brown. Wings brown,

the middle of the cells being less saturate; alula remarkably small; first posterior

cell a little coarctate towards the end.

N.B.—I place this species in the genus Laphria in the wider sense. Its slender,

ichneumon-like shape and the absence of all macrochetz (or rather their assimilation

to ordinary hairs) are peculiar. But I prefer not to introduce new divisions so long as

the existing ones are insufficiently defined.

The other Laphrie from our region, described by earlier authors, are :—

Laphria fascipennis, Macq. Hist. nat. Ins. Dipt. i. p. 284.—Cayenne (Macq.) ;

Central America (Loew). Syn. L. prepotens, Macq. Dipt. Exot. Suppl.

i. p. 79.

—— componens, Walker, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. n. ser. v. p. 281.—Mexico.

—— triligata, Walker, 1. c. p. 281.—Mexico.

—— homopoda, Bellardi, Saggio &c. App. p. 20, f. 16.—Mexico, Tuxpango.

—— olbus, Walker, List &c. ii. p. 375; Macq. Dipt. Exot. Suppl. p. 53, t. 2. f. 3.

—Guatemala, Honduras. (N.B.—This species is not a Lampria.)

Pogonosoma arachnoides, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1878, p. 227.—Mexico.

LAMPRIA.

Lampria, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. i. 2, p. 60 (1838).

1. Lampria clavipes.

Laphria clavipes (Fabr.), Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 513}.

Lampria clavipes, Macq. Dipt. Exot. i. 2, p.61; Schiner, Reise d. Novara, Zool. ii. Abth. i.1, p. 1743,

Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).—Braziu } 2.

LAMPRIA. . 187

Schiner is the first who correctly described the female; that described by Macquart,

Dipt. Exot. Suppl. iii. p. 22, belongs to some other species. The statement of Rondani,

Fsame &c. p. 31, that ZL. melanoptera, Wiedem., 2, was taken, in copuld, with

L. clavipes, 3, either rests on some misunderstanding, or, if true, is no more than an

isolated, aberrant fact. Finally, the Z. clavipes, Bellardi, as I will presently show, is a

distinct species. Hitherto L. clavipes, Wiedem., has been found in South-America

only; four specimens (3 ¢, 1 2) from the Colombian State of Panama are, however,

now before me.

2. Lampria aurifex, sp.n., ¢ 2.

Lampria clavipes, Bellardi (nec Fabr., Wiedem., and Macq.), Saggio &c. ii. p. 13, t. 1. f. 15°.

Male. Face clothed with golden hair; facial protuberance with long black bristles; underside of the head

with pale yellowish hair; vertex and occiput with black bristles. Antenne black. Thoracic disc and

scutellum densely clothed with appressed reddish-golden hairs, the anterior and lateral margins (above

the dorso-pleural suture) remaining black; pleuree black, with greyish-silvery pollen. Abdomen compa-

ratively narrow, slightly coarctate in the middle; the three basal segments with appressed golden hair

above; the other segments black, opaque ; the fourth segment with vestiges of golden hairs on the sides ;

genitals black, shining, sometimes with a bluish reflection; underside black. Legs black, bluish or

greenish-metallic, especially the femora; front pair densely clothed with long, soft pale yellow hairs, the

two hind pairs with similar, but less dense, hairs; hind femora with a single projecting point on the under-

side, near the base. Halteres pale-yellow. Wings tinged with brown; a portion of the anal angle and the

alula subhyaline; venation like that of L. clavipes, Wiedem.

Length 15 millim. (Bellardi gives 20 millim.).

Hab. Mexico, Orizaba (Sallé 1) ; Costa Rica, Cache (Rogers).

Two male specimens in the British Museum (collected by Sallé near Orizaba) agree

with the above description. Prof. Bellardi’s collection contains a single male, which

is a little larger than mine. Of the female I have three specimens, of which the

largest is 14, the smallest about 10, millim. long; these have no projecting point on

the underside of the femora; the legs less stout and less hairy; the wings lighter

brown; and the golden pubescence on the first abdominal segments less conspicuous,

often rubbed off. |

Prof. Bellardi was well aware of the difference between this species and L. clavipes,

Macq. ; it was upon Bigot’s advice, based on the comparison of typical specimens (?),

that he admitted the identity (see Bell. Saggio 1. c.).

L. aurifex differs from L. dives, Wiedem., in being larger, in having the apical half

of the abdomen black, &c.

3. Lampria spinipes, °.

Dasypogon spinipes (Fabr.), Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 525°.

Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion).—Brazi }.

I refer to this species a single female, 12 millim. long, from the Colombian State of

Panama; it differs from all the South-American specimens of L. spinipes that I have

seen in having the black with a very slight purplish (not metallic blue or green)

262

188 * DIPTERA.

reflection, ‘Che Panama insect has “three” teeth on the hind femora, while in other

specimens the number is more often “two” than three. I would not on such slight

characters introduce a new species.

There are two other described species from our region, both from Mexico :—

Lampria circumdata, Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii. p. 15, t. 1. £. 17.

mexicana, Macq. Dipt. Exot. Suppl. ii. p. 37; Bellardi, 1. c. p. 13.—

Cordova. (I have seen the specimen of this in Prof. Bellardi’s

collection; it has no spines on the femora.)

ANDRENOSOMA.

Andrenosoma, Rondani, Dipt. Ital. Prodr. i. p. 160 (1856).

1. Andrenosoma formidolosa.

Laphria formidolosa, Walk. Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. n. ser. v. p. 2801; Bellardi, Saggio &c. i.

p. 17, t. 1. £182.

Hab. Mexico! (Sallé2), Cordova (de Saussure®, Hoge); GuaTemMaLa, Paso Antonio

400 feet (Champion); Nicaracua, Chontales (Janson); Panama, Bugaba 800 to 1500 feet

(Champion).

Two males from Chontales have the underside of the abdomen red; I take them

nevertheless to belong to this species.

2. Andrenosoma cincta.

Laphria cincta, Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii. p. 18, t. 1. f. 19°.

Hab. Muxico (Sallé1); British Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneaua).

I have seen the types in Turin. In L. cincta not only is the margin of the sixth

segment red, but the whole of the seventh segment also; the male genitals black,

sometimes reddish at the base; the three basal segments of the abdomen often

chestnut-brown.

3. Andrenosoma cinerea.

Lampria cinerea, Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii. p. 16, t. 1. f. 16°.

Hab. Mexico! (Sallé) ; Panama, Bugaba (Champion).

I have a single male from Bugaba. Judging from the description of A. pyrrhacra,

Wiedem., the red in that species begins with the margin of the fifth segment, while in

A. cinerea the fifth segment and the extreme base of the sixth also are black. I have

seen the type in Turin. Although the first posterior cell is open, I think this species

better placed in Andrenosoma than in Lampria.

ANDRENOSOMA.—MALLOPHORA. 189

4. Andrenosoma 2

Hab. Guatemata, El Reposo 800 feet (Champion).

Of the group with the abdomen black, reddish at the end, and with white marginal

spots on both sides. The tibic are dark red, with black tips ; the wings subhyaline,

with a brownish cross-band across the central nervures, and another, ill-defined cross-

band towards the tip. I cannot determine it, and do not think it advisable to describe

from a single specimen.

Section III. ASILINA.

MALLOPHORA.

Maillophora, Macquart, Hist. nat. Ins. Dipt. i. p. 8300 (1834).

Upwards of sixty American species of this genus have been described. They are

often very much alike in the colour of their hairy covering, but at the same time that

colour is not altogether constant in the same species and offers differences in the two

sexes. Other characters have been very little used by describers. Doubts about the

identity of species mentioned under the same name by different authors, or so deter-

mined in different collections, suggest themselves very often here, and thus it becomes

an almost hopeless task to determine specimens. Though I have seen the collections

in Berlin and Vienna, and the Mexican collection of Professor Bellardi, I have not

been able to determine satisfactorily the few specimens before me. I describe one new

species and give a short account of the remainder, with a justification of my doubts as

to the specific value &c. of the latter.

1. Mallophora infernalis.

Mallophora infernalis, Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii. p. 21 (Wiedem. ?)’.

Hab. Mextco!; Panama, Bugaba (Champion).

I have a single female from Bugaba; it is black, with a bluish reflection on the

abdomen, and entirely beset with black hairs, except the scutellum, which has yellow

hairs ; there are also small tufts of pale yellowish hairs on the cheeks, and a few such

hairs on the vertex and on the upper portion of the facial protuberance. I have com-

pared this specimen with Prof. Bellardi’s types, two females ; the latter agree with it,

but have a few yellow hairs on the anterior edge of the thorax, and more on the

mystax and cheeks. The Asilus (M.) infernalis, Wiedem. (Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i.

p. 475), quoted by Bellardi, has the anterior half of the abdomen beset with yellow

hairs; Wiedemann, however, mentions a variety, the scutellum and abdomen of which

have nothing but black hair; it still remains to be proved whether it is really the

same species as Bellardi’s. A second female specimen, from the Volcan de Chiriqui

(Champion), is entirely black, except a tuft of yellow hairs on the cheeks and a few

190 DIPTERA.

hairs of the same colour on the vertex. This specimen would agree with Wiedemann’s

variety ; but it would also agree with the short description of M. freycineti, ? , Macq.

Dipt. Exot. i. 2, p. 85 (Brazil), and indeed I have seen similar specimens thus named in

Dr. Loew’s collection (Berlin Museum) and also in the Vienna Museum. But whether

the male described by Macquart (Suppl. i. p. 77) from Colombia really belongs to the

female WU. freycineti is again a question.

2. Mallophora pluto.

Asilus pluto, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 477°.

Hab. Guatemata, El Tumbador 2500 feet (Champion).—Braziu'.

A female from Guatemala seems to belong here, and agrees with a specimen thus

named in the Berlin Museum. The expression that the hairs on the hind margin of

the second abdominal segment are lemon-yellow does not apply to my specimen ; the

hairs are reddish-yellow, like those on the remainder of the abdomen. ‘The hair on the

ventral surface is not described by Wiedemann ; in my specimen it is black; although

I saw Wiedemann’s type in Vienna I neglected to take note of this character.

In the Guatemalan insect the veins are rather stout; and there is a narrow streak of

a grey shadow in the proximal half of the submarginal cell.

N.B.—Van der Wulp (Tijdschr. voor Ent. xxv. p. 106) is probably right in doubting

his identification with this species of a specimen from the Argentine Republic having a

closed first posterior cell; this cell is open in the specimens I have seen of I. pluto ;

however, this character is not always constant.

8. Mallophora 2

Hab. Guaremata, San Gerénimo (Champion). One female.

Very like the specimens which I take for M. pluto, Wiedem., but certainly distinct.

The veins on the wings are much more slender, though really visible without magnifying-

power ; the grey shadow in the submarginal cell is much larger, reaching beyond the

middle of the cell; and there is a narrow vestige of a shadow in the marginal cell.

The abdomen is of a purer shade of yellow, the reddish appearing in the middle of

the back only; the yellow hairs on the dorsal side occupy the same segments as in

M. pluto, that is, they begin on the hinder part of the second segment, but on the

ventral side the hair on the whole distal half is yellow and not black. A large yellow

tuft on the cheeks; mystax black, but mixed, its upper portion especially, with some

yellow hairs; a few yellow hairs on the palpi, among the black ones, and some similar

hairs on the vertex and occiput. ‘The hair on the legs black. Length 18-19 millim. ;

wings 20 millim.

4, Mallophora 2

Hab. Guatemata, San Gerénimo (Champion). A single male.

MALLOPHORA. | 191

Very like Nos. 2 & 3, and perhaps the other sex of one of them, the more so as the

locality for No. 3is the same. It differs from both—(1) in the coloration of the hairs on

the hind legs: the femora being beset with long soft, erect yellow hairs, and having some

black hairs at the tip only ; the tibiee have on both sides a fringe of bright yellow, dense,

erect hairs, the hairs at the tip, however, black; a similar yellow fringe reappearing

on the upperside of the tarsi; and (2) in the coloration of the hairs on the venter,

the hairs here being altogether bright yellow.

It differs from my No. 3 in having the veins of the wings stouter, as stout as in No. 2

(Ml. pluto). The grey shadow in the submarginal cell is very faint.

5. Mallophora fautrix, sp.n., ¢ @. (Tab. III. fig. 14, 2.)

Facial tubercle and cheeks clothed with rather long and dense yellow hair; the vertex, occiput, and even

the palpi, with similar hair; the upper part of the face alone showing the black, shining ground-colour ;

basal joints of the antenne reddish, the third joint dark brown and with a brownish-yellow style of its

own length. Thorax black, the ground-colour not being perceptibly modified by the hairs ; some rare,

short, yellow hairs form an inconspicuous fringe in front; some scattered hairs of the same colour on the

anterior portion of the dorsum, visible under the lens only ; the macrochet on the sides and in front of

the scutellum black; scutellum densely beset with erect yellow hairs; a fringe of yellow hairs between

the root of the wings and the hind cox ; a few hairs of the same colour on the pleura, in front of the

mesopleural suture. Abdomen, above and below, densely clothed with a fur of erect yellow hairs; on the

sides of the venter, especially at the base, the black ground-colour more distinctly visible (when the

abdomen is drawn out the ground-colour also becomes visible on the dorsal side, in the intervals of the basal

segments). Legs more or less dark chestnut-brown, beset with black hair; a fringe of yellow hairs on the

front coxe, and tufts of similar hairs on the other coxe. Halteres brown. Wings tinged with yellowish-

brown, not dark ; a grey shadow in the proximal half of the submarginal cell; a linear shadow within the

marginal cell.

Male. Forceps small, black ; some yellow hairs (which I do not perceive in the female) on the underside of the

hind tibie and at the tip of the hind tarsi.

Length g 9 15-18 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Presidio (Forrer).

Two males, three females.

N.B.—In size and general colouring this species bears some resemblance to M. orcina,

but the yellow hairs of the body are of a duller yellow than in the latter species.

Moreover, in VW. orcina the venter and the tip of the abdomen are beset with black

hairs, which is not the case in I. fautrix ; the brown of the wings in the latter is

lighter in tint, &c.

The following other species of this genus have been described from Mexico and

Central America :—

Mallophora craverii, Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii. p. 22.—Mexico, Oaxaca.

robusta, Macq. Dipt. Exot. Suppl. i. p. 78.

fulviventris, Macq. 1. c. iv. p. 77 (the specimen described by Macq. is a

“male,” and not a “ female” as stated in consequence of a misprint).

fulvi-analis, Macq. 1. c. iv. p. 78 (“‘ perhaps the female of the preceding,”

Macq. ).

pica, Macq. 1. c. iv. p. 78.

192 DIPTERA.

PROMACHUS.

Promachus, Loew, Linn. Entom. iii. p. 390 (1848).

Except P. albifacies, Willist., of which we have a considerable number of specimens,

the other species of this genus are but poorly represented in the collections before me ;

there are at most two specimens, in many cases only one, of each, and these are often.

but indifferently preserved. Our species may be grouped as follows:—

A. The red or yellow tibie forming a marked contrast with the black femora.

Lateral and hind margins of the abdominal segments 2-5 greyish polli-

nose, the black on these segments forming a broad subquadrate patch ;

the grey shadow in the submarginal cell long; beard yellow. . . I. cinctus, Bell.

Lateral and hind margins of the abdominal segments 2-5 yellowish-grey

pollinose, the black patch on these segments having oblique sides, and

being semicircular, rather than subquadrate ; the grey shadow in the

submarginal cell rather short; beard greyish . . . . . + + + & Sp. ?

Lateral (not hind) margins of the abdominal segments greyish pollinose 3. forfex, sp. n.

AA. The colour of the tibie not forming a marked contrast with that of the

femora.

Legs black ; first submarginal cell without grey shadow in the middle.

The first two abdominal segments beset with soft white hair . . 4. anceps, sp. n.

The first two abdominal segments beset with soft yellow hair . . 5. sp.?

Legs not black ; first submarginal cell with a grey shadow in the middle.

The grey shadow very narrow; the hairs on the cheeks and front

coxe snow-white ...... . 4... +... + « 6, albifacies, Will.

The grey shadow broad; the hairs on the cheeks and front cox

yellow . 2 2 1 ee ee ee ee ee ee ee 7, nobilis, sp. nn.

The known species of Promachus from America north of Panama (those not found in

our region are bracketed) may be grouped as follows :-—

A. Male forceps with a tuft of silvery pile.

[ fitchii, O. S.], [princeps, Willist.], albifacies, Willist., [bastardi, Macq.], truguti, Bell.

AA. Male forceps without tuft of silvery pile.

[vertebratus, Say], [rufipes, Wiedem.], [fuscipennis, Macq.], cinctus, Bell., quadratus, Bell.

(? =forfex, O.S.), pulchellus, Bell., trapezoidalis, Bell., nobilis, O. S., and sp. No. 5 of the

present work.

Of the following species the female alone has been described :—magnus, Bell., anceps,

O. S. (‘=fuscipennis, Bell.), guadratus, Wiedem., and No. 2 of the present work.

The description of P. guadratus in Wiedemann reads very much like that of P. bastardi,

Macgq., 2; nevertheless, Williston is right when he says that Schiner was acquainted

with the type of P. guadratus, and would hardly have redescribed it under the name of

PROMACHUS. 193

P. philadelphicus (syn. P. bastardi, Macq.). Wiedemann’s P. guadratus, 2 , must be a

large species; the size given is 14 lines, while the same author’s measurement of

P. vertebratus, Say, 2, is only 12 lines. Schiner (Verh. z.-b. Ges. Wien, 1866, p. 688),

in speaking of Wiedemann’s type of P. guadratus, says: “a magnificent species” (eine

prachtvolle Art). These remarks are not applicable to P. bastardi, ?; it is neither

“magnificent,” nor 14 Rhenish lines (about 31 millim.) long.

1. Promachus cinctus.

Promachus cinctus, Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii. p. 25, t. 2. £. 2%.

Hab. Mexico (Sallé 1); Guaremata (Champion) ; Nicaracva, Chontales (Janson).

Bellardi describes both sexes. I have two females which I have compared with

Bellardi’s types and take to be the same species, although I perceive some differences,

principally in the colour of the hairs, which seems to be variable. On the facial

prominence there are several strong fulvous bristles; on the oral margin on each side

a few black bristles, and on the upper part of the front a sparse tuft of weak black

hairs (in Bellardi’s specimen they are strongly mixed with yellow). The first abdominal

segment and the base of the second segment are beset, in one of my specimens, with

soft, erect fulvous hairs; in the other, and in Bellardi’s examples also, these hairs are

whiter; there are besides, on each side of the first segment, some black macrochete.

Halteres brownish-red. The wings have a distinct brownish tinge; the shadow in the

first submarginal cell large. .

2. Promachus ——?

Female. Bristles on the facial prominence black, mixed with yellowish-white ones, the latter prevailing on the

lower half; cheeks with dense whitish hair. Thoracic dorsum blackish-grey, with the usual grey design ;

the median line between the two dorso-central stripes nearly obsolete; scutellum with yellowish hairs and

black bristles. Abdominal segments 2-5 with yellowish-grey pollinose rectangular triangles on the sides

(the inner acute angle of the triangle meeting the corresponding angle on the opposite side, the hypothe-

nuse distinctly concave and leaving a semicircular black space in the middle of each segment); the venter

also yellowish-grey ; the same segments clothed with sparse, erect, yellowish hairs on the back, and with

denser hairs of the same colour on the venter; the 6th and the following segments black, narrow, com-

pressed. Femora black, with black spines and woolly yellowish-white hairs; tibis reddish-yellow, with

black tips; tarsi black. Halteres pale reddish-yellow. Wings with a slight greyish tinge; more hyaline

along the proximal two thirds of the costa; the shadow in the first submarginal cell comparatively short,

narrow, club-shaped.

Length to the end of the fifth abdominal segment, 16 millim. ; to the end of the ovipositor, about 22 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison). Two females.

The Mexican P. trapezoidalis, Bellardi (Saggio &c. ii. p. 28, t. 2. f. 4) is not unlike

this species; but it is impossible to identify it from the description.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., March 1887. 2¢

194 DIPTERA.

3. Promachus forfex, sp. n.

Male. Face with a yellowish-grey pollen ; facial tubercle with black, rather scarce bristles, which latter, near

the oral margin, become pale whitish ; tufts on the cheeks white, not very dense. Antenne and palpi

black. Thoracic dorsum yellowish-grey ; dorso-central stripes dull brownish-black, the dividing lime

between them distinct. Scutellum with yellowish-white hairs and black bristles. Halteres brownish-

red. Abdomen deep black above; along each side a broad stripe of yellowish-grey pollen, beginning at

the end of the second, and ending at the end of the sixth segment ; clothed up to the fifth segment with

scattered yellowish-white semi-recumbent hair (which interferes very little with the deep black ground-

colour, except on the hind margins of the segments, where it is more apparent, and that in a certain

light only); the hairs on the sides and on the venter sparse, erect, whitish-yellow ; venter brownish-

black. ‘Forceps black, moderately shining; the lateral valves broader at the tip than at the base, trun-

cate; the black central piece with a tuft of pale hair at the tip. Front coxe with a dense erect fringe of

long, white hair. Femora black, sparsely beset with short yellowish hairs on the proximal half; tibie

reddish-yellow, the extreme base and about one fifth or one sixth of the length at the tip black, beset

with short yellow pile and black bristles ; tarsi black. Wings with a slight brownish-yellow tinge, more

hyaline towards the anal angle; the grey shadow in the first submarginal cell large, occupying the whole

disc of the cell; a distinct brown shadow at the end of the costal, marginal, and first submarginal

cells.

Length 21-23 millim.

Hab. Costa Rica, Irazu 6000 to 7000 feet (Rogers). Two specimens.

This species very much resembles the Mexican P. quadratus, Bellardi (Saggio &c.

ii, p. 27, t. 2. f. 3), especially in the structure of the forceps. I have compared my

specimen with the type in Turin, and find that in the latter the surface of the abdomen

is much more densely clothed with greyish pile (and therefore does not appear nearly

so black), and that the facial tubercle bears a tuft of yellow hairs, among which there

are only a few black ones, &c. As the name quadratus must be changed, it being

preoccupied in the genus, I do not hesitate to describe our species under a new name,

leaving the question of the identity in abeyance.

4. Promachus anceps, sp.n., °. |

(?) Promachus fuscipennis, Bellardi (nec Macq.), Saggio &c. ii. p. 24, t. 2. f.1* (953 the ¢ belongs

to a different species).

Female. Face greyish pollinose ; facial tubercle beset with black bristles ; some white bristles near the oral

margin; cheeks with tufts of white hair, a row of which, mixed with some black bristles, beset the front

cox. Thoracic dorsum black; its sides and the transverse suture greyish pollinose ; the line dividing

the dorso-central stripes almost obsolete. Abdomen deep black; lateral and posterior margins of seg-

ments 2-4 margined with grey, the broadest part of these margins being in the posterior corners; on

segment 5 the grey margin is not visible; the following segments are shining bluish-black, narrow,

and form the ovipositor-like prolongation; venter greyish; segments 1 and 2 and the venter beset

with soft, white hairs. Legs black, sometimes with a slight bluish reflection on the femora; the bristles

black, but some sparse, soft, whitish hairs among them, especially on the femora. Wings with a distinct

brownish tinge, more saturate along the veins; the latter rather stout ; no grey shadow in the submar-

ginal cell.

Length to the end of the fifth segment, 21-22 millim.; with the ovipositor, 26-29 millim.

Hab. * Muxico (Sallé1); Panama, Bugaba 800 to 1500 feet (Champion).

I have three females from the above locality, which agree quite well with the

PROMACHUS. 195

description of P. fuscipennis, Bellardi, 2. The type of the male, which I have seen

in Turin, is a different species (hairs on face differently coloured, shadow in submarginal

cell present, &c.). The type of the female I have not seen, as it is not in Turin, but in

the collection of Bigot, to whom Prof. Bellardi communicated the male for the sake of

its comparison with the type of P. fuscipennis, Macq. (Dipt. Exot. Suppl. i. p. 81).

Bigot concluded that both sexes belonged to P. fuscipennis, Macq.: an error must

have occurred here ; it is evident from Prof. Bellardi’s description that the male and

female of his P. fuscipennis belonged to different species, and it results from a compa-

rison of Macquart’s description of the male with Bellardi’s that they also refer to two

different species (as Bellardi himself correctly suspected), Besides the differences noted

by Bellardi (colour of palpi, &c.), Macquart mentions merely “ white hairs on the

posterior margins of the segments,” and not the greyish pollinose cross-bands that exist

in Bellardi’s type.

The male specimens from South America, which Schiner (Reise d. Novara, Zool. ii.

Abth. 1, p. 177) refers to P. fuscipennis, Macq., seem again to belong to a different

species,

5. Promachus 2

Male. Legs black, beset with yellowish hairs. Wings with a moderate brownish tinge, more saturate at the

apex ; veins more slender than in P. anceps, not clouded with brown; no grey shadow in the submarginal

cell, Scutellum and basal segments of the abdomen beset with golden-yellow, soft, erect hair. Male

forceps small ; valves slender; black.

Hab. British Honpuras, R. Sarstoon (Blancaneaur).

A single specimen, on both wings of which there are two cross-veins between the

third vein and the fork of the second; this may be merely adventitious.

6. Promachus albifacies.

Promachus albifacies, Williston, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. xii. p. 63 (¢ 2)’.

Face clothed with thick, whitish (slightly yellowish) hair ; some black bristles along the oral margin ; the hair

on the cheeks and front cox thick and snow-white ; black bristles on the upper part of the occiput and

on the palpi; antenne black, the third joint rather alternate before the bristle. Thorax: general colour

of the dorsum brownish-grey; the dorso-central region occupied by alternate grey, brownish-yellow, and

darker brown stripes, and bounded on each side by a line which, where it crosses the suture, has a distinct

whitish reflection ; the lateral regions of the dorsum occupied by an oval, faintly shining, greyish spot,

bisected by the suture; pleurw brownish; the front, the pleure, and the scutellum beset with scattered

white hairs, in addition to the usual short black bristles and macrochete ; a characteristic tuft of white

hairs in front of the scutellum, among the black prescutellar macrochete. Abdomen black, moderately

shining above ; the sides, as well as the venter, brownish pollinose; a tuft of white hair on the sides of the

first segment; triangles of white pile in the posterior angles of segments 2-5. Male forceps hidden under

a dense covering of silvery hair. The segments forming the ovipositor black, moderately shining. Legs

blackish, densely clothed with appressed white pile; portions of the femora and tibie reddish (variable

in different specimens); bristles black; in the male, the front tarsi have, among the black bristles, a

covering of short white hairs, which is not so distinct in the female. Wings with a slight yellowish

2¢2

196 DIPTERA.

tinge; hyaline on the antero-proximal half only; the grey shadow in the first submarginal cell rather

narrow.

Length, 3, 22-26 millim.; 9, with the ovipositor, 23-30 millim.

Hab. Unrrep States, Arizona (Comstock }).—Mextico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

Seventeen males, and as many females, from Northern Sonora.

I have seen Dr. Williston’s types.

The colouring of the thoracic dorsum is variable, the grey prevailing over the brown,

or vice versd; the legs in some specimens are more suffused with red than in others. I

have thought it useful to give a fresh description of the species.

7. Promachus nobilis, sp.n., 3 ¢°.

Face yellow pollinose, with a rather dense, yellowish, shining tuft of hair on the facial tubercle (less dense and

more bristly in the female; in one of the female specimens some of the bristles are black) ; similar tufts

of hair on the cheeks ; palpi beset with black bristles ; occiput brownish-yellow pollinose, with yellowish

and brownish hairs and bristles; antenne black. Thorax: dorsum dark brownish-black, opaque ; dorso-

central stripes brownish pollinose in an oblique light, the middle line nearly obsolete; the sides of the

dorsum, humeri, and pleure yellowish-brown pollinose ; macrochete black; brownish-yellow, long, soft

hairs on the pleure and on the scutellum. Abdomen black, opaque above ; lateral and posterior margins

of segments 2-7 (2-5 in the female) brownish-yellow pollinose (the posterior margins occupy about one-

quarter of the breadth of the segments in the male, and still less in the female, the lateral margins are

broader) ; the three basal segments clothed with fulvous hair (the yellowish hairs on the paler portions of

the other segments can be discerned under the magnifying-glass only); venter brownish-yellow pollinose.

Male forceps comparatively small, elongate, with sparse, black hair. Legs dark rufous, blackish about the

knees, beset with pale yellowish, inconspicuous hairs, the bristles black; tarsi black; pulvilli brownish (and

not yellowish-rufous as usual); front coxse beset with whitish hair. Wings with a pronounced brownish-

yellow tinge ; the grey shadow in the first submarginal cell large, occupying the whole disc of the cell; a

vestige of a shadow in the marginal cell.

Length, 3, 26 millim.; ?, 30-32 millim.

Hab. Costa Rica, Cache (Rogers).

One male and two females.

An undescribed species from Texas, of which I have several male and female spe-

cimens, in its colouring very much resembles P. nobilis; the principal differences are

that the grey cross-bands on the hind margins of the abdominal segments occupy nearly

one half the breadth of the segment; that the grey shadow in the first submarginal

cell is much smaller and narrower (it occupies about one third of the breadth of the

cell); and that the pulvilli are yellowish-red and not brown.

The other species of Promachus from our region (mentioned in the table, ante,

p- 192), all of which are from Mexico, described by previous writers, are as follows :—

Promachus magnus, Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii. p. 26.

PROMACHUS.—ERAX. 197

Promachus quadratus, Bellardi, loc. cit. p. 27, t. 2. f. 3.

trapezoidalis, Bellardi, loc. cit. p. 28, t. 2. f. 4.

—— pulchellus, Bellardi, loc. cit. p. 29, t. 2. f. 5.

truquit, Bellardi, loc. cit. p. 30, t. 2. f. 6.

ERAX.

Erax, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. i. 2, p. 107 (1838).

This genus is numerously represented in North and South America. Owing to the

difficulty of drawing good descriptions it is almost hopeless to identify specimens from

the existing ones. What is needed are comparative descriptions of the species of a

given fauna; it will be possible on that basis to determine specimens of that same

fauna; but it will be impossible from those descriptions, and without comparing

types, to establish the specific identity of specimens from a more distant region.

The general colouring is not only difficult to describe, but variable; the yellowish

greys, greyish yellows, brownish greys, and greyish browns pass into each other

in the same species. The colour of the bristles on all the parts of the body is

also variable.

In E. prolificus, sp. n., which I have attempted to describe from a large number of

specimens, the stiff bristles on the upper part of the occipital orbit are either all black,

pale whitish, or of both colours mixed. The same is the case with the macrochete on

the thorax or on the legs of this and many other species. The sexes of Hraz are so

different in appearance, and the females of different species often look so much alike,

that mistakes may easily occur in bringing together the sexes of the same species. I

strongly suspect, for instance, after having seen the types, that EL. guadrimaculatus,

Bell., ¢, and E. bimaculatus, Bell., 2 , belong to the same species. A thorough study,

which this genus has not yet received, may disclose some new characters available for

the definition of species. Asa slight contribution to that future study, I will advert

to two secondary sexual characters existing in this genus:—l, on the hind side of the

front tibie there are some long bristles, usually ‘“‘four” in number in the female and

only “two” in the male; in the latter bristles are inserted on the distal third of the

tibia: 2, in many species, and principally in the group with a crest of hairs on the

thorax, the stump of a vein on the anterior branch of the third vein exists in the female

only; in the male it is either absent or rudimentary.

It may not be amiss to notice here that the terms “upper and lower,” “front and

hind side,” are applicable to the legs of Diptera in an imaginary position :—e. g. as if

the legs were stretched out perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the body

(compare Mik, Dipterologische Untersuchungen, p. 3).

198 DIPTERA.

Analytical Table of the Species described or noticed below.

Second submarginal cell long (that is, its proximal end distinctly “ anterior”

to the proximal end of the second posterior cell).—None of these

species have a thoracic crest, nor an expansion of the costa.

Femora dark reddish, with more or less black on the under and

front side.

Venation abnormal; the usual stump on the anterior branch of the

third vein prolonged so as to reach the second vein.

Palpi with yellow hair; a few black bristles at the tips. . 1. anomalus, Bell.

Palpi with black hair. . . . 2. 2... 1 6 ee sO Sp?

Venation normal; the usual stump on the anterior branch of the

third vein not prolonged so as to reach the second vein.

Abdominal segments 4 and 5 black, with only narrow

whitish margins.

Male: forceps small for an Erax. . .

‘Female: segments 6 and 7 white, with a vc 3. maculatus, Macq.

triangle in the middle.

Abdominal segments 4 and 5 white, with a black triangle

in the middle.

Male: forceps large. . . 2. . 2 . ee

Female: prevailing colour of segments 6 and 7 ; 4, triton, sp. 1.

black, with white margins woe

Femora black; palpi with yellow hair . . . . . 6 . « 5, rapax, sp. n.

Second submarginal cell short (that is, its proximal end i is “ not” anterior

to the proximal end of the second posterior cell).

No thoracic crest.

Palpi with white hair; costa in the male not thickened . . . . 6. cinerascens, Bell.

Palpi with black hair; costa in the male thickened and expanded. 7. sp.?

A distinct crest of erect hairs in the middle of the thorax, ending in a

more or less distinct tuft of white (sometimes yellowish) hairs in

front of and on the scutellum; costa in the male more or less

thickened and expanded; the usual stump on the third vein rudi-

mentary in the male, distinctly developed in the female.

Femora altogether metallic blackish-green.

Male : Abdominal segments 5-7 silvery ; no silvery hair,

parted in the middle, on the segments . ;

Female: ovipositor equal to about three of the preceding 8. prolificus, sp. n.

segments

Male: Nearly the whole abdomen silvery, with silvery

hair parted in the middle and combed outwards .

(?) Female: ovipositor equal to about five of the preceding

segments

9. sp.?

. ERAX. 199

Femora reddish, blackish-green on the under and posterior

side only.

Male: nearly the whole abdomen silvery, with silvery

hair parted in the middle . . . . .... bo, sp.?

Female: abdomen uniformly grey .

Male: (?). 2...

Female: abdominal segments much darker in the nidae} 11. sp.?

than on the sides.

1. Erax anomalus.

Eraz anomalus, Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii. p. 82, t. 2. f.7(g 2%) 1; Williston, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc.

xii. p. 69 (1885),

Hab. Unirep Staves, Arizona 2.—Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison), Cuantla

(de Saussure 1),

This species is easily distinguished by the anomalous formation of the submarginal

cell (see the figure in Bellardi, J. c.). The palpi are beset with yellowish hair and a

few black (rarely yellow) bristles at the tip. Second abdominal segment of the male

blackish anteriorly, its sides and a broad interrupted cross-band on the posterior margin

greyish-silvery; third segment blackish at the base, the rest silvery; segments 4-7

silvery ; the long silky-white hair, parted in the middle and combed outwards, begins on

the posterior half of the second segment and reaches the seventh. Hypopygium dark

reddish-brown, hairy. I have seen Dr. Williston’s type; Prof. Bellardi’s specimens are

not in very good condition, and for this reason I am not certain of the specific identity,

which, nevertheless, is exceedingly probable.

This must be a very common species. I have nearly a hundred specimens before me,

both sexes being represented in nearly equal numbers; all collected in Northern Sonora

by the late Mr. Morrison.

2. Erax ——?

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

I have a single female from the above locality, with the same anomalous venation as

E. anomalus, but certainly a distinct species. The palpi have black hairs and bristles ;

the grey portions of the abdomen are of a purer whitish-grey; the black’ on each

segment is more intense, and the spots different in shape—less transverse, more like

inverted triangles with a rounded apex ; segment 6 is black, with narrow grey margins;

the ovipositor is longer, equal to about four of the preceding segments; the thoracic

stripes and other spots of a darker, purer brown.

Erax completus, Macq., Dipt. Exot. i. 2, p. 117, t. 9. £9 (North America), has the

same venation as /. anomalus; the male only is described, but it is not at all likely

that it belongs to the above-mentioned female.

200 DIPTERA.

3. Erax maculatus.

Erax maculatus, Macq. Dipt. Exot. i. 2, p. 111, t. 9. £.6; Schin. Verh. z.-b. Ges. Wien, 1867,

p- 392’.

Eraz lateralis, Macq. 1. c. p. 116; Williston, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. xii. p. 70 (1885) *,

Erax ambiguus, Macq. 1. c. Suppl. i. p. 84; O. Sacken, Catal. &c. 1878, p. 79.

Asilus interruptus, Macq. Hist. Nat. Ins., Dipt. 1. p. 310.

Eraz (Eristicus) villosus, Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 49°.

Had. Sovruern Untrep Sratss, Texas (Boll), Georgia and Florida ?.— Mexico (Sallé*),

Northern Sonora (Morrison), Presidio (Forrer), Yucatan; GUATEMALA, San Gerénimo

(Champion).—CotomBia; GuIANA; Braziu+; ANTILLES, Guadeloupe.

The figure of the female given by Macquart, and the explanations of Schiner, render

the above synonymy very probable, Macquart’s loose description and misleading outline

of the forceps of the male notwithstanding. Williston recognizes the same species in

E. lateralis, Macq., and there is nothing to object to in such an identification, although

it would seem strange that Macquart should have described the same species twice

within a few pages. There is little doubt, I think, that EH. ambiguus, Macq., and

E. interruptus, Macq., are the same species; the latter name in such a case would be

the earliest. I prefer to adopt the name which is justified by a distinct figure. I have

seen Prof. Bellardi’s E. villosus and find in my notes that it is the same as L. maculatus,

although the description alone would leave me doubtful.

Dr. Schiner has pointed out (J. c.) the differences between this species and L. striola,

Wiedem. As Wiedemann’s original type is in Vienna, his opinion has great weight.

But that Wiedemann himself did not always distinguish both species is proved by a

specimen in the Berlin Museum labelled as Wiedemann’s type of L. striola, and which

nevertheless is E. maculatus. E. maculatus seems to have an extensive area of distri-

bution, while EZ. striola, so far as known, occurs in South America only.

Erax maculatus and E. striola form, within the genus, a natural group, distinguished

by the smallness of the male forceps and the structure of the ovipositor, which latter is

subcylindrical and flattened on the sides at the extreme tip only.

4, Erax triton, sp.n.,¢ 2.

Face yellowish-pollinose; facial tubercle prominent, with a tuft of pale yellowish hairs and bristles; palpi

beset with black bristles, mixed with yellow ones; cheeks with soft, whitish hair; upper occipital orbit

with a row of stiff black bristles; basal joints of the antenne reddish, the third joint darker; arista

much longer than the third joint. Thorax with a well-marked, broad, dark brown dorso-central stripe,

its median line feebly marked, reddish; sides of the dorsum yellowish, with slight brassy reflections ;

pleure brownish-yellow, with soft pale hairs; scutellum yellowish-grey pollinose, with black macro-

cheetze. Halteres reddish-yellow. Abdomen, male: its prevailing colour an impure, somewhat silvery,

white, with a row of black triangles, the triangles gradually diminishing in size from segment 2 to

segment 5, segment 6 with only a brownish line in the middle; segment 1 blackish, with some greyish

pollen on the sides; forceps rather large, elongate, reddish-brown, beset with paler hairs and with a brush

of hairs on the underside, in shape like those of EH. anomalus (cf. Bellardi’s t. 2. £.7); female: the

black triangles of nearly equal size on segments 2-4, occupying the whole middle of the segment and

ERAX. 201

touching the hind margin with the apex; the sides of the segments filled by triangles of an impure,

silvery-white ; on segments 6 and 7 the lateral margins only whitish, the middle occupied by an opaque

square of brownish-black; segment 5 forms the transition in both sexes, but principally in the male;

the silvery parts of segments 2-4 beset with sparse white hairs, combed outwards; ovipositor com-

paratively short, equal to about two or two and a half of the preceding segments. Legs deep reddish,

with theusual appressed pubescence of whitish hairs, and long, soft, whitish or yellowish hairs (especially

in the male) and black bristles ; femora black on the underside. ,Wings with a slight yellowish-brown tinge ;

second submarginal cell distinctly appendiculate, rather long, its proximal end reaching considerably

beyond the proximal end of the second posterior cell ; no incrassation of the costa in the male.

Length, 3, 23-25 millim.; 9, without ovipositor 22-23 millim., with it about 26 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Presidio (Forrer).

The rather unmeaning description of E. argyrogaster, Macq. (Dipt. Exot. Suppl. i.

p. 84, Yucatan), has something in common with the present species, especially as

regards the abdomen; but the “tariére longue” does not agree at all. In my

‘Catalogue, 1878, p. 234, note 126, I have mentioned that E. argyrogaster, the

type of which I had a glimpse some years ago, has a superficial resemblance to

EL. maculatus, £. ambiguus, &c. This is also the case with E. triton.

5. Erax rapax, sp.n.,¢ 2.

Face and front saturate yellow-pollinose ; facial tubercle prominent, with dull yellow hairs and bristles; palpi

black, with dull yellow hairs; antenne black, the basal joints beset with short yellowish hairs; beard

pale yellow, as are the other occipital hairs, except the black stiff bristles of the upper orbit ; ocellar

tubercle with black bristles. Thorax brownish-yellow ; dorso-central stripe dark brown, well-marked ;

its median line subobsolete, merely marked by a light brownish pollen; the lateral stripes or spots

ill-defined, shifting according to the incidence of the light; thoracic and scutellar macrochete usually

black, but often, especially in the female, some of the macrocheete are pale. Abdomen, male: black at the

base, the sides with a yellowish-grey pollen and yellowish hairs; the distal half of the third segment, as

well as segments 4, 5, 6, silvery, with silvery hairs, parted in the middle and combed outwards; segment 7

blackish, with white stripes at the sides and in the middle (in one of the specimens a white pollen covers

nearly the whole surface, very little black remaining visible) ; forceps large, black, beset with yellowish

and black hairs, without brush of hairs on the underside (like that of &. anomalus, E. jubatus, &c.); female:

of a uniform golden yellowish-brown, with shifting darker shadows on the sides—the shadows produced

by the dark brown ground-colour being modified by a short, recumbent, not very dense, golden-yellowish

pubescence evenly spread over the whole surface, and by a thin yellowish-grey pollen irregularly spread

over the central line of the back (more distinctly visible when the head of the insect is away from the light

than in the opposite direction); on each side a distinct, rather broad, dull grey stripe reaching from the first

to the seventh segment ; the hind margins of the same segments having a yellowish-grey border, visible in

a certain light only. Venter grey. Ovipositor equal in length to about three of the preceding segments,

Legs black; besides the usual bristles, beset, especially on the tibie, with soft yellow hairs, which are

short and more or less recumbent on the upperside and longer and erect on the underside ; the long bristles

on the hinder side of the tibiz of the female yellow; the usual reddish down covering the hinder side of

the hind tibis: and of the corresponding metatarsus rather conspicuous. Wings with a very slight

yellowish-brown tinge, especially on the distal half; second submarginal cell long, its proximal end being

a little nearer to the anterior cross-vein than to the proximal end of the second posterior cell; the stump

comparatively long; costal margin not expanded.

Length of the male, without the forceps, 19-21 millim.; of the female, without the ovipositor, about 21 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison). Three males and two females.

E. stamineus, Willist. (Montana), must be allied to this species; but it is much

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., March 1887. 2d

202 DIPTERA.

smaller, the pollen on the face is yellowish-white, and not yellow; the whole third

abdominal segment of the male is silvery (if I understand the description), and not its

posterior half only, &c.

I have a species from Texas not unlike EZ. rapaz, and with yellow hair on the palpi;

but it is larger, the wings comparatively shorter, the tibie reddish on the upperside

of the base, &c.

6. Erax cinerascens.

Eraz cinerascens, Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii. p. 39, t. 2. f. 10'; Schiner, Verh. z.-b. Ges. Wien, 1867,

p. 394.

Erax furax, Willist. Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. xii. p. 67” (synonymy apud Williston, in litt.).

Erazx albibarbis, Macq. Dipt. Exot. i. 2, p. 118°.

Hab. Unirep States? *—Mexico (Sallé1), Northern Sonora (Morrison), Presidio

(forrer), 'Tuxpango near Orizaba (Sumichrast 1).

This insect will be easily recognizable from Prof. Bellardi’s figure; some clerical

error renders this author’s description of the abdomen obscure, and that of Williston

will have to be relied upon. Schiner’s description, although detailed, was drawn from

a single specimen. The abdominal black spots are variable in size and outline. The

white hairs on the palpi are characteristic.

EE. cinerascens must not be confounded with the Mexican £. tricolor, Bellardi (1. ¢.-

p. 40, t. 2. f. 12), which is very like it in general appearance, but has black hairs in

its mystax.

Macquart’s description of HL. albibarbis (J. ¢.) reads very much like that of E. cineras-

cens, the white hairs on the palpi being especially convincing ; this author describes the

male. Ido not think that Schiner (/.c. p. 395) was right in identifying the female

specimen he had with Macquart’s description. At any rate Bellardi’s specific name,

justified as it is by a figure, should be retained.

7. Erax ——?, o 2.

Hab. Costa Rica, Cache (Rogers).

I have four males and one female of this rather ordinary-looking species. It seems

to be related to L. affinis, Bellardi, but the femora of the latter have some red at the

sides and at the tip, which is altogether wanting in these Costa Rican specimens; the

description of the abdomen also does not agree.

8. Erax prolificus, sp. n., ¢ ¢.

Male. Facial tubercle prominent, the hairs upon it white, mixed with some black, and sometimes with some

yellowish, bristles ; palpi and the hairs upon them black ; tuft on the cheeks white ; antenne black, the arista

longer than the third joint ; the strong bristles on the upper occiput yellow, or reddish-yellow, sometimes

mixed with black, or altogether black. Thorax: dorsum more or less yellowish-grey or brownish-grey ;

dorso-central stripe brown, comparatively narrow, distinctly marked ; its median line bearing a crest of short

ERAX. 203

black bristles with longer bristles between them, this crest scattering posteriorly behind the suture into a

cluster of sparse black bristles, between which, in front of the scutellum, a more or less distinct tuft of

short, white hairs is visible ; scutellum with short white hairs in the middle, and a row of long black

bristles along the edge. Abdomen: segments 2—4 black in the middle, their lateral and posterior margins

broadly grey; segment 5 silvery, with a black spot in the middle, seldom wanting; segments 6 and 7

silvery ; forceps rather large, black, the lower half nearly as stout as the upper half (like t. 2. f. 8 in

Bellardi), and with a brush of black hairs, more or less mixed with paler ones, on the underside. Legs

beset with whitish hair and the usual black and pale bristles; front coxe with a fringe of white hair ;

femora black, with a greenish metallic lustre; tibie red, darker at the tip; tarsi red. Halteres yel-

lowish, with a brown knob. Wings with an almost imperceptible brownish tinge; costa slightly, but

distinctly, expanded and thickened beyond the end of the auxiliary vein, the corresponding part of the

costal cell infuscated; second submarginal cell rather short, its proximal end not quite reaching the

proximal end of the second posterior cell ; the usual stump of a vein rudimentary or wanting.

Length, including the forceps, 15-19 millim.

Female. Like the male, except the abdomen: segments 2-6 dull grey above and below, with dull black dorsal

spots, leaving a broad, ill-defined grey margin posteriorly and on the sides (the posterior margin

occupies somewhat less than one half of the segment). Ovipositor comparatively short, equal in length to

about three of the preceding segments united. The wings without costal expansion; stump distinct.

Length, without ovipositor, 13-17 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

I have about forty males and thirty females, collected by the late Mr. Morrison.

In E. prolificus, as in many other species, the cephalic and thoracic macrochete often

vary from black to yellowish ; sometimes the mystax contains many yellow bristles, some-

times not. In some rare specimens the tuft of white hairs in front of the scutellum is

wanting.

This species seems to be a very common one, judging from the number of specimens col-

lected, and yet I cannot identify it with any description. In E. jubatus, Willist. (Trans.

Am. Ent. Soc. xii. p. 66), from New Mexico, judging from the description, there is no

white hair either on or in front of the scutellum ; the abdominal segments 3, 4, 5 (and

not 2, 8, 4) have grey margins, and the segments 6 and 7 (and not 4, 6, 7) are silvery ; and

the abdomen of the female is deep black, which is not the case in E. prolificus &c.

E. parvulus, Bellardi, from Mexico, has reddish rings at the tip of the femora.

E. nigrimystaceus, Macq. Dipt. Exot. Suppl. ii. p. 41 (Guadeloupe), has some points

in common with E. prolificus, but cannot be identified with it.

N.B.—The species Nos. 8-11, as well as E. wnicolor, Bell, E. parvulus, Bell.,

E. carinatus, Bell., and E. comatus, Bell., belong to a group which seems to be abun-

dantly represented in Mexico and in the neighbouring regions of the United States,

The species of this group have a crest of erect hairs along the middle of the thorax, the

crest usually ending posteriorly in a tuft of white or yellowish hairs inserted on the pre-

scutellar region and on the disc of the scutellum. The thorax itself is compressed from

the sides, with a kind of keel or ridge along the dorso-central line upon which the crest

is inserted: this character is more pronounced in some species than in others, and

amongst those now before me it is most distinct in Hraz No.9. In the male the costa

is expanded and thickened. A secondary sexual character in this group consists in the

2d 2

204 DIPTERA.

disappearance in the male of the stump on the anterior branch of the third vein, although

it is fully developed in the female. In the figures of the males of EZ. parvulus, Bell.,

and LF. carinatus, Bell. (cf. Saggio &c. ii. t. 2. ff. 8 & 9), the stump is erroneously repre-

sented as being present. I have seen the typical specimens, in which it is wanting ; and,

moreover, the description in both cases says explicitly “cellula inappendiculata,”

although the cell is incorrectly called “ first posterior.”

9, Erax ——?

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

A single male, about 12 millim. long without the forceps. This specimen has

the silvery abdomen beset with rather long silvery hair, which, beginning on the

second segment, is parted in the middle and combed outwards; there seem to be

some darker spots on the silvery ground of the second segment, but they are con-

cealed by the hair; the venter beset with long white hair. The crest of erect black

hairs on the thorax is more dense here than in £. prolificus, almost reaching the

scutellum ; on each side it has a fringe of short, delicate, white hairs closely applied to

it; the tuft of scattered black and white hairs which, in EF. prolificus, exists between

the thoracic suture and the scutellum is replaced here by the prolongation of the black

crest ; hairs on the scutellum snow-white (except the usual fringe of black bristles) ; the

hairs of the beard and mystax also of a purer white than in Z. prolificus, those of

the mystax mixed with black, especially on the upper part. Wings like those of

E. prolificus, only a little purer hyaline; the thickening of the costa is similar, that is,

only moderate, and less strong than in Hrax No. 10. Prevailing ground-colour of the

legs dark metallic green ; tibize deep red on the proximal half only ; coxee, femora, and

tibie beset with white hairs. Forceps of the same structure as in £. prolificus, only

the upper part projects much less beyond the hairy brush on the underside.

Two females from the same locality may perhaps be paired with the above-described

male. One, without the ovipositor, is 15-16 millim. long; the other 11-12 millim. In

these specimens the black crest on the thorax does not reach so far back as in the male,

but is replaced beyond the suture by scattered black hairs, with a strong admixture of

white ones (asin £. prolificus). The abdomen is black above, with narrow grey margins

to the segments, the lateral margins more broadly grey ; with long white hair on the

upper surface of segments 1-3, and shorter white hair on the hind margins of the

following segments; the ovipositor equal in length to five of the preceding segments.

Legs beset with long white hair; femora dark metallic green ; tibize reddish, darker

towards the tip. The mystax with black hairs, mixed with white ones, some rufous

hairs also appearing among them. The coxz with tufts of rufous hair, which are, how-

ever, much less apparent in the smaller specimen. I doubt that these hairs are a

permanent character. These females are easily distinguished from the same sex of

ERAX. 205

4. prolificus by the darker abdomen, with narrower grey hind margins of the segments ;

the longer ovipositor, the darker mystax, &c.

N.B.—Z. unicolor, Bell. (I have not seen the type, it is not in Bellardi’s collection),

from Orizaba, Mexico, described from the female sex only, has a great deal in

common with the above-mentioned females. The keel-like elevation of the middle of

the thorax, described by Bellardi, is quite conspicuous in my specimens; the ovipositor,

as described by him, is long; the whole appearance very hairy. But the other details of

Prof. Bellardi’s description do not answer.

Van der Wulp has specimens of both sexes of an insect from Guanajuato, Mexico,

which he refers to EH. unicolor; according to him, the male agrees with the female in

everything except the genitals (in other words, it has no silvery segments on the

abdomen ?): if this determination be correct, it justifies me in not identifying my

specimen with LE. unicolor.

10. Erax ——?

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

Very like E. prolificus in size, colouring, and in the structure of the male forceps.

The principal differences are: the male has nearly the whole of the abdomen silvery, the

segments 2-5 beset with silvery hairs which are parted in the middle and combed out-

wards, and the expansion of the costa larger and darker-coloured ; the female (or at

least the specimens which I refer as females to the above-mentioned males) has the

abdomen uniformly grey, beset with short whitish hairs, the ovipositor equal in length

to about five of the preceding segments, and therefore longer than in the preceding

species. In both sexes the femora are red on the upperside. Two males and three

females.

11. Erax 2

(?) Hrax carinatus, Bell. Saggio &c. ii. p. 36, t. 2. f. 9.

Hab. Mexico (Truqui +), Presidio (Forrer).

| Belongs to the same group as Z. prolificus and Erax Nos. 9 and 10, ¢. g. with a crested

thorax. I have two females which cannot be referred to either of those species. The

femora are red above, and dark metallic green on the underside only, and in this

respect this species is like No. 10; it has the same long ovipositor, equal to about five

of the preceding segments united. But the abdominal segments are much darker

in the middle than on the sides, and not uniformly grey; the wings are shorter and

more brownish; the hairs on the scutellum and on the prescutellar space are not

white, but dingy yellowish. I suspect that this may be the female of E. carinatus,

Bellardi, of which the male only is described; I obtained this impression on com-

paring the male in Turin.

206 DIPTERA.

The following species of rar have been described by the older authors from our

region :— |

Eraz affinis, Bell. Saggio &c. ii. p. 41.—Mexico, Cordova.

aper, Walk. List &c. vii. p. 621.—Mexico.

argyrogaster, Macq. Dipt. Exot. Suppl. i. p. 84.—Mexico, Yucatan.

bicolor, Bell. 1. c. p. 47.--Mexico.

bimaculatus, Bell. 1. c. p. 45, t. 2. f. 11.—Mexico.

carinatus, Bell. 1. c. p. 36, t. 2. f. 9—Mexico.

——- cingulatus, Bell. 1. c. p. 42.—Mexico, Cuantla.

comatus, Bell. 1. c. p. 34.—Mexico.

—— eximius, Bell. 1. c. p. 38.—Mexico.

— flavofasciatus,Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins.i. p.470.—Brazil (Wiedem. );.

Honduras (Walk. List &c. ii. p. 400).

lascivus,Wiedem. 1.c.i.p.474.—Brazil (Wiedem.); Honduras (Walk. l.c.)..

Syn. Asilus amarynceus, Walk. List &c. ii. p. 400; ibid. vil. p. 637.

—— loewi, Bell. 1. c. Append. p. 24, t. 3. f. 17.—Mexico, Tuxpango.

—— marginatus, Bell. 1. c. p. 46.—Mexico, Cuantla.

—— beilardii, Schin. Reise d. Novara, Dipt. p. 182.—Colombia.

Syn. Erax (Eristicus) nigripes, Bell. 1. c. p. 48.—Mexico.

—— parvulus, Bell. 1. c. p. 35, t. 2. f. 8.-—-Mexico.

—— pumilus, Walk. List &c. vii. p. 640.—Mexico, Vera Cruz.

—— 4-maculatus, Bell. 1. c. p. 44, t. 2. f. 13.—Mexico, Playa Vicente, Cordova..

tricolor, Bell. 1. c. p. 40, t. 2. f. 12.—Mexico.

—— unicolor, Bell. 1. c. p. 37.—Mexico, Tuxpango.

PROCTACANTHUS.

Proctacanthus, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. i. 2, p. 120 (1838).

I have three species of this genus before me. One from San Gerénimo, Guatemala

(Champion), is represented by a single female, not unlike P. brevipennis in colouring,

but larger; the femora and tarsi black ; the tibie red, black at the tip ; the palpi red,

beset with pale yellow hairs, and apparently unusually large; the lips at the end of the

proboscis also more developed than usual. Another species, represented by four males

from Northern Sonora (Morrison), is allied to P. malbertii: I donot venture to describe

it, as I have no specimens of the latter for comparison ; it is larger than P. craverii,

Bell., and the tibiz are as dark as the femora. The third species I describe as new; it

is very peculiar, and will, I hope, be easily recognizable.

1. Proctacanthus exquisitus, sp.n.¢ 2. (Tab. III. fig. 12, 9.)

Pale yellowish-grey ; abdomen with a longitudinal brown, well-marked stripe strongly contrasting with the

pale ground-colour. .

Length, ¢, 19-20 millim.; 9, including the ovipositor, 25 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Jorrison).

PROCTACANTHUS.—ECCRITOSIA. 207

Facial tubercle but little prominent; mystax white, with a very slight yellowish

tinge ; palpi with white hairs at the tip; face white pollinose; beard pure white; a

tuft of white hairs on each side of the front ; hairs on the vertex and the upper part of the

-occiput yellowish. Antenne black, the second joint reddish ; first joint beset with white

pile. Thorax with a brown dorso-central double stripe, its median line pale brownish-

yellow; the lateral stripes of a paler brownish ; the interval between the dorso-central

-and lateral stripes greyish ; all the hairs and macrochete on the thorax and scutellum

pale yellowish-white; pleuree yellowish-grey pollinose. Abdomen yellowish-grey ; in

the male each of the segments up to the sixth with an elongate, narrow, dark brown

spot in the middle (that on the sixth only indicated by a brown line), the series of these

‘spots along the back forming a longitudinal stripe slightly interrupted at the incisures ;

in the female the dorsal stripe reaches, without any diminution, to the end of the seventh

segment. Ventral surface greyish-yellow pollinose, with a vestige of a brownish longi-

‘tudinal line in the middle. Male forceps small; upper valves short, beset with whitish

hairs. In the female the eighth abdominal segment is reddish-brown, horny, cylindrical,

a little longer than the preceding segment, and slightly attenuate at the end; and the

-coronet of spinules at the end of the ninth segment is very small. Halteres reddish-

yellow. Legs densely clothed with whitish hairs, the bristles mostly whitish ; ground-

colour of the front pair reddish, the front side of the femora (except the tip) and the tip

-of the tibie black ; the middle pair of the same colour, but with the black on the front

-side of the femora more extensive, and reaching the tip, and the tibie not only dark at

the tip but also with a blackish line from thence to the basis; the prevailing colour of

the hind pair black, but with a reddish stripe on the hind side of the femora and of the

tibie. Wings subhyaline; venation normal; tip of the posterior branch of the third

vein slightly turned backwards.—One male and one female.

N.B.—tThe structure and small size of the male forceps, and the comparatively small

-coronet of spines at the tip of the ovipositor, distinguish this species from the normal

Proctacanthus ; nevertheless there is no ground for a generic separation.

Two species of this genus have already been described from Central America :—

Proctacanthus craverii, Bellardi, Saggio &c. i. p. 50.—Mexico.

rufiwentris, Macq. Dipt. Exot. i. 2, p. 123, t. 10. f. 2.—Honduras.

ECCRITOSIA.

Eccritosia, Schiner, Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, 1866, p. 674.

1. Eccritosia amphinome.

Asilus amphinome, Walker, List &c. ii. p. 887 (¢ 2)’.

Hab. Muxico, Presidio (Forrer); Guatemata, Rio Naranjo 450 feet (Champion) ;

Howpvras?.

208 DIPTERA.

I have two male specimens before me; the species must be referred to Eccritosia,

Schiner.

ASILUS.

Asilus, Linneus, Fauna Suecica, 1761.

1. Asilus chrysauges, sp. n., 2.

Black ; upperside of the abdomen golden-fulvous pollinose ; venter and sides of the abdomen black; legs black ;

wings infuscate; ovipositor short.

Length about 28 millim.

Hab. Guaremata, Panima in Vera Paz (Champion).

Facial tubercle moderate, its upperside rising rather abruptly, the hairs and bristles

upon it black; face and front black, the former with a brownish pollen on its sides.

Antenne black, the third joint gradually tapering beyond its middle and merging in the

bristle, the latter nearly as long as the joint itself. Thorax (somewhat injured): the black

dorsum showing traces of golden-fulvous stripes of pollen ; a distinct stripe of such pollen

on each side, along the dorso-pleural suture, between the humerus and the post-alar

callosity ; a patch of similar pollen in front of the scutellum ; the latter fulvous-pollinose,

with fulvous hairs and bristles. | Halteres brownish-red. The dark ground-colour of

the abdomen entirely concealed under a dense golden-fulvous pollen ; a close, short,

recumbent pubescence of the same colour visible (under the magnifying-glass) above

the pollen, the pubescence longer on the posterior margins of the segments; longer

erect yellowish hairs on the sides of segments 1-3; a tuft of black bristles on each side

of the first segment. The eighth abdominal segment brownish, short ; beyond it is the

short black ovipositor. Ventral surface black, the black also encroaching on each side

upon the dorsal segments. Legs black, only the pulvilli of the usual reddish colour.

Wings rather uniformly infuscate ; with narrow subhyaline lines along the fourth vein

and its branches and along the fifth and sixth veins.—A single female.

This species differs from the European A. crabroniformis and the North-American

A. sericeus in the structure of the ovipositor. In A. crabroniformis the eighth

abdominal segment is a narrow, elongate, horny cone, distinctly longer than the

preceding segment, smooth and shining, and at its end are the small valves of the

ovipositor; in A. chrysauges the eighth abdom nal segment is short, pollinose, and

hairy, and therefore does not have the appearance of forming a part of the ovipositor,

which is thus represented by the small valves and the horny piece at their base only.

The venation is very like that of A. crabroniformis, the discal cell being long and

narrow, and the second posterior cell bulging out beyond it at the base.

The bristles on the tarsi of A. chrysauges are remarkably strong ; a pair of them just

above the ungues form a conspicuous fork, which might be mistaken for the ungues

themselves, if the latter were removed. A similar structure exists in A. midas, but not

in A. crabroniformis or A. sericeus.

ASILUS.—NEOMOCHTHERUS. 209

2. Asilus midas.

Asilus mydas, Brauer, Sitzungsber. Ak. Wiss. Wien, xci. p. 387, figg. 1, 1 a (1885)".

Hab. Mexico, Ciudad in Durango 8100 feet (Forrer), Cuernavaca !.

This recognizable species has been figured, but not described, by Dr. Brauer, in

order to illustrate a case of mimicry between it and a Midas (M. rubidapex, Wiedem.)

from the same locality. A. midas is easily described: it is altogether velvety-black,

with black hairs and bristles; the face with a tuft of white hairs on each side, on the

cheeks, in the male; wings of a rich reddish-yellow, brownish at the base, the alule

brown, the apical margin brownish ; pulvilli of the usual fulvous colour; male forceps

rather large and stout; ovipositor short; the eighth abdominal segment shorter than

the preceding one, smooth, shining, black, sparsely beset with hairs; the ovipositor

proper with short valves, and beset with yellowish hairs. The venation like that of the

preceding species; the second posterior cell bulging out and encroaching upon the first.

NEOMOCHTHERUS.

Neomochtherus, O. Sacken, Catal. N. A. Dipt. 1878, p. 82.

Mochtherus, Loew, Linn. Ent. iv. p. 58 (1849).

1. Neomochtherus plebeius, sp. n., 3 ¢.

Brownish ; thorax with brown stripes; abdomen dark brown, with the posterior margins of the segments

pale ; legs yellowish-red, the tarsi darker.

Length about 18 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

Face yellowish-white sericeous, flat, but the mouth fornicate and projecting in

profile in front of the eyes; no perceptible facial tubercle; mystax with a few whitish

bristles; a few whitish bristles also along the edge of the mouth; beard very soft,

white ; front yellowish pollinose ; ocellar bristles microscopic ; occiput yellowish-white

pollinose ; bristles of the upper occipital orbit yellowish or black; antenne black, the

second joint brownish ; palpi black, with a few white hairs at the tip. ‘Thorax with a

dark brown, opaque, dorso-central stripe, and a more or less distinct pollinose dividing

line; lateral stripes distinct, but more feebly marked; the intervals and the scutellum

brownish-yellow pollinose; pleure greyish pollinose. Halteres pale yellowish. Abdo-

men: first segment yellowish pollinose, its base greyish; the remaining segments dark

brown, with pale orichalceous hind margins, the breadth of the margins less than one

fourth of the length of the segment; lateral margins greyish pollinose. Forceps black,

shining, not broader than the abdomen, moderately beset with blackish and whitish

hairs. The segments 8 and 9, forming the ovipositor, compressed from the sides, black,

shining. Legs smooth; the closely appressed pile visible only under a strong magni-

tying-power ; the bristles few; yellowish-red, the femora with more or less distinct

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., April 1887. 2e

210 DIPTERA.

brown stripes on the front side and dark brown dots at the tips; the tips of the tibiee

and of all the tarsal joints infuscated; the four anterior coxe grey-pollinose and beset

with white hairs, the hind coxe reddish. _ Wings greyish-hyaline, purer hyaline towards

the root. Two specimens.

N.B.—In all the essential characters this species is allied to the typical forms of

Neomochtherus, e.g. the European N. pallipes, Macq., and N. striatipes, Loew; it very

much resembles the former species in colour, but is larger. The most marked difference

consists in the male forceps being not so swollen as in these two species. Loew, how-

ever, did not regard this character as essential, as he provisionally placed WV. castanipes

in the same genus. The latter species is much more aberrant than V. plebeius; it has

four macrochetz on the scutellum, while W. plebetus and the two above-mentioned

European species have only two; the legs are more bristly, &c. The ovipositor of

N. plebeius is also shorter and broader than that of WV. pallipes and UN. striaticeps.

The following species of Astlus, in a wider sense, have been described from our

region by previous writers :—

Asilus apicalis, Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii. p. 57.—Mexico.

inamatus, Walker, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. n. ser. v. p. 283.—Mexico.

infuscatus, Bellardi, 1. c. p. 56.— Mexico.

— megacephalus, Bellardi, 1. c. p. 58.—Mexico.

—— mexicanus, Macq. Dipt. Exot. Suppl. ii. p. 94.—Mexico.

perrumpens, Walker, 1. c. p. 283.—Mexico.

—— (Philonicus) teniatus, Bellardi, |. c. p. 55.—Mexico.

( ) tuxpanganus, Bellardi, 1. c. App. p. 22.—Mexico, Tuxpango.

—— (Lophonotus) humilis, Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii. p. 51.—Mexico. —

—— (Mochtherus?) fuliginosus, Bellardi, 1. c. p. 52.—Mexico.

—— (Mochtherus) truquii, Bellardi, 1. c. p. 52.—Mexico.

—— (Epitriptus?) albo-spinosus, Bellardi, 1. c. p. 54.—Mexico.

—— (Epitriptus) niveibarbus, Bellardi, 1. c. p. 53.—Mexico, Cordova.

OMMATIUS.

Ommatius, Wiedemann, Dipt. Exot. 1. p. 213 (1821).

1. Ommatius peregrinus, sp.n., ¢.

Thoracic dorsum dull brown; abdomen red ; legs yellowish-red, the hind femora and tibiee with brownish rings

in the middle; wings hyaline, with a grey shade on the apex.

Length 15 millim.

Hab. Panama, Bugaba 800 to 1500 feet (Champion).

Face orichalceous pollinose ; facial tubercle but little projecting, beset with golden

OMMATIUS.—ANARMOSTUS. . 211

hairs and a few black bristles; beard pale whitish-yellow. Antenne reddish; third

joint small, brown, the base reddish. Thorax: dorsum dull brown, the usual stripes

being coalescent; a border of golden-yellow pollen along the dorso-pleural suture,

emitting a branch along the thoracic suture and another between the humerus and the

dorso-central stripe ; two greyish longitudinal lines on the dorso-central stripe; a spot

of grey pollen in front of the scutellum; the latter yellowish-grey pollinose; pleure

pale orichalceous pollinose, the pollen also covering the coxze. Halteres reddish; the

fan-like row of bristles in front of them black. Abdomen brownish-rufous, the incisures

darker; the surface and sides beset with golden-yellow hair. Legs yellowish-red; a

feebly marked brownish ring on the hind femora and a more marked one on the hind

tibie ; a brownish spot on the upperside of the middle tibie; knees of the four

posterior legs brownish. Wings subhyaline ; a brownish-grey shade at the apex not

quite reaching the proximal end of the second submarginal cell; on the posterior

margin this shade becomes very narrow and evanescent in the fifth posterior cell.

The following species of Ommatius and Emphysomera have been described from

Mexico (there are none from other parts of Central America) by previous authors :—

Ommatius fuscipennis, Bellardi, Saggio &c. Append. p. 23.—Mexico, Tux-

pango near Orizaba.

pumilus, Macq. Dipt. Exot. Suppl. ii. p. 42, t. 1. f. 10; Bellardi, Saggio

&c. ii. p. 59.—Mexico, Cuantla.

parvus, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1875, p. 247.

Emphysomera pilosula, Bigot, 1. c. p. 243.

—— bicolor, Bigot, l.c. p. 244.

ANARMOSTUS.

Anarmostus, Loew, Siidafr. Dipt. 1860*.

1. Anarmostus iopterus.

Asilus iopterus, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 438°.

Hab. British Honpuras (Blancaneaur).—Brazit }.

A single specimen from British Honduras is apparently referable to this species ; it

has the abdominal segments 6, 7, 8 alone steel-blue, the others black, opaque; the

tibie densely beset with white hair, but having, on the’ front side, a glabrous, metallic

blue stripe. Notwithstanding these discrepancies from the description, I believe the

determination to be correct, and my belief has not been shaken by the sight of the type

in Vienna, which, however, I have not been able to compare in detail.

* This generic name has also been used in Pisces (Scudder, 1863) ; it has priority, however, in Diptera,

262

212 DIPTERA.

ATRACTIA.

Atractia, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. i. 2, p. 151 (1838).

1. Atractia marginata, sp. n.

Black, with a metallic green reflection, especially on the thorax; face yellowish-white sericeous, with a few

black and yellowish bristles; the (very much damaged) thorax with traces of yellowish pollinose longitu-

dinal stripes and also of lateral stripes along the dorso-pleural suture, the intervals between the stripes

shining dark metallic green ; pleura and scutellum similarly pollinose or sericeous ; scutellum with four

long black bristles; abdomen black, with a slight bluish-green reflection, densely punctate, the posterior

edges of the segments with a narrow whitish sericeous line; knob of the halteres brownish, the stem

pale yellow; coxe black; anterior femora brownish-yellow, with a well-defined longitudinal black stripe

on the posterior side; anterior tibie black or dark brown, yellow at the base, the yellow reaching further

on the front side than on the hind side; middle femora black, brownish-yellow at the base, on the upper

side; middle tibie black, brownish-yellow at the base; hind femora black, with a trace of brownish at

the base; hind tibie black, the proximal third brownish-yellow ; all the black of the femora and tibice

with a metallic green reflection ; tarsi black, hairy; wings tinged with brownish.

Length 9 millim.

Hab. Nicaracua, Chontales (Janson).

A single, very much damaged, specimen of uncertain sex. I describe it, nevertheless,

as this singular genus has not been found so far north before.

APIOCERA.

Apiocera, Westwood, Lond. & Edinb. Phil. Mag. 1835.

Tapinocera, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. i. 2, p. 78 (1838).

Pomacera, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. Suppl. i. p. 47 (1847).

Anypenus, Philippi, Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, xv. p. 702 (1865).

1. Apiocera augur, sp. n., ¢.

The second of the veins issuing from the discal cell reaching the margin behind the apex; both branches of

the fork of the third vein ending in the margin; the greyish-white abdomen with a pair of velvety-black,

triangular spots on each of segments 2, 3, 4.

Length, including ¢ forceps, 16-17 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Presidio (Forrer).

Front and vertex silvery, beset with whitish pile; palpi yellowish-white, the last

joint broad but ending ina point. Antenne blackish-brown ; first joint hoary ; first

and second joints beset with white bristles; third joint pear-shaped (like the fig. 26 @

in Philippi, J. ¢. t. 25), but the tip drawn out into a short, curved point. Thorax black,

shining above, with some greyish-white pollen along the margins of the mesonotum ;

pleure black, greyish pollinose. Abdomen greyish-white (that is, the black ground-

colour is entirely hidden under a covering of greyish-white pollen); segments 2, 3, 4

with, on each side, at some distance from the lateral margin, a velvety-black, more or

less distinct, triangle (the apex of which is turned towards the middle and the base

parallel to the lateral margin); segment 5 shows, in the same place, a brownish spot ;

the following two segments are nearly unicolorous, greyish-silvery; near the lateral

APIOCERA.—DOLICHOPUS. 213

margins of segments 3-5 elongated brown spots are perceptible ; ventral surface greyish-

silvery at the base, pale reddish towards the tip; male forceps rather large, black.

Halteres brownish-yellow. Legs black, or brownish-black. Wings hyaline; veins

brown, the auxiliary vein, and the first vein also, more yellowish.

N.B.—Since writing the above description, I have received Coquillet’s article on

Apiocera (Psyche, 1885, p. 244); this author there states that he has twenty-two

Californian specimens, some of which agree with A. haruspex, O. Sack., but the others

differ to such a degree from these, and also from each other, that he is at a loss to know

whether to regard them as belonging to several species, or as merely varieties of one

very variable insect; he inclines to the latter view of the case; and if this view be

correct, my A. augur may perhaps also be merely a variety of A. haruspea.

In my detailed article on Apiocera (Berl. ent. Zeit. 1883, p. 292) I paid but little

attention to the suggestion of Macquart as to the relationship of this genus to Thereva.

I merely said that the venation of Thereva, “on account of the shortness of the first

longitudinal vein,” belongs to a different type, far remote from that of the Asilide and

Apiocera. This argument is conclusive, and those who insist nevertheless upon

upholding Macquart’s view merely show that they have no eye for affinities based upon

the venation of Diptera. The Tipulide, Asilide, Syrphidz, and some other groups of

Diptera have such a well-characterized venation that the sight of the wing alone is

sufficient for defining the systematic position of the species belonging to them. Since

I have shown that Apiocera is not a Midaid, the only debatable question is whether it

is an Asilid, or an aberrant form allied to the Asilide.

Fam. DOLICHOPODIDA.

DOLICHOPUS.

Dolichopus, Latreille, Précis des Car. gén. des Ins. iv. p. 292 (1796).

1. Dolichopus myosota, sp. n.,c.

Antenne and legs black; cilia of the inferior orbit whitish ; cilia of the tegule black ; face silvery-white ;

wings hyaline, the distal half of the fourth vein bisinuate but not angularly broken, the costa without any

incrassation.

Length about 4 millim.

Hab. Mzxico, Northern Sonora (Morrison).

Bright metallic green, with bluish reflections; antenne black, rather small, the third

joint short and subtriangular; arista black, glabrous; face silvery; pleure slightly

hoary ; abdomen distinctly hoary on the sides; lamelle of the hypopygium rather small,

whitish, with black margins; legs uniformly black, the brown on the knees hardly

perceptible ; the femora, especially the anterior pair, with metallic green reflections ;

macrocheete on the outer side of the four posterior femora, neai the tip, rather strong.

214 DIPTERA.

Beyond the usual pile, there are no conspicuous fringes or other secondary sexual

characters on the legs.

2. Dolichopus ——?, ¢ 2.

Hab. Mexico, Ciudad in Durango 8100 feet (Forrer).

Of the group of D. ramifer, Loew, D. bifractus, Loew, &c. Two specimens in poor

condition ; these have the third joint of the antenne elongate, black; the wings dis-

tinctly infuscate between the distal part of the anterior margin and the fourth vein.

PSILOPUS.

Psilopus, Meigen, System. Beschr. der bek. europ. zweifl. Ins. iv. p. 35 (1824) *.

Of this genus, very abundantly represented in tropical regions, the collections before

me contain about half a dozen species. Owing to the difficulty of defining the species

of this group and the very large number (between 80 and 90) already described from

North and South America, I do not attempt either to determine or to describe this

small collection; the whole group requires a monographic treatment.

The species of Dolichopodide hitherto described from Mexico and Central America

are as follows :—

Psilopus dimidiatus, Loew, Monogr. &c. ii. p. 246.—Mexico (S. America,

Schiner, Reise d. Novara, Zool. iii. Abth. i. p. 212).

—— melampus, Loew, 1. c. p. 253.—Mexico (S. America, Schiner, 1. c.).

- meisuralis, Macq. Dipt. Exot. Suppl. i. p. 120, t. 20. f. 6.—Mexico,

- Yucatan.

lepidus, Walk. Dipt. Saund. p. 207.—Mexico.

peractus, Walk. Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. n. ser. v. p. 287.—Mexico.

permodicus, Walk. |. c. p. 288.—Mexico.

solidus, Walk. 1. c. p. 287.—Mexico.

hereticus, Walk. 1. c. p. 287.—Mexico.

Hydrophorus punctipennis, Say, Proc. Ac. Phil. vi. p. 170; Compl. Wr. ii.

p. 362 (Medeterus).—Mexico.

Lyroneurus cerulescens, Loew, Monogr. &e. ii. p. 170.—Mexico.

Fam. EMPIDZ.

EMPIS.

Empis, Linneus, Syst. Nat. ed. 12, i. pt. 2, p. 1003 (1767).

* This name is preoccupied in Mollusca (1795) ; I do not think it necessary, however, to change it,

EMPIS. 215

1. Empis diaphorina, sp. n., ¢.

Metallic green ; antenne and coxe black ; legs yellow, the hind pair with black fringes.

Length about 4 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Ciudad in Durango 8100 feet (Forrer).

Differs from E. dolichopodina, Schiner (Brazil), by its black antenne ; from £. cyanea,

Bell. (Mexico), by the front legs being altogether yellow and without fringes, and the

wings yellowish, and not hyaline; and from EZ. swavis, Loew (Mexico), by the colour of

the legs and wings.

Antenne black ; third joint elongate, about as long as the first two joints united, with

a short style. Occiput hoary, beset with black pile; front metallic green. Thorax

metallic green, shining, with a vestige of three pollinose stripes on the dorsum, the

latter sparsely beset with long, erect, black pile ; meso- and sternopleura shining metallic

green; pteropleura black, slightly hoary; the fan-like row of bristles black; halteres

black; metanotum slightly pulverulent. Abdomen metallic bluish, greenish at the

base. Legs brownish-yellow, the tips of the tarsi brown; the front pair beset with

moderately long, delicate hairs, their first tarsal joint long, swollen; on the middle

pair the hairs are stouter and more dense, fringe-like, especially on the underside of

the femora; the hind tibie are broad and flattened, and bear, on each side, a fringe of

long, stout, almost scale-like hairs; similar fringes on the hind femora, but less con-

spicuous ; coxe black; trochanters brown. Wings with a pale brownish-yellow tinge

towards the root and the anterior margin ; stigma hardly visible; hind margin greyish ;

the branch of the third vein nearly perpendicular; the first vein issuing from the discal

cell turning anteriorly before its end; the first and second veins reach the margin, but

are’very thin and evanescent before it. ‘Two females.

2. Empis benigna, sp.n.,3 °.

Metallic green, the antenne and legs black, the knees yellowish ; wings subhyaline, yellowish at the base and

anteriorly.

Length 4-5 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Ciudad in Durango (forrer).

Differs from the description of E. cyanea, Bell., by its black legs, the knees only

being yellowish. Compared with E. diaphorina the antenne are shorter and have the

third joint more lanceolate and less elongated; and the metallic green thorax is

without any vestige of pollinose stripes. 7

Antenne black ; third joint a little shorter than the preceding two joints united, the

division, or suture, occupying about two-thirds of its length and very distinct, the style

short and stout. Face and front very dark metallic, shining, almost black. Thorax

metallic green, shining, beset with long, erect, black pile ; pleura metallic green, shining

anteriorly, black, slightly hoary posteriorly ; halteres and the fan-like bristles in front

of them black. Abdomen metallic green ( ¢ ), or metallic blue, green at the base ( ¢ );

216 DIPTERA.

male genitals black. Legs black, the last pair of coxe slightly pulverulent at the base,

the knees slightly brownish-yellow, the tarsi dark brown and with their first joint but

slightly incrassate ; in the ‘ male’ beset with long, soft, blackish hairs, the tip of the hind

tibie bearing, on the underside, a small brush of very short, stiff bristles (which produces

the appearance of an incrassation), and the yellowish-brown first joint of the hind tarsi

having, on the underside, a similar brush of bristles at the base, followed by a distinct

emargination ; in the ‘female’ the middle femora on the underside, the middle tibie,

and the hind femora and tibie on both sides, beset with fringes of long, scale-like

hairs, and the hind tibize broadened and with a groove on the outside. Wings of the

male subhyaline, with a slight yellowish tinge in the subcostal cell, especially on the

stigma ; in the female this yellowish tinge is more extended and occupies the whole

antero-proximal half; the venation as in £. diaphorina. One male, two females.

N.B.—In the male the eyes are contiguous and the genitals projecting (I cannot see

the structure of the latter distinctly); the proboscis does not, in either sex, reach

beyond the thorax.

8. Empis pegasus; sp. n., 2.

Black, segments 1-4 of the abdomen ochraceous-yellow ; wings infuscated; all the legs fringed with scale-

like hairs.

Length 7 millim.

Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 2500 to 4000 feet (Champion).

Female. Black; front moderately broad, opaque; face shining. Antenne black;

third joint not longer than the first, triangular, slightly excised on the underside, the

arista as long, or a little longer. Thorax black, with a trace of three greyish stripes.

Abdomen with the four basal segments ochraceous-yellow, opaque, shining on the

incisures only ; the last segments black, shining. Legs dark brown, or black; femora,

tibize, and tarsi beset with broad fringes of scale-like hairs (on the anterior femora alone

the fringes are replaced by hairs); the four hinder femora and tibie distinctly flattened.

‘Wings with a uniformly brown tinge; branch of the third vein slightly oblique. A

single specimen.

The species of Empide hitherto described from Mexico (there are none from other

parts of Central America) are as follows :—

Empis bicolor, Bellardi, Saggio &c. ii. p. 98.—Mexico, Cuantla.

cyanea, Bellardi, 1. c. p. 98. |

spiloptera, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. il. p. 5 (syn. #. picta, Loew,

Centur, iii. no. 28).

suavis, Loew, Centur. viil. no. 56.

—— totipennis, Bellardi, |. c. p. 99.—Mexico, Morelia.

violacea, Loew, Centur. viii. no. 50.

Hybos dimidiatus, Bellardi, 1. c. p. 97.

SUPPLEMENT*.

MYCETOPHILIDE (p. 1).

PLESIASTINA.

Plesiastina, Winnertz, Stett. ent. Zeit. p. 55 (1852).

1. Plesiastina bifasciata, sp. n. (Tab. IV. figg. 1, 1a, 3.)

do. Head yellow, the ocelli on small blackish spots; antenne longer than the head and thorax together, light

yellow, the last seven joints black, the flagellum flattened. Mesonotum light yellow, with three broad

shining black stripes, the lateral ones abbreviated in front. Scutellum yellow, with the margin brownish.

Pleure in part pitchy brown. Metanotum light yellow above, brown on the lower part. Abdomen: first

segment and the venter light yellow; second to seventh segments, inclusive, shining black, with the hind

margin yellow or yellowish, and clothed with yellow hair; remainder of abdomen black, with less

abundant yellow hair; hypopygium yellow, with the superior organs blackish. Legs yellow; four

posterior coxee brownish ; hind femora, tip of the hind tibiz, the hind tarsi, and the tip of the middle

tibize black; middle tarsi brownish; front tibiz with weaker bristles; all the tibie with spurs, the hind

pair with long and stout ones. Wings light yellow, with brown markings as follows: the whole of

the costal cell, except sometimes a spot at the beginning of the yellow distally, the broad distal and

narrow posterior margin, and a moderately broad band near the middle of the wing; the auxiliary

vein vanishes in a fold that ends about opposite the beginning of the third vein; the third vein forks

before its middle, the fourth a little beyond the middle of the second section of the third ; the costal vein

ends at the tip of the posterior branch of the third. Length 63-7 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Sierra de las Aguas Escondidas in Guerrero 7000 feet (H. H. Smith).

Three specimens.

MACROCERA.

Macrocera, Meigen, in Illiger’s Magazin f. Ins. ii. p. 261 (1803).

1. Macrocera concinna.

Macrocera concinna, Willist. Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1896, p. 255, t. 8. f. 7°.

Hab. Mexico, Chilpancingo in Guerrero 4600 feet (H. H. Smith).—Anriiixs,

‘St. Vincent ?.

A single specimen. It differs somewhat from the Antillean types in the coloration

* Since the publication of Baron C. R. Osten Sacken’s enumeration of the species of the Families of

Diptera dealt with in this Volume, whose last contribution was issued in April 1887, we have obtained a

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., December 1900. — 2f

218 SUPPLEMENT.

of the wings, but not to any great extent: the distal end is more broadly marked, and

the middle spot is geminate. The prefurca of the fourth vein is short. The length is

somewhat less—3 millim. ; of the antenne 10 millim. I am rather inclined to suspect ©

that the species may prove to be inseparable from Jf. inconcinna, Loew, from the

District of Columbia.

PLATYURA.

Platyura, Meigen, in Illiger’s Magazin f. Ins. ii. p. 264 (1803).

1. Platyura pictipennis.

Platyura pictipennis, Willist. Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1896, p. 257, t. 8. f. 10’.

Hab. Mexico, Vera Cruz, Chilpancingo in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).—ANTILLES,

St. Vincent 1.

Two specimens. The female agrees with the description. The male, with a much

parrower abdomen, is marked differently: it has the abdomen black, with the first

segment, the distal margins of the second, third, and fourth, and the whole of the

fitth, yellow.

2. Platyura elegantula, sp.n. (Tab. IV. fig. 2, 2.)

9. Head yellow, the upper portion, to a line just in front of the ocelli, shining black. Palpi and tip of the

proboscis brownish. Antenne brown, the first two joints yellow; in length equal to that of the meso-

notum. Mesonotum yellow, with three coalescent black stripes, of which the lateral ones are abbreviated

in front; just above the root of the wings the more abundant black hair gives the appearance of a

slender black spot. Pleurz yellow, the mesosternum and the lower part of the metasternum brown.

Metanotum brown, the sides silvery in some lights. Scutellum blackish. Abdomen brownish; the

anterior part of the first, third, and fourth segments reddish yellow; venter almost wholly of the latter

colour. Coxe and femora yellow ; tibia and tarsi brownish or blackish. Wings strongly tinged with

brownish-yellow, the distal portion clouded with brownish; anterior branch of the third vein oblique, a

little shorter than the section of the costa beyond the tip of the first vein ; auxiliary vein strong,

terminating nearly opposite the origin of the third; prefurca of the fourth vein a little more than half

the length of the first section of the third. Length 8 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Omilteme in Guerrero 8000 feet (H. H. Smith).

One specimen. ‘This species is nearest allied to P. elegans, Coq., from Florida.

large amount of additional material from Mexico, from our collector Mr. H. H. Smith. The Mycetophilide,

Bibionide, Simuliide, Culicide, Chironomide, Tipulide, Rhyphide, Stratiomyide, Tabanide, Leptidx,

Acanthomeride, Midaide, Nemestrinide, Bombyliide, Therevide, Cyrtide, and Asilide have been worked

out by Prof. 8. W. Williston, of the University of Kansas, and the Dolichopodidee by Prof. J. M. Aldrich,

of the University of Idaho. The whole of their MSS. is now in our hands, and we have decided to publish

jit as a continuation to Baron Osten Sacken’s work.—Ep.

DIPTERA. 219

CEROPLATUS.

Ceroplatus, Bosc, Actes Soc. d’Hist. Nat. de Paris, i. p. 42 (1792).

1. Ceroplatus bellulus, sp.n. (Tab. IV. figg. 3, 3a, ¢.)

3. Head black, the narrow face and the palpi brownish. Antenne brownish-black, the first two joints

somewhat yellowish ; flagellum broad and flattened, about twice the length of the head. Mesonotum

not shining, brownish in colour; in the middle with two coalescent stripes, terminating acutely behind

and separated from a moderately broad oblique stripe of the same colour on each side by a slender

V-shaped brown marking. Pleure light yellow along the noto-pleural suture and below the root of the

wing, brown elsewhere. Scutellum brownish. Metanotum yellowish. Halteres blackish, with a yellow

stem. Abdomen brown, blackish at the tip; the anterior part of the fourth and fifth segments yellow.

Coxe yellow, the distal half of the two posterior pairs brown ; femora yellow; tibie and tarsi brownish.

Wings tinged with brownish ; auxiliary vein strong, not connected with the first vein; the third vein

arising about opposite the middle of the distance between the humeral cross-vein and the tip of the

auxiliary vein; anterior branch of the third vein oblique, terminating a little distance beyond the tip of

the first vein, the costal section intervening not as long as the branch; the costal vein extends a little

distance beyond the tip of the third vein; prefurca of the fourth vein nearly as long as the first section

of the third. Length 5 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

One specimen. The tibie are without bristles.

| - SCIOPHILA.

Sciophila, Meigen, Syst. Beschr. 1. p. 245 (1818).

1. Sciophila -%

d. Head black, opaque. Antenne brown, the basal portion yellowish ; in length about equal to twice that

of the thorax. Mesonotum dark brown, somewhat yellowish on the lateral margins, Pleure yellow

below posteriorly. Metanotum brown. Abdomen deep brown, the segments somewhat yellowish in

front. Legs yellow, the tarsi brownish. Wings cinereous-hyaline ; anterior branch of the third vein

rectangular, the cell before it about three times as long as wide; prefurca of the fourth vein longer

than the branches; the posterior furcation takes place a little before the anterior cross-vein. Length

3} millim.

Hab. Mexico, Omilteme in Guerrero 8000 feet (H. H. Smith).

NEOGLAPHYROPTERA.

Glaphyroptera, Winnertz, Pilzmucken, p. 45 (781) (1863) (nomen prezocc.).

Neoglaphyroptera, Osten Sacken, Cat. Dipt. 1878, p. 10.

1. Neoglaphyroptera amabilis, sp. n.

8. Head yellow. Antennze longer than the head and thorax together ; ; black, the scape and first three or

; four joints of the flagellum yellow. Thorax yellow; mesonotum with a large, deep, shining black spot

* on each side, leaving a narrow median stripe and the front part yellow. Metanotum and mesopleure

shining black ; immediately subjacent to the root of the wings the colour is blackish. Abdomen brownish-

black, with the anterior margin of each segment and the venter yellow. Legs yellow; the tip of the

hind tibiee and the tarsi brownish; front tarsi nearly two and a half times the length of the tibix,

2f2

220 SUPPLEMENT.

the tibie hardly longer than the metatarsi. Wings lightly tinged with brownish; anterior branch

of the posterior furcation separated at its origin from the vein. Length 4 millim.

9. Head above black. The yellow of the mesonotum has an elongated black spot or stripe in the middle,

narrowed to a point, and separated from the same colour of the sides by a slender, curved, yellow stripe ;

posterior half of the pleura black. Wings with a brownish cross-band distally. Abdomen almost

wholly black.

Hab. Mexico, Cuernavaca in Morelos, Medellin, near Vera Cruz (Z/. A. Smith),

Orizaba (H. H. Smith & F. D. Godman).

Two males and two females, no two of which agree in all respects, and possibly not

belonging to the same species. The second male (from Medellin) differs in having the

abdomen yellow, with a large black spot on each side of the segments, except the sixth ;

the hypopygium is also black. Both of the females are from Orizaba: in one, which

is probably conspecific with the Cuernavaca male, the median triangular spot of the

mesonotum is absent, the mesonotum being marked as in the male, and the fascia of

the wings is obsolete. WV. opima, Loew, from Connecticut, is certainly closely allied

to the typical males described, but it has the wings nearly as in the females.

MYCETOPHILA.

Mycetophila, Meigen, in Illiger’s Magazin f. Ins. ii. p. 263 (1803).

The species of this genus in the collection before me are each represented by

a single example which I am unable to identify. As the identification of Mycetophile

is often difficult, I do not think it advisable to name them till more material is

obtained.

1. Mycetophila 2

9. Head yellowish-brown. Antenne brown, the basal joints yellowish. Mesonotum yellowish-red,

unicolorous, opaque; pleuree in part more brownish. Abdomen brownish-black. Legs light yellow;

tip of hind femora narrowly blackish ; all the tarsi brownish. Wings yellowish; a small brown spot on

the first section of the third vein and the prefurca of the fourth; neuration nearly as in the following,

the furcation of the fourth vein a little more distal. Length 34 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Omilteme in Guerrero 8000 feet (H. H. Smith).

2. Mycetophila 2

Q. Front reddish-yellow, not shining; face and mouth-parts lighter yellow. Antenne yellow, brownish

distally ; about as long as the mesonotum. Mesonotum uniform reddish-yellow, opaque ; pleure lighter

yellow. Abdomen reddish-brown. Legs light yellow, the tarsi brownish. Wings uniformly yellowish,

the third vein terminating nearly midway between the tip of the first and that of the anterior branch of

the third; prefurca of the fourth vein short, not longer than the first section of the third ; the posterior

furcation occurring a little before the proximal end of the anterior cross-vein. Length 42 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Omilteme in Guerrero 8000 feet (H. H. Smith).

This species is related to M. dolosa, Willist.

DIPTERA. | 221

3. Mycetophila 2

¢. Head, mesonotum, and abdomen opaque black; pleura in part, coxe, venter, and legs yellow; tibie and

tarsi brownish. Wings yellowish, uniform; prefurca of the fourth vein about twice the length of the

cross-vein ; anterior furcation opposite that of the posterior forked cell. Front femora shorter than their

tibia and less than half the length of the metatarsi. Length 24 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Omilteme in Guerrero 8000 feet (H. H. Smith).

SCIARA (p. 1).

Sciara americana (p. 1).

‘To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Xucumanatlan, Venta de Zopilote, Rincon,

and Omilteme in Guerrero, Teapa in Tabasco, Orizaba (H. H. Smith), Santiago

Iscuintla in Jalisco (Schumann).

Numerous specimens.

BIBIONIDE (p. 2).

PLECIA (p. 2).

Plecia plagiata (p. 2).

To the localities given, add:—Mexico, Vera Cruz (Schumann), 'Teapa in Tabasco

(H. H. Smith).

Three specimens.

1 (a). Plecia nigerrima.

Plecia nigerrima, Bellardi, Saggio ete. i. p. 14’.

Hab. Mexico (Sallé!), Omilteme in Guerrero 8000 feet, Cuernavaca in Morelos,

Mexico city, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith), Orizaba (H. H. Smith & F. D. Godman),

Morelia in Mexico (Ff. D. Godman), Orizaba and Meztitlan (Saussure ').

- Seventeen specimens, agreeing fully with the short description. ‘The anterior branch

of the third vein is long and very oblique, being fully as long as the first section of the

third vein. The anal cell is closed. P. nigerrima was unknown to Osten Sacken, who

placed it in his list of unidentified Mexican Bibionide (anted, p. 9).

Plecia ruficollis (p. 3).

To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Atoyac in Vera Cruz, Venta de Zopilote in

Guerrero, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

Four specimens.

222 SUPPLEMENT.

4. Plecia collaris.

Hirtea collaris, Fabr. Syst. Antl. p. 54°. :

Plecia collaris, Wiedem. Dipt. Exot. i. p. 327; Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 74°; Schiner, Reise

der Novara, Dipt. 21%.

Plecia bicolor, Bellardi, Saggio etc. i. p. 16°; O. Sack. antea, p. 3°.

Hab. Mexico®*, Cordova and Orizaba (Saussure*), Teapa in Tabasco (H. H.

Smith) —Sovutn America !2 34,

Four specimens from Teapa agree well with Wiedemann’s brief description,

save that the stem of the halteres is not red. Ten other examples, from Teapa

and Cuernavaca, differ in being smaller and in having the black of the mesonotum

less extensive. Schiner* says of the species: “ In den Furchen schimmert die lichter

Behaarung weisslich,” nothing of which is apparent in these specimens.

5. Plecia quadrivittata, sp. n.

3. Black throughout. Head lightly grey-pollinose ; face prolonged in front of the eyes about as far as the

vertex projects backwards ; eyes elongate oval, the ocellar tubercle prominent. Thorax and scutellum

lightly dusted with greyish, opaque, the mesonotum with four shining black stripes, the lateral ones

abbreviated in front, the narrowly separated median ones behind. Abdomen moderately shining.

Wings uniformly brown ; the anterior branch of the third vein is at an angle of about forty-five degrees,

arising nearly opposite the end of the second vein and terminating in the costa a little less than its own

length from the tip of the second vein; penultimate section of the third vein a little longer than the

length of the anterior cross-vein ; furcation broad in the margin; anal cell wide open. Proboscis longer

than the distance from the vertex to the lower end of the face. Length 6-7 millim.

@. Larger ; abdomen opaque brownish-black.

Hab. Mxxico, Rincon in Guerrero 2000 feet (H. H. Smith).

Six males and one female.

BIBIO (p. 3).

6. Bibio dubius.

Bibio dubius, Bellardi, Saggio etc. i. p. 18°.

Hab. Mexico, Jalisco (Schumann).

_ Four specimens, apparently belonging to the same species, though three of them

have the posterior coxe blackish, the tibie reddish, &c. These examples agree with

the one from Costa Rica mentioned by Osten Sacken (anted, p. 3, under sp. no. 1) in

not having the stigma darker. .B. dubius was placed by him amongst the unidentified

Mexican Bibionide (anted, p. 5).

7. Bibio 3

¢. Deep shining black; femora for the most part red, the remainder of the legs chiefly pitchy or reddish-

brown. Eyes hairy. Mesonotum with rather abundant dusky white pile. Abdomen whitish pilose.

Wings brown ; stigma distinct; second posterior cell sessile. Length 8 millim. .

Hab. Mexico, Mexico city, Jalisco, Atoyac (Schumann).

DIPTERA. 223

Three specimens. Four others, from Chilpancingo and Mexico city, have the wings

very much lighter-coloured, only lightly tinged with brownish ; they doubtless belong

to the same species.

DILOPHUS (p. 4).

Dilophus melanarius (p. 4).

To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Orizaba (H. H. Smith & F. D. Godman),

Fortin and Atoyac in Vera Cruz, Amula and Rincon in Guerrero, Cuernavaca in

Morelos (H. H. Smith), Mexico city (#. D. Godman), Jalisco (Schumann).

Twelve specimens, agreeing well with the description.

3. Dilophus minutus.

Dilophus minutus, Bellardi, Saggio etc., App. p. 7'.

Hab. Mexico, Orizaba (H. H. Smith & F. D. Godman), Tuxpango (Sumichrast 1).

Three specimens. The anal cell in this species is very distinctly closed at some

distance from the margin of the wing. I suspect that D. minutus is identical with

D. stigmaterus, Say. This and the following species were placed by Osten Sacken in

his list of the unidentified Mexican Bibionide (anted, p. 5).

4. Dilophus orbatus.

Bibio orbatus, Say, Journ. Acad. Phil. iii. p. 77°.

Dilophus orbatus, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. 1. p. 77*; Bellardi, Saggio etc. i. p. 19°.

Hab. Nortu America, Pennsylvania }—Mexico (7ruqui, Sallé}~3), Orizaba (Saussure?,

H. H. Smith, & F. D. Godman), Santiago Iscuintla in Jalisco (Schumann), Mexico city

(Schumann, F. D. Godman), Chilpancingo in Guerrero (H. A. Smith).

One female and eleven males. ‘The female agrees well with the descriptions.

I have not compared it with specimens from the United States. ‘The males are

somewhat smaller and have the wings whitish, without stigma.

SIMULIIDE (p. 5).

SIMULIUM (p. 5).

Osten Sacken (anted, p. 5) enumerated three species of this genus as described from

Mexico, all of which were unknown to him and therefore not numbered. ‘The

following has since come to hand :—

1. Simulium argus.

Simulium argus, Willist. North-Amer. Fauna, vi. p. 253°.

Hab. Nortu AMERICA, California, Argus Mountains !},— Mexico, Omilteme in

Guerrero 8000 feet (H. H. Smith).

224 SUPPLEMENT.

A single male specimen. Whether the silvery markings on the abdomen are just as

they are described I cannot say, as this portion of the body is injured in the Mexican

insect. The mesonotum is velvety-black, with a silvery-pollinose spot on each side in

front, and sparse golden pubescence.

CULICIDE (p. 4).

MEGARRHINA (p. 6).

2. Megarrhina hemorrhoidalis.

Culex hemorrhoidalis (Fabr.), Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 2°.

Megarrhina hemorrhoidalis, O. Sack. Cat. Dipt. 1878, p. 18”.

Hab. Mexico, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith).—Gutana, Cayenne!; CuBa?.

Three males from Atoyac belong, in all probability, to this species, distinguishable

by the entirely black tarsi and the brilliant red hairs at the end of the abdomen. The

hairs are confined to the tip of the sixth and the sides of the seventh segments, and do

not occur on the fifth segment, as Wiedemann stated. The femora are, for the most

part, yellow.

3. Megarrhina grandiosa, sp. n.

Q. Antenne brown. Proboscis black. Palpi black, covered with black and violet tomentum. Face

somewhat reddish. Occiput black above, and covered with green and yellow tomentum. Thorax deep

red, the ground-colour of the mesonotum mostly concealed beneath a metallic-green tomentum, that of

the pleure more silvery or yellowish-white. Abdomen brown or yellowish-brown, the dorsum concealed

beneath green tomentum, like that of the mesonotum. Legs yellow; dorsal surface of the femora

blackish, with green and violet tomentum; base and extreme tip of the hind tibie brown, the remaining

portion with yellow hair; dorsal surface of the front tibie blackish, with violet tomentum; front

metatarsi, except the tip, blackish, the remainder of the front tarsi light yellow ; hind tarsi blackish, the

tip of the third joint, and the fourth and fifth wholly, nearly white ; inner side of the hind metatarsi

yellow. Wings tinged with yellowish, the scales dark brown. Length 10 millim., inclusive of proboscis

18-20 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Omilteme in Guerrero 8000 feet (H. H. Smith).

One specimen. Distinguishable from MW. rutila, Coq., by the colour of the legs.

CHIRONOMIDZ (p. 6).

CERATOPOGON.

Ceratopogon, Meigen, in Illiger’s Magaz. f. Ins. ii. p. 261 (1803).

1. Ceratopogon pachymerus, sp. n.

Q. Head reddish-yellow ; eyes not contiguous above. First two joints of the antenne red; flagellum yellow,

the distal joints somewhat infuscate. Thorax robust; mesonotum brownish-red, opaque, somewhat

DIPTERA. 225

brownish near the humeri. Pleure brownish. Scutellum yellowish-red, shining, blackish at the base.

Abdomen subcylindrical ; light yellow, the first segment black, the tip brownish. Legs yellow; femora

in part, and the four posterior tibie at the base and extreme tip, brown or brownish ; hind femora

thickened ; metatarsi as long as the following joints together; claws strong. Wings whitish ; the first

vein terminates near the middle of the wing, the third is much prolonged, distinctly separated throughout

from the first vein, the intervening cell of nearly equal width in its whole extent; the furcation of the

fourth vein occurs a little before the cross-vein. Length 3? millim.

Hab. Mexico, Medellin near Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith).

One specimen. The species belongs in Winnertz’s second division of the genus.

The claws are simple, and the femora are unarmed.

HETEROMYIA.

Heteromyia, Say, Amer. Ent. 11. t. 35 (1825); Compl. Wr. 1. p. 79, t. 35.

1. Heteromyia clavata, sp. n.

@. Head and basal joints of the antenne red; distal antennal joints blackish. Palpi slender, brown.

Thorax obscurely ochraceous-yellow, the pleure in part brown; wholly opaque. Abdomen spatulate,

yellowish and brownish. Legs yellow; middle and hind tibi# with two brown rings before the tip;

joints of the middle and hind tarsi narrowly brown at the tip; front femora with a brown spot near

the end. Front femora much thickened and with short spines below on the inner side; front tibie

terminating in a stout spine or spur; middle and hind femora clubbed at the extremity; hind tarsi

extraordinarily elongated, longer than the whole body ; the single claw of the hind feet is very long and

stout. Wings hyaline, with a large irregular brownish spot in the middle, and a small spot of the same

colour in the axillary cell, near the last vein; the furcation of the fourth vein occurs before the origin of

the third vein. Length 4-5 millim.

Hab. Muxico, Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith).

A single specimen. Structurally, this species must be very much like the type of

the genus, and I hesitated at first. in treating it as distinct from the variety mentioned

by Say as having the “thorax entirely testaceous.”. The markings of the wings,

however, are very different, and the four posterior “ thighs” are considerably dilated

at the tip.

TIPULIDE (p. 6).

TEUCHOLABIS (p. 6).

8. Teucholabis annulata.

Teucholabis annulata, Willist. Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1896, p. 290, t. 10. f. 63%.

Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).—AntILuEs, St. Vincent !.

A single specimen, agreeing well with the description and figure *. The species is

related to 7. molesta, O. Sack. The sides of the occiput are yellow.

* In the fourth line of the description for ‘ broad” read “ black.”

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., December 1900. 29

226 SUPPLEMENT.

4. Teucholabis chalybeiventris.

? Rhamphidia chalybeiventris, Loew, Wien. ent. Zeit. v. p. 33°.

Hab. Mexico, Cuernavaca in Morelos (H. H. Smith)—AnTILLES, Cuba 1.

A single specimen, doubtfully belonging to this species. ‘The wings are not hyaline,

but are distinctly tinged with brown, and there are no cupreous reflections anywhere on

the thorax, which is wholly light honey-yellow in colour; the abdomen is blackish-

brown, but without steel-blue reflections. The wings agree closely with those of

T. complexa. |

RHIPIDIA.

Rhipidia, Meigen, Syst. Beschr. i. p. 153 (122) (1818).

1. Rhipidia subpectinata.

Rhipidia subpectinata, Willist. Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1896, p. 287, t. 9. f. 57, t. 10. f. 57 a’.

Hab. Mexico, 'Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).—Antiuuss, St. Vincent},

One male. It has the wings distinctly infuscated, but otherwise agrees with the

description.

GNOPHOMYIA.

Gnophomyia, Osten Sacken, Proc. Acad. Phil. 1859, p. 223.

1. Gnophomyia ferruginea, sp. n.

2. Dark ferruginous, the venter, cox, and legs yellow, the tarsi infuscated, the occiput and front opaque

greyish on a black background. Antenne somewhat brownish, the basal joints yellow. Wings uniformly

and lightly tinged with brownish ; neuration as in G. tristissima, as figured by Osten Sacken (Monogr. iv.

t. 2. fig. 5), except that the anterior cross-vein is situated a little more proximally. Length 6 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

One specimen.

ERIOCERA (p. 10). ’

8. Eriocera fasciata, sp. n. (Tab. IV. fig. 4,3.)

3 2. Head black or deep brown; frontal tubercle prominent. Antenne brown, short in the female.

Mesonotum reddish-yellow, but covered with light yellow dust; a short black stripe on each side.

Scutellum opaque light yellow, the lateral angles brownish or blackish. Pleure black on the upper part,

brownish or reddish-yellow below; halteres nearly black. Abdomen light yellow and black; the first

four segments with a narrow posterior black band; remaining segments black, except the anterior

portion in the male and the antero-lateral parts in the female ; hypopygium and oviduct reddish- -yellow.

Legs black; base of front femora yellow ; all the tibiz in large part yellowish. Wings light yellowish-

brown, nearly uniform ; tip of auxiliary vein nearly opposite the proximal end of the first submarginal

cell ; four posterior cells present. Length 16-20 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Cuernavaca in Morelos (H. H. Smith).

Two males and three females. A female specimen of a closely related species, from

Amula, has the head browner, the mesonotum more golden-yellow, with the black

stripes nearly obsolete, the first four abdominal segments with only a trace of the

posterior black bands, and the wings uniformly pale brownish.

DIPTERA. 227

9. Eriocera obsoleta, sp. n.

Q. Upper part of head reddish-yellow, the strong frontal tubercle divided by a median furrow. Antenne

and palpi brown, the former about as long as the mesonotum. Mesonotum and scutellum reddish-yellow

throughout. Pleure reddish-brown. Abdomen slender, yellow; second, third, and fourth segments

blackish on the posterior and postero-lateral margins; remainder of abdomen dark brown, the fifth and

sixth segments more or less yellow in the middle. Wings tinged with brownish, darker in the immediate

contiguity of the veins; tip of auxiliary vein opposite the base of the second posterior cell, and more

distal than the proximal end of the first submarginal cell; four posterior cells present. Hind legs brown

the tibia largely luteous. Length 18 millim. :

Hab, Wonpuras, Ruatan I. (Gaumer).

10. Eriocera flavida, sp. n.

9. Head black, greyish-pruinose ; frontal tubercle small. Palpi black. Scape of antenne brown; flagellum

light yellow. Thorax light orange-yellow, the scutellum and metanotum more purely yellow. Pleure

near the noto-pleural suture brown. Abdomen of the same colour as the thorax; third segment with

a small, fourth, fifth, and sixth segments each with a successively larger, and the seventh segment with a

smaller, brown spot. Legs yellowish-brown ; distal part of femora and proximal part of tibie yellow.

Wings brownish, lighter-coloured in the interior of the cells; the auxiliary vein terminates a little before

the proximal end of the first submarginal cell; four posterior cells present. Length 22 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Cuernavaca in Morelos (//. H. Smith).

One specimen.

11. Eriocera brunneipes, sp.n. (Tab. IV. fig. 5, 3.)

3. Head black; frontal tubercle prominent; antenne black. Mesonotum and scutellum yellow, the former

with a large black spot above each wing, leaving a narrow stripe in the middle. Pleure brown along

the noto-pleural suture, yellow below ; coxe black. Halteres, except the root, nearly black. First four

segments and the hypopygium of the abdomen yellow ; the remainder black. Legs deep brown, the tibiz

slightly yellowish. Wings of a uniform yellowish-brown tinge ; the auxiliary vein terminates beyond

the base of the first submarginal cell and nearly opposite the anterior cross-vein ; four posterior cells

present. Length about 15 millim.; of the wings 13 millim. .

Hab. Mexico, Orizaba (H. H. Smith & F. D. Godman).

One specimen.

TIPULA (p. 13).

Tipula monilifera (p. 13).

To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

‘The single specimen received from Mexico has hyaline spots in the distal part of

the wing, as in the examples noted by Osten Sacken.

Tipula craverii(?) (p. 15).

To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Patzcuaro (fF. D. Godman), Cuernavaca in

Morelos (H. H. Smith).

Two specimens, one of which is larger than the other. The femora are not annulate.

These Mexican examples evidently belong to the same form as that mentioned by

O. Sacken, if not to that of Bellardi.

2 g 9

228 SUPPLEMENT.

7. Tipula virgulata, sp. n.

3. Head reddish-yellow, the upper part of the nasus and the occiput darker, and all greyish-pollinose. First

two joints of the antennz yellow, the remaining joints black, the fourth and following joints binodose

the distal node longer than the proximal. Mesonotum densely whitish-grey-pollinose ; post-alar callosities

yellow; pleure yellowish, and all pollinose ; scutellum yellow. Abdomen yellow, opaque, a slender

median stripe and the lateral margins black or blackish; the black is more pronounced posteriorly.

Hypopygium for the most part light yellow. Legs brownish-red, the tarsi darker, the femora lighter-

coloured. Wings greyish and brownish, with a nearly hyaline stripe filling most of the first two basal

cells and the first posterior ; the costal cell and narrow clouds bordering the second basal cell brown,

Length 18-19 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Amecameca in Morelos (fF. D. Godman).

One specimen. This species is closely allied to 7. virgo, O. S., but differs from it in

the colour of the thorax, abdomen, wings, &c.

PACHYRRHINA (p. 15).

Pachyrrhina consularis (p. 17).

To the localities given, add :—Mextco, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

A single female specimen from Teapa agrees perfectly with Osten Sacken’s description.

A female from Rincon, Guerrero (H. H. Smith), has the spots of the vertex a little

smaller, the median stripe of the thorax largely yellowish posteriorly, and the black of

the abdomen confined to a narrow posterior band on the first, second, third, and fourth

segments.

Pachyrrhina ferruginea (p. 18).

To the localities given, add:—Mexico, Cuernavaca in Morelos, Omilteme in

Guerrero (H. H. Smith), Orizaba (H. H. Smith & F. D. Godman).

Some of the Mexican specimens agree well with Macquart’s description of P. quadri-

lineata. This species seems to be very variable.

6. Pachyrrhina 2

3. Head yellow, a minute blackish spot on the vertex. Antenne deep brown, the first three joints yellow.

Mesonotum with shining black stripes, the lateral ones incurved and not opaque at the anterior end, tho

middle one divided by a yellow stripe. Pleure yellow, with reddish-yellow spots. Abdomen yellow,

with a small brown or black spot on the posterior angle of each segment. Legs yellow; tip of femora

and tibie, and the tarsi wholly, infuscated or blackish. Wings with a pale yellowish tinge; stigma

lightly infuscated. Length 16-18 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Orizaba in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

A single male specimen. ‘This species is hardly referable to P. affinis, Bell, because

of the small frontal spot, the median thoracic stripe, and the markings of the abdomen

and legs. A female from the same locality, and undoubtedly belonging to the male,

has a series of quadrangular blackish spots on the abdomen. ‘Two other males, from

Omilteme, scarcely differ, save in the entire absence of the vertical black spot.

DIPTERA. . 229

BRACHYPREMNA.

Brachypremna, Osten Sacken, Berl. ent. Zeitschr. xxx. p. 162 (1886).

1. Brachypremna dispellens.

Tipula dispellens, Walk. Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. n. s. v. p. 3337.

Brachypremna dispellens, O. Sack. Berl. ent. Zeitschr. xxx. p. 1627.

Hab. Norra America, District of Columbia 2, Texas 2—Mexico !, Teapa and Frontera

in Tabasco, Medellin in Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith).

Six specimens, agreeing with O. Sacken’s description. The species is included in

his list of unidentified Central-American Tipulide (p. 19).

2. Brachypremna similis, sp. n.

3. Very much like B. dispellens, but the legs are brown, with the knees light yellow, &c. Front brownish-

yellow. Antenne light yellow, the distal end and base of the first four flagellar joints black or brown.

Rostrum brown, the upperside, save the nasus, yellow. -Palpi yellow, the last joint brown. Median

brown stripe of the mesonotum broad, separated by a linear yellow stripe in front, which broadens out

and forks back of the suture, enclosing a brown spot in front of the scutellum, and then continues as two

parallel stripes to the tip of the scutellum ; separating the median stripes from the broad lateral stripes

there is a narrow yellow stripe on each side, acute posteriorly; sides of the mesonotum in front, and the

metanotum, light yellow, the latter with several small brown spots. Abdomen brown, the incisures

somewhat yellowish; an indication of a median yellow stripe on the anterior segments. Legs dark

brown, the terminal joints of the tarsi yellow; tip of femora and the immediate base of the tibie light

creamy-yellow (the hind legs are wanting). Wings as in B. dispellens, the veins perhaps more infuscated

and the tip browner. Length 16-17 millim. .

Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Sinith),

One specimen.

RHYPHIDZ (p. 20).

OLBIOGASTER (p. 20).

Olbiogaster 2 (Tab. IV. fig. 6,4.)

3. Face on the lower part shining black, convex; on the upper part, below the antenne, whitish-pollinose,

Palpi and proboscis yellow. Antenne black, the first two joints yellow. Front and occiput black, rather

thickly white-pollinose. Mesonotum deep shining black, with rather long, sparse, white hair; pleure

shining black or pitchy-black, the upper part of the mesonotum white-pollinose. Abdomen flattened,

ribbon-like, widened distally ; deep black, moderately shining, with black hair; the posterior margin

of each segment whitish and with white hair; lamelle of hypopygium large, black. Legs yellow; the

basal half of the four anterior femora, the hind femora wholly, the tip of the hind tibiz, and the

distal joints of all the tarsi, blackish or brown. Wings nearly hyaline ; the distal half of the marginal

cell, the subcostal before it, and a narrow cloud on the cross-veins, brown. Length 7-8 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (ZZ. LI. Smith).

One specimen. I have compared it witha female of 0. cognatus, O. Sack., from the

Antilles, and find the structure almost identical throughout, save in the shape of the

abdomen, which is as given for the male of 0. cognatus by Osten Sacken. ‘The antenne

230 SUPPLEMENT.

are a little stouter. I take our specimen to be a male, by reason of the large size of

the abdominal lamelle. I do not distinguish the two horny points between them, but

instead there is a single elongate process. The black colour throughout, together

with the absence of yellow bands on the abdomen, will distinguish our specimen from

those of the male sex noticed by Osten Sacken. I believe that the Mexican species is

different : otherwise the individual variation must be very great. I regret my inability

to compare it with the description of O. teniatus, Bell., which may apply to the same

species. |

STRATIOMYIDZ (p. 22).

XYLOMYIA.

Subula, antea, p. 22 (nomen preocc.).

Xylomyia, Rondani, Dipt. Ital. iv. p. 11 (1861).

2, Xylomyia pallipes.

Subula pallipes, Loew, Centur. iii. p. 9'; Willist. Canad. Ent. 1885, p. 1227.

Hab. Nortu America, Connecticut 2, Illinois!, Wisconsin !, Southern California 2.—

Mexico, Chilpancingo in Guerrero, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith), N. Yucatan

(Gaumer). |

Five specimens. The first two joints of the antenne and the base of the third are

yellowish-red.

BERISMYIA.

Berismyia, Giglio-Tos, Boll. Mus. Zool. ed Anat. Comp. Univ. Torino, vi. no. 108, p. 2 (1891) ;

Mem. della Reale Accad. delle Sci. di Torino, (2) xliii. p. 102 (1892).

1. Berismyia nigrofemorata, sp. n. (Tab. IV. fig. 7, ¢.)

6. Eyes with abundant, long, brown or blackish pile, closely contiguous for a long distance; frontal

triangle end face shining black, the former with whitish dust on the sides, the latter dusted throughout,

though less densely so in the middle, and with longer black pile. Antenne black, the thickened basal

annulus of the third joint reddish-yellow; third joint fully twice the length of the first two joints

together, the latter of equal length. The three-jointed palpi longer than in Beris, black; proboscis

brown. Thorax bluish-black, but little shining, with whitish pile along the lateral margins. Abdomen

bluish-black, shining. Legs black, the trochanters, knees, middle and hind metatarsi, and the larger part

of the second joint of the hind tarsi, light yellow. Wings brownish, a little darker anteriorly ; stigma

brown.

Q. Pilosity of the eyes abundant, but shorter than in the male. Front of equal width on the upper two-

thirds ; shining black, with black pile. Pile of the mesonotum shorter and yellow. Length 5-6 millim.

Hab. Muxico, Omilteme in Guerrero 8000 feet (H. H. Smith).

Two specimens. This species seems to agree very well in structure with B. fusca,

Giglio-Tos (as figured), but may be readily distinguished by the black femora. The

antenne are distinctly shorter and less slender, scarcely exceeding the length of the

head at its lower part. The genus is a valid one.

DIPTERA. 231

SARGUS (p. 23).

1. Sargus 2

Sargus ?, Osten Sacken, antea, p. 23°.

Sargus lucens, Giglio-Tos, Mem. della Reale Accad. delle Sci. di Torino, (2) xlii. p. 103? (nec Loew).

To the locality given, add:—Mextco (Sallé1*), Orizaba, Cuernavaca in Morelos,

Atoyac in Vera Cruz, Dos Arroyos in Guerrero (H. H. Smith), N. Yucatan (Gaumer).

I do not doubt that the Mexican specimens before me belong to the species

mentioned by Osten Sacken, in which Giglio-Tos thought that he recognized S. lucens,

Loew, described from Cuba. I have, however, seen a specimen of S. ducens from the

Antilles, and find the two to be quite distinct, the first-mentioned not having a white

spot on the sides of the mesonotum. :

Among the males there is a marked difference in the shape of the abdomen: in

some it 1s very slender toward the base, and widened, spatulate distally ; in others

there is only a gradual widening from the base to near the tip. In the specimen from

Northern Yucatan, for instance, the second segment is nearly as long as’ broad, while

in a small male from Atoyac the second segment is cylindrical, and fully four times as

long as broad: in the former the abdomen is almost’ wholly without the metallic

green colour, but I can distinguish no other differences. ‘Two males from Cuernavaca

are almost intermediate between the above-mentioned males, the second segment being

about twice as long as broad. ‘Two other males, from Dos Arroyos, are of medium

slenderness, but are of much larger size, and have the hind femora and tibiz bl ack in

the middle. Two females from Cuernavaca are of the size of the largest males; they

have the abdomen brilliant purple and blue, and only a little narrowed basally, and

the hind femora, except the base and tip, the distal portion of the hind tibie, and the

distal joints of the hind tarsi, black. ‘These specimens all agree in having the wings

lightly brownish, occasionally hyaline, and none of them have any yellow on the

abdomen. Moreover, there is a white spot on the sides of the mesonotum that is

wanting in the true S. lucens. WS. tenuiventris, Bigot, seems to be very like some of

our examples, except for the white spots on the abdomen. Macquart’s and (especially)

Rondani’s descriptions of S. speciosus agree very well, except as regards the hind tarsi.

The thorax is green in the males, deep blue in the females.

3. Sargus coarctatus.

Sargus coarctatus, Macq. Dipt. Exot. 1. 1, p. 208, t. 29. f.2'; Walk. List &c. v. p. 927; Willist.

Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. xv. p. 249°; Giglio-Tos, Mem. della Reale Accad. delle Sci. di Torino,

(2) xliti. p. 122°. au.

? Sargus notatus, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. ii. p. 545°.

Hab. Mexico (Sumichrast +), Amula and Teapa(H. H. Sméth).—Braziu+°, Chapada ®

t Cunt }.

232 SUPPLEMENT.

Two specimens from Mexico agree with those mentioned by me from Brazil*®. I

have scarcely a doubt that the name S. coarctatus is a synonym of S. notatus.

4, Sargus cesius,

Sargus cesius, Bellardi, Saggio etc. i. p. 40, t. 1. fig. 18 (2)'.

Sargus filiformis, Giglio-Tos, Mem, della Reale Accad. delle Sci. di Torino, (2) xliii. p. 28 (3) ?.

Hab. Mexico, Omilteme, Xucumanatlan, and Sierra de las Aguas Escondidas in

Guerrero 7000 to 9000 feet (H. H. Smith), Angangueo (Saussure ').

Two males and fifteen females. This species, placed by Osten Sacken (anted, p. 41)

amongst the unidentified Central-American Stratiomyide, may perhaps belong to the

genus Sargus, but the sole character which I understand as characteristic of it—

the inequidistant position of the ocelli—is very feebly marked, especially in the female.

Giglio-Tos described the male. ‘The females differ so greatly that it was only after

careful scrutiny that I felt satisfied of their identity. I give therefore a full description

of both sexes :—

¢. Head shining black, with two elongate, tear-shaped, subcontiguous, white spots on the upper part of the

frontal triangle; pile yellowish and blackish. Eyes almost contiguous immediately above the white

spots. Antenne black, the third joint sometimes in part brown. Proboscis yellow. Mesonotum shining

resplendent green, with short reddish-yellow pile; post-alar callosities red: a slender stripe along the

dorso-pleural suture, the two nearly connected across the pronotum, yellowish-white. Pleure shining

blue-black. Scutellum shining green, with a broad red margin, Metanotum shining green, the sides

with red spots. Abdomen slender and elongate, shining black, with the very small posterior angles to

the segments yellow or yellowish. Legs luteous-yellow; the four distal joints of the front tarsi, three

of the middle, and all of the hind pair brown or blackish; hind tibise and the distal portion of the hind

femora brownish or brown. Wings lightly infuscated, the stigma narrow, elongate, and brown.

Q@. Front and face of equal width, the white spots on the lower part of the former small, rounded, and

distinctly separated. Mesonotum yellowish-red, with a broad median stripe shining black, with purple

and blue reflections ; in some specimens the mesonotum is better described as having the margins broadly

yellowish-red. Pleurz wholly reddish-yellow, save a small black spot above the front coxe; pectus

black. Metanotum blue-black, on the lower part at least. Abdomen flattened, elongate, pointed

posteriorly ; shining blue, with purple reflections, the lateral margins narrowly yellow or yellowish.

Hind femora without the brownish colour distally and the hind tibivw with a distinct, median, yellowish

ring. Length 9-14 millim. .

/ ACROCH ATA,

Acrocheta, Wiedemann, Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. ii, p. 42 (1830).

1. Acrocheta fasciata.

Acrocheta fasciata, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. ii. p. 42*; Macq. Hist. Nat. Dipt., Suites a

Buffon, i. p. 2607; Walk. List &c. v. p. 68°; Loew, Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, 1855, p. 147‘;

Giglio-Tos, Mem. della Reale Accad. delle Sci. di Torino, (2) xliii. p. 112, t. 1. ff. 6, 6a, 6°.

Hab. Mexico ®, Orizaba5, Teapa (1. H. Smith). —Braziu!.

A single specimen from Teapa, agreeing with the descriptions.

DIPTERA. 233

CHRYSOCHROMA.

Chrysonotus, Loew, Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, 1855, p. 146 (nomen przocc.).

Chrysochroma, Williston, Manual North-American Dipt. p. 47 (1896).

The genus Chrysonotus was separated from Sargus by Loew to include species in

which the ocelli are equidistant, the colouring metallic, the hind femora not thickened,

and the arista not thickened at the base. In Merosargus he placed lighter-coloured

forms, with the hind femora thickened and the arista thickened on its proximal portion.

These characters united are not tenable when applied to the American species. I have

in the following pages placed the metallic forms with this genus and the non-metallic

species with Merosargus. In all of them the eyes of the males are separated. Merosargus

also closely approaches Ptecticus, though it is sometimes difficult to say whether the

second antennal joint is prolonged on the inside or not. I thought at one time that the

position of the point of origin of the second vein would serve to distinguish Merosargus

from Chrysochroma, but I have not as much faith now in the character as formerly.

1, Chrysochroma pulchrum, sp. n.

. Front yellow in the middle, on the sides grooved and black; on the lower portion light yellow, moderately

elevated and nearly square in shape. First joint of the antennex black, second and third reddish-yellow ;

arista moderately thickened at the base. Face and proboscis light yellow, the oral margin very narrowly

in front and the narrow cheeks black. Mesonotum finely scrobiculate, moderately shining, deep blue,

with violaceous reflections; pile golden-yellow, short. Scutellum coloured and sculptured like the

mesonotum. Pleurs deep blue, with white pubescence; a spot below the dorso-pleural suture shining

metallic green or blue. Abdomen deep indigo-blue, not shining, with slight violaceous reflections; the

posterior part of the third segment, the larger part of the fourth segment, and the whole of the fifth

segment covered with golden-yellow pile. Legs light yellow, including the front coxe; distal half or

more of all the femora and the two distal joints of each tarsus black. Wings lightly infuscated ; the

furcation of the second and third veins takes place a little beyond the junction of the anterior cross-vein.

Length 6-9 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Chilpancingo and Amula in Guerrero (Z. H. Smith).

Two specimens.

2. Chrysochroma flavopilosum.

Chrysonotus flavopilosus, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1879, p. 227°.

Hab. Mexico!, Amula, Chilpancingo, Xucumanatlan, and Omilteme in Guerrero,

Cuernavaca in Morelos (H. H. Smith), Tepic (Schumann).

Two females and thirteen males. I was first inclined to identify this species, not

recognized by Osten Sacken (anted, p. 42), with Chrysonotus eneiventris, Giglio-Tos,

and I am not sure but that the latter name is a synonym. ‘The material is such as to

warrant a full description of the species :—

¢. Front narrow, about as wide as the length of the second and third joints of the antenne together; shining

green, on the lower part white. Antenne red, the first two joints brown. Face shining black, with long

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., December 1900. 2h

234 SUPPLEMENT.

black pile. Mesonotum bright shining green, with long and abundant yellow pile; a narrow line along

the dorso-pleural suture white. Pleure shining black, with blue and green reflections. Abdomen shining

bronze, with violaceous reflections, clothed with pile like that of the mesonotum, the posterior segments

with black pile in the middle. Legs light yellow, the distal portion of the hind femora in all the

specimens, and the distal part of the hind tibie in some, black ; distal joints of the tarsi usually brownish.

Wings nearly hyaline.

Q. Front and face of equal width, the former with two shallow longitudinal grooves. Mesonotum with strong

violet reflections, the pile shorter and more or less whitish. Abdomen shining brassy, or brassy with

violaceous reflections, clothed with shorter white and black pile. Front and middle femora more or less

blackish at the distal extremity. Length 9-11 millim.

3. Chrysochroma latifrons, sp. n.

Q. Front and posterior orbits bright shining green, the former, from the ocelli to the narrow, narrowly

interrupted transverse white band below, as broad as long. Antenne reddish-yellow, blackish at the tip ;

first joint very short. Face shining green, in the middle as long as the antenne. Thorax bright metallic-

green, with a slender noto-pleural white stripe. Abdomen violaceous ; first four segments each with the

posterior angles yellow, the yellow coloration extending across the posterior margin of the second segment.

Legs light yellow, the basal portion of the hind femora and the distal joints of the hind tarsi black.

Wings nearly hyaline; the furcation of the second and third veins takes place a considerable distance

beyond the anterior cross-vein. Length 4 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Chilpancingo in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

One specimen. I am inclined to think that this species should be referred to the

genus Microchrysa. The abdomen is, however, moderately elongate and the eyes bare.

It may be distinguished from MV. nova, Giglio-Tos, by the yellow bands of the abdomen

and the yellow anterior tarsi.

MEROSARGUS.

Merosargus, Loew, Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, v. p. 144 (1855).

1. Merosargus stamineus.

? Sceva staminea, Fabr. Syst. Antl. p. 253°.

Sargus stamineus, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. u. p. 39°; Walk. List &c. it. p. 517°, v. p. 92‘;

Bellardi, Saggio etc. i. p. 44°.

Merosargus cingulatus, Schiner, Reise der Novara, Dipt. p. 62°; Giglio-Tos, Mem. della Reale

Accad. delle Sci. di Torino, (2) xliii. p. 114’.

Hab. Mexico (Sallé®"), Orizaba (Sumichrast *), San Lorenzo near Cordova (M. Trujillo),

Xucumanatlan in Guerrero, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith), N. Yucatan (Gaumer).—

Sour America ! 2 8,

Five specimens. This is certainly the species described by Bellardi® under the name

of 8. (2) stamineus, and I have no doubt as to its identity with Wiedemann’s insect.

Schiner’s description, notwithstanding the darker wings, in all probability applies to it.

Fabricius’s brief description ! of Sceva staminea seems to indicate another species.

_ .M. stamineus was placed by Osten Sacken amongst the unidentified Stratiomyide

(anted, p. 41).

DIPTERA. 23

2. Merosargus spatulatus, sp. nv.

3 9. Front and face of equal width throughout, shining blue-black, with a longitudinal groove on each side,

the lower portion light yellow: in the male the width equals that of the ocellar tubercle, the yellow

portion being a little Jonger than broad; in the female the width is about twice that of the male, and the

yellow portion is nearly square. Antenne, face, and proboscis light yellow, the pile of the same colour.

Thorax light yellow; mesonotum broadly black, as though formed by three confluent stripes, the lateral

ones of which are abbreviated in front; scutellum black, with the margin yellow; the black of both

mesonotum and scutellum is obscured by light golden pile. Metanotum shining black ; an elongated

black spot on each side of the pectus. Abdomen slender for the first three segments, in the male nearly

cylindrical, in the female increasing more gradually in width ; distal portion spatulate; shining black,

with the broader posterior and narrow anterior margin light yellow, the hind margin of the fifth segment

yellow; hypopygium, and the venter in great part, light yellow. Legs light yellow, the hind coxe in

great part, the hind femora, except the base and tip, and the two distal joints of all the tarsi, black or

blackish ; middle tibix in great part, the central portion of the front tibia, and also the immediate tip of

the third joint of all the tarsi, brown or brownish. Wings with a yellowish tinge; the furcation of the

second and third veins takes place nearly opposite the middle of the discal cell. Length 9-16 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Omilteme in Guerrero 8000 feet (H. H. Smith).

Seventeen specimens, including four females. I place this species in the genus

- Merosargus, because of its great resemblance to others which seem properly to belong

there. I wust confess, however, that I do not know how to distinguish it from

Chrysochroma. From WM. orizabe, Giglio-Tos, to which the present species seems

allied, M. spatulatus may be at once distinguished, inter alia, by the white second and

third tarsal joints. From MW. cercaceus it will be best separated by the colour of the

mesonotum and the length of the first antennal joint, which is shorter than the second

and third together.

3. Merosargus bulbifrons, sp.n. (Tab. IV. figg. 8, 8a, 2 .)

9. Front broad, its width equal to one-half the distance between the ocelli and the root of the antenne,

strongly convex tranversely and prominent in profile above the ocular margins ; shining reddish-yellow,

bare; on the lower part yellower and with a small tubercular white spot near each eye-margin. Antenne

reddish-yellow, the first joint yellower and about equal in length to that of the other two joints together.

Face yellow. Proboscis reddish-yellow. Thorax light yellow, the mesonotum and dorsum of scutellum

light reddish or brownish-yellow. Abdomen brownish or reddish-yellow, apparently somewhat blackish

in the middle of the posterior segments; gradually increasing in width from the base of the second

segment to the fourth segment, where it is fully three times wider. Legs reddish-yellow; all the tarsi

brownish, becoming blackish distally, the metatarsi of the front pair lighter-coloured. Wings yellowish-

hyaline; the furcation of the second and third veins takes place opposite the anterior cross-vein. Length

12 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Xucumanatlan in Guerrero 7000 feet (H. H. Smith).

One specimen. This species, in the peculiar conformation of the front, is evidently

allied to 1. frontatus, Schiner, but may be at once distinguished from it by the absence

of black on the front, thorax, &c.

4, Merosargus concinnatus, sp.n. (Tab. IV. fig. 9, ¢ .)

g. Front and face of equal width, equal to more than one-third of the distance from the ocelli to the root of

the antenne, shining black or blue-black, lightly sulcate on the sides, the lower third light yellow.

2h2

236 SUPPLEMENT.

Antenne reddish-yellow, the first joint yellow, and about as long as the third. Face yellow, in the

middle not so long as the first joint of the antenne. Proboscis reddish-yellow. Mesonotum deep green,

but little shining, covered with short light yellow pile; the sides broadly reddish-yellow. Scutellum

green, with the margins reddish-yellow. Metanotum in the middle black. Abdomen cylindrical, gradually

tapering from the base to the end of the fourth segment, where it is about twice as wide; first three

segments yellow, with a broad median black band ; fourth segment black, with the anterior and posterior

margins yellow; fifth segment black. Legs light yellow; hind coxe in great part black; hind femora

black on the basal half, the four posterior tibia brownish at the base; the front and middle tarsi with

the terminal joints brownish. Wings yellowish; the furcation of the second and third veins takes place

opposite the anterior cross-vein. Length 11-12 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Omilteme in Guerrero 8000 feet (H. H. Smith).

Four specimens.

> PTECTICUS (p. 24).

Ptecticus figlinus (p. 24).

To the locality given, add :—-MExico, Omilteme and Sierra de las Aguas Escondidas,

both in Guerrero (H. H. Smith), Jalisco (Schumann).

‘The nine specimens received from Mexico vary from 9-15 millim. in length: Osten

Sacken described a single male. I believe my identification is correct, but the species

is so variable that only a detailed description will suffice to separate it from the

following :—

d. Head, except the occiput and small ocellar tubercle, wholly yellow. Front very narrow below, the eyes

not quite contiguous; the projection below is prominent and smoothly convex. Projection of the second

antennal joint rounded and obtuse; third joint truncate at the tip; arista distinctly thickened at its

extreme base. Mesonotum brown or yellowish-brown, the coloration indistinctly separated into stripes

by very narrow intervals, Pleurz, and the front and middle coxw, yellow, the metanotal prominence

somewhat brownish. Abdomen yellow, with a broad black or brownish-black cross-band on the second,

third, fourth, and fifth segments, that on the second occupying about half of the segment, that on the fifth

leaving only a yellow band posteriorly; first segment sometimes with a brownish spot in the middle;

sixth segment, when exposed, black, with a posterior yellow band. Hypopygium prominent, reddish-

yellow; forceps long and slender. Legs yellow; the distal three joints of the front and middle tarsi

black or blackish, the second joint more or Jess blackish ; hind femora in part and the basal portion of the

hind tibie, and sometimes that of the middle tibie, brown or brownish; all the femora, but especially

the front and hind pairs, considerably swollen; hind tarsi stout. Wings with a brownish-yellow tinge ;

the furcation of the second and third veins takes place a little beyond the junction of the anterior cross-

vein ; last section of the third vein not more than three-fourths the length of the penultimate section.

@. Front on the sides narrowly black, brown, or brownish, wider below; convexity less prominent, more

flattened. Abdomen more spatulate in shape, increasing gradually in width to the end of the fourth

segment, where it is about three times the width of the base. Femora distinctly thickened, but less so

than in the male. The two-jointed palpi-like appendages of the ovipositor brown. Length 9-15 millim.

2. Ptecticus testaceus.

Sargus testaceus, Fabr. Syst. Antl. p. 257°; Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. ii. p. 357; Macq. Dipt.

Exot. Suppl. i. p. 185°; Walk. List &c. iii. p. 517*, v. p. 94°; Rondani, Esame di varie Sp.

etc. p. 43°; Bellardi, Saggio etc. p. 45” (nec Fabr.).

| Piecticus testaceus, Loew, Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, v. p. 147 (12) (1855) °; Schiner, Reise der

Novara, Dipt. p. 64°; V.d. Wulp, Tijdschr. voor Ent. xxiv. p. 156 (1884) °; E. Lynch, Catal.

de los Dipteros etc. p.17™.

DIPTERA. 237

Hab. Mexico, Tampico (Saussure’), San Blas in Jalisco (Schumann), Dos Arroyos

and Tierra Colorada in Guerrero, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith), N. Yucatan (Gaumer),

Merida in Yucatan 7.—Sovura America ! 2, Brazil 5°10, Chapada, Pernambuco 1°, Buenos

Aires }!,

Ten specimens. Placed by Osten Sacken amongst the unidentified Stratiomyide

(antea, p. 42).

3. Ptecticus cyanifrons.

Sargus testaceus, Macq. Dipt. Exot. i. 1, p. 208".

Sargus cyanifrons, Rondani, Esame di varie Sp. etc. p. 43’.

Ptecticus testaceus, var. cyanifrons, Giglio-Tos, Mem. della Reale Accad. delle Sci. di Torino, (2)

xliii. p. 118°.

Hab. Mexico, Tampico (Saussure*), San Blas in Jalisco (Schumann), Orizaba

(Sumichrast 3), Teapa in Tabasco, Cuernavaca in Morelos (H. H. Smith), Merida in

. Yucatan ?.—Brazit ! 2.

Three males and two females. The only perceptible difference between this and the

foregoing species is in the colour of the front, blue-black in P. eyanifrons and yellow

in P. testaceus. The colour of the tarsi, mentioned by Giglio-Tos, is variable.

4. Ptecticus sacken.

Ptecticus sackenii, Willist. Canad. Ent. xvii. p. 124°.

Hab. Nortu America, New York, Virginia, Florida} (Coll. Univ. of HKansas).—

Mexico, Tierra Colorada in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Four males and one female from Guerrero seem to agree with the specimens of this

species in the collection of the University of Kansas. They are rather smaller than

the types, and the stripes of the mesonotum are not so well marked. LP. sackeni

apparently differs from P. cyanifrons only in the white colour of the hind tarsal joints,

and I am not sure whether it can really be considered as more than a variety.

5. Ptecticus nitidipennis.

Ptecticus nitidipennis, Loew, Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, 1855, p. 13°.

Hab. Mzxico, Dos Arroyos in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).—VENEZUELA }.

A single male specimen from Dos Arroyos is referred somewhat doubtfully to this

species, inasmuch as the third antennal joint is distinctly truncate at the tip; otherwise,

the description applies fairly well. Both the front and middle metatarsi are wholly

yellow, and the hind femora are somewhat redder at the extremity. The second vein

arises before the junction of the anterior cross-vein, and the ultimate section of the

third vein is shorter than the penultimate section.

238 SUPPLEMENT.

6. Ptecticus maculatus, sp. n.

9. Front and face light yellow, the small ocellar spot black ; the lower vesicular portion of the front a little

lighter-coloured. Antenne light yellow, the third joint reddish-yellow, truncate at the tip. Thorax

yellow or greenish-yellow throughout, the mesonotum scarcely darker. Abdomen light yellow, the second,

third, fourth, and fifth segments each with two narrow, transverse, black spots, narrowly separated. Legs

yellow; hind tibis and tarsi and the four distal joints of the other tarsi (excepting the basal portion of

the second joint) black. Wings yellowish-hyaline; the furcation of the second and third veins is at the

junction of the anterior cross-vein ; ultimate section of the third vein as long as the penultimate section.

Length 14 millim.

Hab. Mexico, N. Yucatan (Gaumer).

One specimen. Another female example, from Tierra Colorada in Guerrero

(H. H. Smith), is only 10 millim. in length, and has the hind tibiz yellow and the

hind metatarsi reddish-brown ; it agrees, however, so well in other respects (the meso-

notum may be darker above) that I believe it belongs to the same species.

7. Ptecticus concinnus, sp. n.

3 9. Very like P. figlinus, but the front of the female without the black on the sides; the black bands of

the abdomen are narrower and do not reach the lateral margins, that of the second segment sometimes

largely obsolete; the femora are less thickened ; and the hind metatarsi are slender. The hind tarsi in

the female specimens are brown and black throughout, the distal joints darker in colour; in the males

the metatarsi are redder. The forceps of the male hypopygium are less slender and long, their length

only about equalling the distance between them at the base, while in P. figlinus they are more curved

and touch each other at the tip. The last section of the third vein is relatively shorter. Length

10-12 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Amula, Omilteme, and Xucumanatlan, all in Guerrero, 6000 to 8000

feet (H. H. Smith).

Two males and four females.

ANALCOCERUS.

Analcocerus, Loew, Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, 1855, p. 10.

1. Analcocerus hortulanus, sp.n. (Tab. IV. fig. 10, ¢ .)

2. Antenne elongate, distinctly greater in length than the width of the head; first two joints elongate, the

second only a little shorter than the first ; third joint slender, composed of six closely united annuli, all

of which are of nearly equal length, a little longer than broad, the last one obtusely pointed and wholly

without pile or terminal arista. Front from the ocelli to the root of the antenue rather more than twice

as long as wide; convex, the median transverse groove feebly marked, the antenne not situated upon a

prominence ; yellow, with a transverse, black, diamond-shaped spot below, which is narrowly connected

with the black upon which the ocelli are situated ; the space behind the ocelli to the edge of the occiput,

and that between the lateral grooves from the upper angles of the eyes, is black. Face, cheeks, and

occiput black, the former with white pile ; the moderately broad occipital orbits light yellow. Mesonotum

black, shining, punctulate; in the middle with two narrow yellow stripes, turned outward in front to

connect with the yellow humeri; on the sides in front of the suture a triangular yellow spot, and another

of about the same size situated on and before the post-alar callosities ; the prominent prothorax with a

yellow spot above. Scutellum greenish-yellow, with two rather stout black spines. Pleure black, with

yellow spots. Metanotum black. Abdomen nearly opaque black, with the narrow lateral margins, and a

DIPTERA. 239

narrow posterior band on each segment, narrowly interrupted or subinterrupted, yellow; in addition,

there is a transverse yellow spot on the anterior part of the first segment. Legs brownish or reddish-

yellow ; the front and middle tarsi browner, the hind tarsi yellow ; hind metatarsi at the distal end with

a prominence below. Wings nearly hyaline, expanded distally as in Rhaphiocera; the second vein forks

before the anterior cross-vein. Length 7 millim.

Hab. Mexico, N. Yucatan (Gaumer).

Two specimens. This species bears a strong resemblance to Rhaphiocera (Hoplistes)

hortulanus, Macq., as well as to Campeprosopa longicornis, described below. It has,

furthermore, the Rhaphiocera-like expansion of the wing mentioned by Loew in his

definition of the genus, and, curiously enough, there is a swelling on the underside

of the distal portion of the hind metatarsi, similar to that described by Osten

Sacken in R. pampinus (anted, p. 26).

CAMPEPROSOPA.

Campeprosopa, Macquart, Dipt. Exot., Suppl. iii. p. 46 (1850).

The type of this genus is from Java, while an additional species has been described

from Sumatra by Osten Sacken. According to Brauer, Campeprosopa has eight closely

united annuli in the third antennal joint, terminating in a minute style. The Mexican

insect here referred to it has but seven joints and no style whatever, apart from the

thickened terminal joint, which may in itself represent the style. Brauer is inclined

to place the genus among the Hermetiine, rather than the Sarginz, on account of the

variability of the neuration. Both Analcocerus and Campeprosopa, as here understood,

clearly belong to the Sargine, notwithstanding the entire absence of the arista.

1. Campeprosopa longicornis, sp. n. (Tab. IV. fig. 11, ¢.)

9. Antenne arising from a conical protuberance, which is situated near the middle of the head (when viewed

in profile), black, with black hair; first joint more than twice the length of the second ; third joint much

elongated, its length greater than the width of the head, composed of seven closely united annuli, the

first four anuuli nearly square, fifth and sixth distinctly narrower and longer ; beginning with the third,

the joints are flattened and grooved on the underside, in the seventh forming a spout-like body with

everted margins; seventh annulus style-like, though nearly as thick as the preceding, in length equal to

more than half of the entire third joint, not hairy, ending in a blunt point, wholly without terminal

bristle. Front nearly as in Rhaphiocera armata, save that the lower part is more prominent; shining

black, below the transverse groove with two subconfluent yellow spots, below which the space at the root

of the antenne is deep brown; above the groove, near the middle, there are two small yellow spots; the

plack extends from the ocelli between the oblique grooves to the occiput; on the outer side of the

grooves the broad posterior orbits are light yellow, save for a small dark brown spot. Face much

receding, dark brown, with two partially confluent spots near the root of the antenne ; cheeks black.

Mesonotum finely punctulate, opaque black, with two yellow stripes turning out at the humeri to connect

with the broader yellow lateral margins in front of the root of the wing; from the green post-alar callus

a small triangular yellow spot, directed forwards. Scutellum green, black in the middle; the margin

with two slender yellow spines. Pleure black and light yellow. Abdomen black, punctulate ; the

‘narrow lateral margins, and a narrow, posterior, interrupted band on the margin of each segment, green.

Legs yellowish-red, the basal half of all the femora and a ring on the middle of each tibia light yellow ;

front tarsi black, the terminal joints yellowish ; middle tarsi brown or brownish-black, with the terminal

240 SUPPLEMENT.

joints yellowish ; hind tarsi light yellow, with the two distal joints blackish. Wings hyaline; narrow

and elongate, not expanded distally as in Rhaphiocera; neuration of the Sargus-type ; the furcation of

the second vein takes place nearly opposite the distal end of the discal cell. Length 10 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Omilteme in Guerrero 8000 feet (H. H. Smith).

One specimen. Notwithstanding the presence of but seven annuli in the third

antennal joint, I place this species under Campeprosopa, as the characters seem other-

wise to agree exceedingly well. Possibly Analcocerus should be united with it, yet

the frontal protuberance and the shape of the wings may be sufficient, apart from the

lesser number of antennal annuli, to distinguish the two.

HERMETIA (p. 27).

Hermetia aurata (p. 28).

To the localities given, add:—Mexico, Amula and Venta de Zopilote in Guerrero

(H. H. Smith), San Blas in Jalisco (Schumann).

Osten Sacken (anted, p. 28) has referred H. chrysopila, Loew, to this species as a

synonym, but I do not feel sure that he is right. A specimen of what I believe to be

H. chrysopila, from New Mexico, in the collection of the University of Kansas, differs

as follows from the Mexican insects, which I take to be the true Z. aurata of Bellardi:

Front more yellow, style of antenne relatively shorter, golden pile of thorax and

abdomen more abundant, humeri yellow, scutellum with a broad yellow margin.

Bellardi makes no mention of the yellow border to the scutellum, and in the five

specimens before me the scutellum shows no trace of that colour.

Hermetia illucens (p. 32).

Hermetia nigrifacies, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1879, p. 200.

Specimens of this species in the Mexican collection before me agree well with the

description of H. nigrifacies, Bigot, an insect not identified by Osten Sacken in the

earlier part of this work (anted, p. 42). Bigot’s name must be sunk as a synonym

of H. alucens (Linn.).

9. Hermetia albitarsis.

Hermetia albitarsis, Fabr. Syst. Antl. p. 63*; Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. ii. p. 24,t. 7. f. 47;

Macq. Dipt. Exot., Suppl. i. p. 177°; Schiner, Reise der Novara, Dipt. p. 70‘; Willist.

Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. xv. p. 246°.

? Hermetia bimaculata, Macq. Hist. Nat. Dipt., in Suites 4 Buffon, i. p. 228 °.

? Hermetia sexmaculata, Macq. loc. cit. p. 229".

Hermetia planifrons, Macq. Dipt. Exot., Suppl. i. p. 50°.

Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith), Merida in Yucatan 8.—Soura

America !?, Colombia * 4, Brazil ®®; Anrtittes, Puerto Rico 7.

DIPTERA. 241

One specimen from Teapa, agreeing with that from Chapada, Brazil, mentioned by

me in the above-cited paper®. The synonymy of H. bimaculata® and H. sexmaculata?

is not certain, as it is possible that one or the other belongs to H. apicalis, an allied

species. H. planifrons, Macq., was included by Osten Sacken (anted, p. 42) amongst

the unidentified Central-American Stratiomyide.

10. Hermetia eneipennis.

Hermetia flavipes (Wiedemann, &c.), var. eneipennis, Giglio-Tos, Mem. della Reale Accad. delle

Sci. di Torino, (2) xliii. p. 107°.

Hab. Mexico (Sumichrast 1), N. Yucatan (Gaumer).

Two specimens. ‘The differences which they present from the brief description of

H. flavipes given by Wiedemann are too great, in my opinion, to be considered merely

varietal. To Giglio-Tos’s description! it may be added that the eyes are pilose and

the third antennal joint in the female is not dilated.

11. Hermetia lativentris.

Hermetia lativentris, Bellardi, Saggio etc. i. p. 27, t.1. f. 9°, App. p. 8° (nec Willist. Canad.

Ent. 1885, p. 125).

Hab. Mexico, Tampico (Saussure!), Chilpancingo in Guerrero (H. H. Smith),

N. Yucatan (Gaumer).

Ten specimens. The eyes are pilose, the tibiz and tarsi light yellow. ‘The species

which I doubtfully referred to H. lativentris in the ‘Canadian Entomologist’ (J. c.)

proves, upon comparison, to be quite distinct. As examples have been obtained

from the southern part of New Mexico, not far from the frontier of Mexico, it is

highly probable that it will be found to be a member of the Mexican fauna. I there-

fore give a description of it below. JZ. lativentris was included by Osten Sacken

(anted, p. 42) amongst the unidentified Central-American Stratiomyide.

(12. Hermetia concinna, sp.n. (Tab. IV. fig. 12, 9.)

Hermetia lativentris, Willist. Canad. Ent. 1885, p. 125 * (nec Bellardi).

3 &. Front and face reddish-yellow, clothed with yellow pile; a brownish spot on each side of the root of

the antennez, sometimes indistinct or absent ; a small black spot at the ocelli. Antenne reddish-yellow,

the tip of the third joint and the style black; style a little longer than the remainder of the antenna.

Eyes pilose, with markings as in H. relicta, Osten Sacken (anted, p. 30). Thorax black, moderately

shining, the ground-colour obscured beneath bright golden yellow pile; Jateral margins reddish.

Scutellum opaque black, the margin reddish-yellow. Pleurz shining black, the mesopleure reddish and

with golden pile. Abdomen elongate, flattened, yellowish-red, with a narrow median black stripe,

narrowly interrupted at the incisures and more or less obsolete on the terminal segments. Femora

black, the tibiee yellowish ; tibice and tarsi light yellow. Wings yellow, the distal and posterior portions

broadly brownish-yellow. Length 11-16 millim.

Tab. Nortn America, New Mexico! (Snow), Arizona (Morrison, Coll. Univ. of

Kansas).

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., December 1900. 21

942 SUPPLEMENT.

Differs from H. lativentris in the yellow head and antenne, yellow border of the

scutellum, markings of abdomen, &c. Five specimens. |

13. Hermetia ceria, sp.n. (Tab. IV. fig. 13.)

Front black, the large bare tubercle shining blue-black ; on either side of the ocelli a yellow spot, another

near each orbit below, and a pair of small ones above the root of the antennw. Antenne red, the style

black ; third joint very long and slender, fully twice the length of the style. Eyes pilose. Mesonotum

and scutellum opaque black ; a small spot on the humeri, the post-alar callosities, and the narrow margin

of the scutellum, luteous; pubescence golden. Abdomen shaped much as in the species of Ceria,

broadest at the posterior part of the third segment, where it is fully twice as wide as at the distal

margin of the first segment; opaque black, the second segment, save the narrow lateral margins, light

vellow ; posterior margins of the second and third segments with golden pile; fourth and fifth segments

covered with similarly coloured pile, more abundant on the hind margins. Legs black; the basal

portion of the hind tibiz and the front and hind tarsi light yellow (middle legs wanting in the specimen

described). Wings with the anterior border brown, sharply distinguished from the posterior part, which

is nearly hyaline, Length 10-11 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Ventanas in Durango 2000 feet (Lorrer).

I have ventured to describe this species from a single specimen, not in a very good

state of preservation, and the sex of which I cannot determine, on account of its

striking characters. It resembles certain species of Ceria and Conops.

CHRYSOCHLORA.

Chrysochlora, Latreille, Régne Anim. p. 486 (1829).

It is perhaps strange that so little has been written concerning this genus, estab-

lished so long ago, considering the fact that specimens of various species belonging to

it are not at all rare in collections. About half a dozen American forms have been

described, some of which it is quite certain do not belong to it, or at least are not

congeneric with such species as C. vespertilio. If C. amethystina (Fabr.\, from the

Isle of France, is taken as the type, it seems probable that the American species will

have to be separated, especially so if Macquart is correct in his statement that the

males of C. amethystina have the eyes contiguous. In the six American forms known

to me the structure of the body throughout is quite alike in the two sexes, except that

the antenne are more elongate in the female than in the male. Nor am I aware of

any differences in coloration between the two sexes. In fact, in single specimens,

when the genitalia are withdrawn within the abdomen it is often difficult to

determine the sex. A separation of the American species is also very desirable from

the fact that they are light-coloured insects, with much uniformity of markings, while

C. amethystina is deep metallic green and blue in colour. The heterogeneous character

of the species at present included in the genus is noticed by Loew in his paper on

Sargus (Verh, zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, 1855). I have already remarked (Trans. Am.

Ent. Soc. xv. p. 1) that it is difficult, if not impossible, to determine the described

DIPTERA. 248

species from the existing descriptions, from the fact that no attention has been paid to

structural differences, and the colour-characters are vague in the extreme.

From Central America there is a single species in our collection, which is not

identical with any of the four others known to me from Brazil. It is not impossible,

however, that one or the other has been described.

1. Chrysochlora pulchra, sp. n.

Q. Front and face light sulphur-yellow, the space between the ocelli black; front long and narrow, its

, length from the ocelli to the root of the antenne at least three times its breadth; in profile, with a

scarcely visible convexity above the eyes, the depression on the lower part shallow. Antennz elongate,

yellowish-red, the first two joints yellow; if bent backwards, the antenn# would reach three-fourths of

the distance to the ocelli; arista shorter than the third joint. Face, in profile, with the lower part

receding rectangularly, the latter not wider than the front, and only very slightly wider than the vertex.

Proboscis and palpi light yellow; occiput black, save the continuation of the front down to the neck.

Thorax light yellow, in places with a greenish tinge; mesonotum with three brown or brownish stripes

of the usual shape, more or less obsolete in places; pleuree almost wholly light yellow; scutellum yellow,

with the base black. Abdomen yellow, with four broad brown or blackish bands. Legs light yellow.

Wings tinged with yellow, the distal part and a small spot in the distal end of the first basal cell

infuscated. Length 12 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

The female antenna is distinctly annulated, showing six divisions. The male

antenna will doubtless prove to be much shorter and the divisions almost imper-

ceptible. Other species of the genus vary in the depth of the markings on the thorax

and abdomen, and in having a brownish spot on the legs; probably C. pulchra will

show similar variations. One specimen.

CYPHOMYIA (p. 34).

Cyphomyia varipes (p. 34).

To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith).

Five specimens, agreeing well with Gerstacker’s description. The thorax is without

pilose markings.

Cyphomyia albitarsis (p. 35).

Stratiomys albitarsis, Fabr. Syst. Antl. p. 80°.

Cyphomyia albitarsis, Gerst. Linn. Ent. xi. p. 300°; Bellardi, Saggio etc. i. p. 22°; Schiner,

Reise der Novara, Dipt. p. 53*; Giglio-Tos, Mem. della Reale Accad. delle Sci. di Torino,

(2) xlii. p. 105 °.

Cyphomyia fenestrata, Macq. Dipt. Exot., Suppl. i. p. 48°; Walk. List &. v. p. 16’.

To the localities given, add :—Maxico (Sallé>, Sumichrast °), Cuernavaca in Morelos,

Teapa in Tabasco (H. A. Smith).—Sovutu America *, Colombia 6, Essequibo 2.

Nine specimens, including male and female, have been sent to us from Mexico,

I see but little reason to doubt the identity of Bellardi’s species.

2742

244 SUPPLEMENT.

5. Cyphomyia pilosissima.

Cyphomyia pilosissima, Gerst. Linn. Ent. xi. p. 293°.

Hab. Mexico ', Mexico city (Schumann), Cuernavaca in Morelos (H. H. Smith).

Three specimens, including both sexes, belonging evidently to this species, though the

male shows some discrepancies from Gersticker’s description. The? third joint of

the antenne is not “‘abgestumpft,” but is obtusely pointed; the erect pile of the

mesonotum is not blackish, but dusky white; the tip of the first joint of each tarsus

and the whole of the second joint are dark coloured. The differences shown by the

female (Gerstacker described the male) are as follows :—

Front broad, sparsely white-pilose ; in the middle with a sharp carina, which is most prominent a little

below the ocelli ; posterior orbits with white pile; pile of the face less abundant and long in the middle.

Mesonotum with three elongate white-tomentose spots in front; the pile elsewhere much shorter and

less abundant than in the male. The pile of the eyes is distinct, but much shorter than in the male.

C. pilosissima was placed by Osten Sacken (anted, p. 43) amongst the unidentified

Mexican Stratiomyide.

6. Cyphomyia lasiophthalma, sp. n. (Tab. IV. fig. 15, ¢.)

d. Hyes densely black-pilose. Antenne slender, the first joint unusually long and slender, nearly four times

the length of the second, which is about twice as long as wide; first joint yellow, clothed with black

pile; second joint also yellow, but clothed with black and white pile; third joint yellowish on the basal

portion, black distally ; the last segment of the third joint is nearly three times the length of that

preceding it. Face shining black, at the immediate margin of the eyes more thickly pilose, in the middle

with long white pile. Mesonotum rather thickly clothed with yellowish-white tomentum, apparent, when

seen obliquely from behind, as three stripes, and with long, erect, moderately abundant, dusky pile ;

scutellum clothed with black pile, except on the margin and spines, where it is longer and white; spines

yellow, about as long as the scutellum, slender, gently divaricate, and curved upward at the tip. Pleure

with abundant white pile. Abdomen nearly opaque black, with four distinct triangular spots composed

of yellowish-white appressed pile on each side. Legs black, with white pile; the basal half or two-

thirds of each of the femora and the first two joints and proximal part of the third joint of all the tarsi

light yellow. Wings yellowish-hyaline, with a broad brownish band across the middle, becoming

narrower and darker anteriorly.

. Front narrow, its width about equal to one-third of the distance from the antenna to the ocelli; broadly

sulcate in the middle and lightly carinate on the sides; in colour shining black; on the lowermost

portion covered with close-lying white pile. Eyes less densely pilose. Length 8-10 millim.

Hab. Mexico, San Blas in Jalisco (Schumann), Acaguizotla, Dos Arroyos, and

Tierra Colorada in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Five specimens.

7. Cyphomyia bicarinata, sp. n.

. Front broader than in C. lasiophthalma, shining black; on each side a prominent tuberculiform carina;

lower part with white pile. Antenne wholly black, clothed with black pile proximally ; first joint

elongate ; the first two joints nearly equal in length to one-half that of the third joint; eighth annulus a

little shorter than the seventh, which is a trifle longer than the sixth. Face clothed with long white

pile, which is less abundant in the middle. Thorax, except the yellow spines of the scutellum, wholly

DIPTERA. 245

shining black ; mesonotum clothed with moderately abundant, appressed, nearly white tomentum ; pleurse

with white pile. Abdomen with spots of light golden pile on the sides of the second, third, and fourth

segments, the pile extending over the larger part of the fourth and fifth segments. Legs black, with

white pile ; first two joints of the anterior tarsi, and most of the third joint also of the hind tarsi, light

yellow. Wings broadly brownish distally.

dg. Eyes with longer and more abundant black pile. Face with long black pile in the middle. Mesonotum

with long, erect, dusky white pile. Length 7-10 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Xucumanatlan in Guerrero, Cuernavaca in Morelos (H. H. Smith),

Jalisco, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (Schumann).

Four specimens. ‘This species differs from C. lasiophthalma in the narrower front,

the more prominent lateral tubercle, the more obtuse third joint of the antenne, the

broad light golden covering of the posterior part of the abdomen, and the wholly

~ black femora.

ODONTOMYIA (p. 36).

1. Odontomyia trivittata (p. 36).

Stratiomys trivittata, Say, Journ. Acad. Phil. vi. p. 160°.

Odontomyia trivittata, Johnson, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. xxii. p. 259, t. 4. f. 197.

Odonthomyia triteniata, Bellardi, Saggio etc. i. p. 88, t. 1. f.17°.

Odontomyia triteniata, Osten Sacken, antea, p. 36%.

To the localities given, add :—Norta America!, Colorado, Texas, and Florida ?.—

Mexico, Jalisco (Schumann).

A single specimen from Jalisco, Mexico, agreeing well with the description of

O. trivittata?, save that the black of the abdomen is broader. Bellardi’s description of

the abdomen is indefinite, yet I believe that Johnson is right in the above synonymy.

2. Odontomyia lefebvrei.

Odontomyia lefebvrei, Macq. Dipt. Exot. i. 1, p. 189°.

Odonthomyia lefebruei (sic), Bellardi, Saggio etc. 1. p. 33°.

Stratiomys lefebvrei, Walk. List &c. v. pp. 40, 311°.

Stratiomyia euchlora, Gerst. Linn. Ent. xi. p. 328 *.

Odontomyia prasina, Jaennicke, Neue Exot. Dipt. p. 16, in Abhandl. Senckenb. Ges. vi. p. 5 °.

Hab. Mexico !~5, Morelia in Michoacan (Hége), Orizaba, Toluca (Saussure 2).

A single male specimen from Morelia, differing from Macquart’s description! in

lacking the spot on the base of the third abdominal segment, and in having the hind

femora wholly yellow; the front and middle femora have the upperside distally

black, but the black is not extensive. The post-alar callosities are yellow. Bellardi2

says that the spots on the sides of the abdomen may be two, four, or six in number, or

may be wholly wanting. From S. euchlora, Gerst., it differs only in the presence of

the small femoral spots, evidently a variable character. O. prasina, Jaenn., has redder

pile on the mesonotum. 0. lefebvrei was not identified by Osten Sacken in the earlier

246 SUPPLEMENT.

part of this work (anted, p. 42), and the same remark applies to O. truqui?, O. viridis,

and 0. guadrimaculata, Bellardi, and O. rubricornis, Macq.

8. Odontomyia truquii.

Odonthomyia truguii, Bellardi, Saggio etc. i. p. 34, t. 1. f. 11°.

Odontomyia truquii, Johnson, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. xxii. p. 273°.

Odontomyia megacephala, Loew, Centur. vi. p. 20 (nee Oliv.) *.

Odontomyia binotata, Loew, Centur. vi. p. 22‘; Day, Proc. Acad. Phil. 1882, p. 81 *; Johnson,

Trans, Am. Ent. Soc. xxii. p. 251, t. 3. ff. 29-32°.

Odontomyia bicolor, Day, Proc. Acad. Phil. 1882, p. 78’.

Hab. Norvn America, California 3, Illinois 4*®, Utah ®, Texas 6, Kansas ®, Nebraska &,

Indiana ®, Michigan ®°.—Mexico, Iguala in Guerrero (H. HH. Smith), Cuernavaca

(Truqui *).

A single female example from Iguala, agreeing fairly well with Bellardi’s description

of O. trugquii, and better still with Johnson’s. I have seen Day’s types in the Museum

of the University of Kansas.

- 4, Odontomyia viridis.

Odonthomyia viridis, Bellardi, Saggio etc. i. p. 86, t. 1. £. 16°.

Odontomyia viridis, Johnson, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. xxii. p. 270, t. 4. £. 18°.

Hab. Nortn America, Waco, Texas 2.—Mexico! (Saussure?), Teapa in Tabasco

(H. H. Smith), Cuautla (Saussure }).

One female specimen from Teapa, agreeing with the descriptions, save in the

abdomen having a narrow yellowish-green margin, dilated angularly at the incisures.

A second example of the same sex, and from the same locality, has the eyes bare and

the black less extended on the femora. :

5. Odontomyia quadrimaculata.

Odonthomyia quadrimaculata, Bellardi, Saggio etc. 1. p. 87, t. 1. f. 15’.

Odontomyia guadrimaculata, Johnson, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. xxii. p. 2747.

Hab. Mexico !2, Xucumanatlan in Guerrero 7000 feet (H. H. Smith).

A single male specimen from Guerrero agreeing throughout with Bellardi’s

description, save that the dilated spots of the abdomen are on the second and third

segments, instead of on the third and fourth; the fourth and fifth segments have a

reddish-yellow margin (Bellardi gives the fifth only thus coloured).

6. Odontomyia fratella, sp. n.

9, Antenne black, second joint about two-thirds the length of the first, the third not twice the length of the

first two joints together. Head narrower than the thorax; eyes bare. Front black on the upper half

DIPTERA. - OAT

or more, the yellow extending up in the middle and somewhat dilated below the ocelli; occipital margin

of the front narrowly yellow, save just behind the ocellar tubercle. Face prominent in the middle,

yellow, with a large black shield-shaped spot in the centre, reaching from the root of the antenne to the

oral margin in front and to the lateral grooves on the side. Posterior orbits yellow. Mesonotum black,

with rather abundant yellow pile and tomentum. Scutellum yellow, black at the base; spines small.

Pleura black and yellow. Abdomen black; second and third segments with a large yellow spot on each

side, extending acutely inward on the posterior margin, but not meeting; anterior angles of the third

segment with a black spot ; fourth segment with a posterior narrowly interrupted band; fifth segment

with a narrow yellow hind-margin. Legs black, the proximal portion of all the tibia and of the middle

metatarsi yellow. Third vein of the wings with an anterior branch. Length 13 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Guadalajara in Jalisco (Hége).

One specimen.

7. Odontomyia concinnata, sp. n.

dg. Head broader than the thorax. Eyesbare. Frontal triangle and face shining black, the latter prominent

and broadly yellow below. First two joints of the antenne reddish-yellow, the second joint a little

shorter than the first ; third joint brown, becoming blackish distally, not twice the length of the first two

joints together. Mesonotum, except a small yellow spot on the post-alar callosities, wholly black, with

short yellowish pile. Scutellum greenish-yellow, narrowly black at the base, the spines of moderate size.

Pleurz black, with the anterior part reaching back as a stripe below the root of the wings, and a small

spot on the mesosternum, greenish-yellow. Abdomen: first segment opaque black ; second and third

segments yellow, the two together showing a large, hourglass-shaped spot or median portion; fourth

segment black, with the lateral margins, dilated posteriorly, yellow ; fifth segment black, with a yellow

margin. Venter greenish-yellow. Legs: femora brown and black, with the proximal portion, on the

front pair narrowly, on the posterior pair broadly, yellow; tibie black, yellow on the proximal portion ;

tarsi black, the metatarsi, except the tip, yellow. Stigmatic portion of the wings brown; anterior branch

of the third vein indistinct. Length 10 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Venta de Zopilote in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

One specimen. ‘This species seems to be allied to the Mexican 0. dissimilis, Bellardi,

but may be distinguished by the spots on the pleure and the colour of the femora.

8. Odontomyia rubicornis.

Odontomyia rubicornis, Macq. Dipt. Exot., Suppl. i. p. 181°.

Had. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith), Merida in Yucatan '.

A single male specimen from Teapa, resembling O. guadrimaculata, but smaller

(length 7 millim.). The eyes are nearly bare, the scutellum has a narrow yellowish

border, the spots on the abdomen are larger, and the tibiz and tarsi are yellow, the

latter infuseated at the tip. In O. quadrimaculata the eyes have a long and abundant

pilosity.

9. Odontomyia (?) comma, sp. n.

g. Antenne longer than the head, the first two jdints elongate, the second about two-thirds the length of the

first, and the third of nearly the same length as the first two together. Deep black throughout, with the

following parts yellow : two triangular spots on the sides of the front, the lower one smaller and situated

just above the root of the antenne ; a transverse, narrow band on the face, a little above the oral margin ;

248 SUPPLEMENT.

a U-shaped spot on each side of the mesonotum in front, the inner arm pointed, the outer one broader ;

a small spot on each side of the mesonotum behind the middle and a small triangular spot on and in front

of each post-alar callus, the humeri, the spines of the scutellum, the very slender lateral margin of the

abdomen, and a small comma-like spot on the second, third, and fourth segments, connected with the

yellow border at each posterior angle, and the slender hind margins of the ventral segments. Body

bare. Head as broad as the thorax; face protuberant; front with a median carina. Eyes bare.

Wings tinged with brownish, more deeply so in front; third vein with an anterior branch. Length

10 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Dos Arroyos in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

One specimen. This species is a very aberrant one and would perhaps be better

associated with some others in a separate genus.

STRATIOMYIA (p. 36).

Stratiomyia mutabilis (p. 37).

Stratiomyia mutabilis (Fabr.), Willist. Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. xv. p. 256 (¢)*; Johnson, Trans. —

Am. Ent. Soc. xxii. p. 243, t. 4. f. 37.

To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Chilpancingo in Guerrero, Atoyac in Vera

Cruz (H. H. Smith), Temax in Northern Yucatan (Gaumer), Orizaba?, Tehuantepec 2.

—BraziL, Corumba 1, Chapada !.

Seven males and twelve females from Mexico are contained in the collection

before me.

Stratiomyia subalba (p. 37).

Stratiomyia subalba (Walk., Bellardi), Johnson, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. xxii. p. 246".

Stratiomyia mutabilis, Willist. Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. xv. p. 256 (¢) ? (nec Fabr.).

To the localities given, add:—Muxico, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith).—

~ ‘Brazit, Chapada ?.

Two specimens from Atoyac, agreeing closely with those from Brazil mentioned in

the above-cited paper 2, which I then thought to be males of S. mutabilis.

3. Stratiomyia bimaculata.

Stratiomys bimaculata, Bellardi, Saggio etc., App. p. 8, t. 3. f. 7%.

Stratiomyia bimaculata, Johnson, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. xxii. p. 2457.

Hab. Mexico, Cosamaloapam (Sallé1), N. Yucatan (Gaumer).

Three specimens from Yucatan, agreeing well with the description. &. dimaculata

was not identified by Osten Sacken in the earlier part of this work (anted, p. 42).

DIPTERA. 249

EUPARHYPHUS (p. 39).

3. Kuparhyphus elongatulus, sp. n. (Tab. IV. fig. 14, 2.)

g. Antenne wholly black, the first two joints with black hair; the first joint one-half longer than the second.

Face reddish-yellow, the orbital margins black and covered for the most part with dense silvery tomentum ;

a small, round, black spot in the middle above. Frontal triangle black, small. Occiput black, the lower

orbits covered with silvery tomentum. Eyes distinctly pubescent. Mesonotum with erect black hair;

opaque black, with four narrow, reddish-yellow stripes, of which the inner ones are a little narrower than

the others, the outer ones connecting the yellow humeri with the yellow post-alar callosities. Pleure

shining black, with a slender yellow stripe immediately below the noto-pleural suture, becoming wider »

below the root of the wings. Scutellum and its spines yellow, the small basal angles brown. Abdomen

shining black; the narrow lateral margins, expanded into a rounded spot on the sides of the second, third,

and fourth segments, reddish-yellow. Legs yellow; distal four joints of all the tarsi and the hind

metatarsi black. Wings tinged with yellowish; third vein furcate.

©. Head shining yellow, the vertex between the oblique impressed lines extending narrowly along the frontal

orbits to about their middle, a slender spot in the centre of the front above, a round spot in the

middle of the upper part of the face, and a large trifoliate spot on the occiput, black. The broad occipital

orbits on the lower half and the facial orbits silvery-pollinose. Eyes sparsely pubescent. Mesonotal

yellow stripes broader than in the male, conjoined in front and behind ; pleure in large part yellow. The

greater part of the first and fifth segments of the abdomen is yellow, the lateral spots on the intervening

segments larger than in the male. Length 7-73 millim., with the antenne 9-93 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Omilteme and Xucumanatlan in Guerrero 7000 to 8000 feet

(A. H. Smith).

Two specimens.

ACANTHINA (p. 41).

Acanthina argentea (p. 41).

To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (Hf. H. Smith).

A single male specimen.

2. Acanthina inornata, sp.n. (Tab. IV. fig. 17, 2.)

dg. Frontal triangle, the narrow occipital orbits, and the vertical triangle reddish-yellow ; orbital margins of

the frontal triangle narrowly silvery-pollinose. Antenne reddish or slightly brownish-yellow, the

terminal annulus and the style black ; first joint only a little longer than the second; third joint about

twice the length of the first two together. Mesonotum shining black, with erect black pile and four

stripes of light golden-coloured tomentum. Scutellum shining black, with light golden-yellow tomentum

or pile, the tips of the spines yellow. Abdomen opaque black, the sides of the second, third, and fourth

segments shining, sometimes reddish, and covered with golden pile like that of the mesonotum. Wings

nearly hyaline. Legs black, the knees and the four posterior metatarsi yellow. .

Q. Front yellow, a little wider than the ocelli above and somewhat narrowed anteriorly before expanding

into the large frontal triangle ; posterior orbits a little wider than in the male. Length 5-6 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith).

Three males and one female. ‘The eyes in the male are broadly and closely

contiguous, and very densely pilose; in the female the pilosity is shorter, yet abundant.

In the single female specimen the proximal portion of the posterior metatarsi only is

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., Aprid 1901. 2k

250 SUPPLEMENT.

yellow. This species may be immediately distinguished from A. bellardii, Giglio-Tos,

which seems to be its nearest ally, by the black scutellum.

LOPHOTELES.

Lophoteles, Loew, Berl. ent. Zeitschr. 1858, p.°110.

1. Lophoteles pallidipennis, sp. n. (Tab. IV. fig. 16, 2 .)

9. Head black, covered with whitish dust, with the exception of a slender median line and the lowermost

portion, which are shining. At the vertex the eyes are separated by the ocelli, the front gradually

widening anteriorly. Antenne black, the first two joints yellow; arista densely pubescent, appearing

almost like a solid mass, in length equal to about twice that of the first three joints together. Thorax

deep black, moderately shining, the colour mostly concealed beneath silvery tomentum, which is arranged

in slender stripes, leaving the black colour apparent between them. Scutellum subtriangular, the middle

portion of the margin produced into a thin edge, upon which a number of minute points are visible ; the

basal part uniformly and thickly silvery-tomentose, the apical portion opaque black. Abdomen black, for

the most part concealed beneath a dense silvery tomentum. Legs light yellow; all the femora, except

their tip, black. Wings hyaline, the veins yellow and not at all stout. Length 33 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith).

One specimen, which I take to be a female. The only known species other than

this, belonging to the genus, is L. plumata, Loew, from the Polynesian island of Radak.

The generic description and figures given by Loew apply very well to the present

insect, L. pallidipennis being easily distinguishable by the silvery tomentum.

EURYNEURA.

Euryneura, Schiner, Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, 1867, p. 308.

Euryneura 2

Hab. Mexico, Chilpancingo and Tierra Colorada in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

In his generic description of Huryneura (Reise der Novara, Dipt. p. 57), Schiner

describes the scutellum as having two long spines, a character also ascribed to the

type-species, E. fascipennis, by Wiedemann. In his comparative description of

E. propinqua, Schiner does not refer to the scutellar spines, and the assumption is that

they are long, whereas in L. elegans, Willist. (Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. xv. p. 252), from

Brazil, they are very small. Giglio-Tos [Mem. della Reale Accad. delle Sci. di Torino,

(2) xliii. p. 111] identifies £. propinqua from Orizaba, Mexico, but mentions the fact that

the spines are small. Two specimens, male and female, from Guerrero, now before me,

agree almost entirely with the type of £. elegans, except in the colour of the legs and

antenne and in having a little broader front. In both these species the hyaline band

of the wing reaches the posterior margin beyond the fifth posterior cell, in which there

is a rounded clear spot, a character not mentioned by Schiner. Whether one or the

other of these insects is really referable to E. propinqua I cannot now say.

DIPTERA. 251

MYXOSARGUS.

Myxosargus, Brauer, Denkschr. der k. Akad. Wissenschaften in Wien, xliv. 2, p. 77 (1882).

1. Myxosargus fasciatus.

Myzxosargus fasciatus, Brauer, loc. cit. p.78*; Osten Sacken, on Prof. Brauer’s paper, “ Hin Versuch

etc.,” p. 6°; Roeder, Ent. Nachr. 1886, p. 189°; Willist. Trans, Am. Ent. Soc. xv. p. 254°;

Giglio-Tos, Mem. della Reale Accad. delle Sci. di Torino, (2) xl. p. 109°.

Hab. Nortu America, Georgia?, North Carolina ‘4, Texas ?.—Mexico (Sumichrast °),

Atoyac in Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith), Orizaba (Bilimek, in Mus. Vind. Ces.1).

A single male specimen from Atoyac is somewhat doubtfully referred to this species.

The two pearly-white spots are at the tip of the frontal triangle.

2. Myxosargus scutellatus, sp.n. (Tab. IV. fig. 18, 2.)

@. Head shining, greenish-black. Front in the centre with a small geminate tubercle ; a distinct transverse

depression below the middle. Antenne black, the first two joints yellow; third joint divided into six

annuli, of which the first three are very short and closely united, the terminal annulus longer than the

preceding two together. Thorax black, clothed with delicate white pile. Mesonotum opaque deep green,

with feeble indications of coppery stripes. Scutellum wholly light yellow. Abdomen black,shining. Legs

black; base of the four posterior femora and the distal portion of the front ones, all the tibize except

a more or less broad ring, and the four posterior tarsi, save the distal two or three joints, light yellow.

Wings as in M. fasciatus.

Length 5-6 millim.

Hab. Mexico, 'Teapa in Tabasco (4. H. Smith).

Two female specimens. The present species differs from I. fasciatus, the female of

which is known to me only by the description, in the absence of the lateral tubercles

of the front, the wholly light yellow scutellum, &c. From the corresponding sex of

M. braueri, Willist., it differs in the smaller frontal tubercle, the shorter antenne, the

colour of the antenne and legs, &c.

NEMOTELUS.

Nemotelus, Geoffroy, Hist. Abrégée des Ins. ii. p. 542 (1764).

1. Nemotelus polyposus.

Nemotelus polyposus, Say, Journ. Acad. Phil. vi. p. 160 (1829) *; Compl. Wr. ii. p. 356 *.

Hab. Mexico 12, Mexico city (H. H. Smith).

Seven specimens, agreeing with Say’s description. The last two joints of the tarsi

are black.

2. Nemotelus unicolor.

Nemotelus unicolor, Loew, Dipt. Centur. iii. p. 11‘; Willist. Canad. Ent. xvi. p. 126°.

Hab. Nortn America, Illinois!, Pennsylvania, Arizona®.— Mexico, Teapa in

Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

2k 2

262 SUPPLEMENT.

A single female specimen from Teapa probably belongs to this species, although

the front and middle tibie are largely black; the basal joints of the antenne are

yellowish.

. CYNIPIMORPHA.

Cynipimorpha, Brauer, Denkschr. der k. Akad. der Wissenschaften in Wien, xliv. 2, p. 75 (1882).

1. Cynipimorpha minuta, sp.n. (Tab. IV. figg. 19,194, 3.)

dg. Eyes separated by the ocelli, gradually becoming wider below; ocelli situated upon a tubercle, otherwise

the front is plane. First two joints of the antenne very short; third joint transversely ellipsoidal, finely

roughened, with the very slender arista springing from the upper front part. Face silvery-white, not at

all projecting in profile ; the oral opening extends to the root of the antennew, which arise from near the

middle of the head, as seen in profile. Thorax wholly black; mesonotum in the middle clothed with

dense, short, silvery pubescence, somewhat variable in different reflections, the sides with a patch of

sparse, coarser, silvery tomentum. Knob of the halteres white. Abdomen black, moderately shining,

broader than the thorax and only a little longer than wide; near the tip with some sparse white pile.

Legs light yellow; the femora, except the tip, nearly black. Wings hyaline; neuration as described

for C. bilimeki, Brauer. Scutellum triangular, obtusely pointed, the basal portion with white pubescence.

Length 23 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Chilpancingo in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

One specimen. This insect differs distinctly from the type of the genus, C. bilimeki,

in having the eyes of the male separated by the narrow front. Another species, closely

allied to this, measuring nearly 4 millim. in length, from Santarem (Amazons), in my

collection, has the antenne wholly yellow, the fine bristle springing from the tip;

the front broader, on the lower part with a smooth, triangular, black spot bounded

by silvery-white on the sides; the pubescence of the mesonotum slightly yellowish,

sparser, and forming indistinct stripes; the tip of the scutellum attenuated into a short,

thick, obtuse process, the white pubescence arranged in spots; the femora yellow

or only slightly brownish.

TABANIDE (p. 43).

PANGONIA (p. 43).

Lable of Species recognized in the supplementary collection sent to me for examination.

Those marked with an asterisk were not identified by Osten Sacken (anted, p. 58).

1, Eyes hairy; face produced . . . . 2... ee eee

Eyes bare; face receding. . . re F

2. Abdomen deep shining black throughout . soe eee we ee 6 pyrausta, O. S.

Abdomen for the most part yellow. . . . . rostrifera, Bell.*

3. Wings with the immediate base dark brown, the colour sharply limited. 4.,

Wings with the immediate base not sharply limited dark brown . . . 6.

4, Antenne reddish-yellow . . . . . 2. . . . 2. ee ee OB

Antenne for the most part black ; abdomen conspicuously yellow-pilose. pavida, sp. n.

5. First segment of abdomen deep black, the remainder light yellow . . semiflava, Wiedem.*

Abdomen for the most part yellow, the first segment not deep black . wiedemanni, Bell.*

DIPTERA. 253

6. Thorax red or brownish-red . . 2. 7 1. ww ee ee

Thorax deep brown or black. . . . . © 2 we ee eee 8

7. Abdomen reddish-yellow throughout . . . . - oe e « «ss flavohirta, Bell.*

Abdomen brown, the first segment yellowish- white illota, sp.n.

8. Deep brown, the abdomen with black pileonly. . . . .. . . saussurii, Bell.*

Mesonotum densely yellowish-pollinose on a black background ; abdo-

men for the most part yellow nigronotata, Macq.*

1. Pangonia pyrausta.

Pangonia pyrausta, O. Sack. antea, p. 43+; Willist. Kans. Univ. Quart. iii. p. 189%

To the localities given, add:—Mexico?, Navarete in Tepic (Schwmann), Mazatlan

{coll. Williston ?).

Four specimens, which I refer to this species, notwithstanding the fact that they all

have the first posterior cell closed. The characters otherwise agree well. The abdomen

is abraded, so that I can offer no opinion as to the differences between this species and

_ P. rhinophora, Bell., which must be very closely allied.

2. Pangonia rostrifera.

Pangonia rostrifera, Bellardi, Saggio etc. 1. p. 47’.

Hab. Mexico!, Misantla (Ff. D. Godman), Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

3. Pangonia pavida, sp. n.

3. Ocelli present. Eyes bare. Antenne black, the slender, aristiform termination of the third joint red.

Face receding, brown. Palpi narrow, black, with black pile. Proboscis longer than the height of the

head. Thorax brownish-black throughout, clothed with black hair. Abdomen yellowish-red, the first

segment and a spot in the middle of the second black; pile on the first segment black, on the remainder

of the abdomen yellow or yellowish-red. Legs black, the tarsal joints yellowish at the base. Wings

brownish, a little darker anteriorly and dark brown at the immediate base; first posterior cell closed ;

a long stump on the anterior branch of the second vein.

@. Front narrow, dark brown, with a narrow longitudinal groove on each side. Abdomen black or reddish-

black, red at the extreme tip only, but covered everywhere, except on the first segment, with yellow or

orange-coloured pile. Length 14-16 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Amula in Guerrero 6000 feet (. H. Smith).

Six males and twelve females.

4. Pangonia semiflava.

Pangonia semiflava, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. ii. p.622'; Walk. List &c. v. p.120’; Bellardi,

Saggio etc. i. p. 51, t. 2. fig. 2°. .

Pangonia bicolor, Macq. Dipt. Exot., Suppl. iv. p. 27°.

Hab. Mexico 14, Chilpancingo, Acaguizotla, and Rincon in Guerrero (H. H. Smith),

Orizaba °.

Three specimens.

204 SUPPLEMENT.

5. Pangonia wiedemanni.

Pangonia basilaris, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. ii. p. 621’; Walk. List &c. v. p. 120° (nomen

preeocc.).

Pangonia wiedemanni, Bellardi, Saggio etc. i. p. 48, t. 2. fig. 3°.

Hab. Muxico!23, Venta de Zopilote in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

One specimen, 14 millim. in length. It has all the femora black.

6. Pangonia flavohirta.

Pangonia flavohirta, Bellardi, Saggio ete. i. p. 49’.

Hab. Mexico }, Tierra Colorada in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Two male specimens agree throughout with Bellardi’s description’, save that the

abdomen is almost wholly yellowish, instead of “flavo-fuscous.” They measure 14 millim.

in length. The third joint of the antenne is slender, the width of the basal annulus

scarcely exceeding its length. The species is apparently allied to P. aurulans, Wiedem,

7. Pangonia illota, sp. n.

Q. Dark brownish-red. Eyes bare. Face receding. Antenne red. Palpired, with black hairs. Proboscis

about as long as the height of the head. Pleurs white-pollinose. Abdomen a little darker than the

mesonotum, brown ; first segment yellowish-white, with white hairs. Wings brownish, a little darker

in front and at the base; first posterior cell closed; second submarginal cell appendiculate, Legs

yellowish-red throughout. Length 15 millim.

Hab. Honpvuras, Ruatan Island (Gaumer).

One specimen.

8. Pangonia saussurii.

Pangonia saussurii, Bellardi, Saggio etc. i. p. 49, t. 2. fig. 4°.

Hab. Mexico, Acaguizotla, Tepetlepa, Rincon, and Hacienda de la Imagen in

Guerrero (H. H. Smith), Orizaba '.

Eleven specimens, of the identification of which I have scarcely adoubt. ‘The species

has a very long setiform termination to the third antennal joint; the abdomen varies

in depth of colour, sometimes to almost black ; the tibie and tarsi and the tip of the

femora are yellow. P. saussurii must be closely related to P. caustica, O. Sack., but

the presence of yellowish pile on the mesonotum in front, the absence of the tufts of

white pile under the root of the wings, and also of the abdominal markings, will

sufficiently distinguish it. |

9, Pangonia nigronotata.

Pangonia nigronotata, Macq. Dipt. Exot., Suppl. iv. p. 27, t.11. fig. 5’; Bellardi, Saggio etc. 1. p.51’.

Pangonia incerta, Bellardi, Saggio etc. i. p. 52”.

Hab. Mexico}, Acaguizotla, Venta de Zopilote, Hacienda de la Imagen, and Chil-

pancingo in Guerrero (H. H. Smith), Orizaba **.

DIPTERA. 255

A variable species, as regards the colour-markings of the abdomen. Bellardi had

but a single poorly-preserved female example for his description of P. incerta, which

description, so far as it goes, applies well to the insect before me. The specimens

that Bellardi described as P. nigronotata, var., do not seem to differ from some of these.

In the present collection there are eighteen specimens, which may be described as

follows :—

3. Frontal triangle and face brownish-yellow, lightly covered with yellowish dust. First two joints of the

antenne yellow; third joint yellowish-red, the first annulus disciform, the others slender, the last as

long as the five preceding together. Palpi yellow, with black hairs. Mesonotum, except the lateral

margins, black in ground-colour, which is concealed beneath a dense yellowish-grey dust and yellowish pile.

Abdomen yellow ; fourth, fifth, and sixth segments black, greyish-dusted, and with the hind margin

lighter-coloured ; second segment with a median, triangular, black spot, sometimes small, at other times

of considerable size; third segment usually with a small median spot of the same colour. Legs brown,

the femora black ; the four front tibiee and tarsi yellow or yellowish. Wings tinged with brown, more

so anteriorly ; first posterior cell closed ; second submarginal cell appendiculate.

?. Front rather narrow, a little wider and not at all prominent below. Abdomen sometimes wholly yellow,

except the distal two or three segments ; at other times the first and second segments are yellow, with a

large black spot in the middle, the other segments black, with a narrow yellowish hind-margin. Legs

sometimes wholly yellow; at other times dark, as described for the male. Length 11-15 millim.

CHRYSOPS (p. 45).

1 (4). Chrysops virgulatus.

Chrysops geminatus, Macq. Dipt. Exot., Suppl. iv. p. 39* (nec Wiedem.).

Chrysops virgulatus, Bellardi, Saggio, etc. 1. p. 71, t. 2. fig. 177.

Chrysops crassicornis, v. d. Wulp, Wien. ent. Zeit. iii. p. 141°.

Hab. Mexico, Guanajuato (Dugés*), Cuautla (Saussure ?), Guadalajara and Santiago

Iscuintla in Jalisco (Schumann), Amula and Chilpancingo in Guerrero (H. ZH. Smith).

Seven specimens. Bellardi? imperfectly described thé male. It has the antennze

yellow or brownish-yellow, with the narrowed portion of the third joint black: the

first joint is very much swollen, the second is a little shorter than the first and also

much swollen, the third not longer than the second, broad on its basal part, narrow on

the distal part. This peculiar structure of the male antenne, together with the narrow

separation of the eyes and the prominent facial tubercles, will readily distinguish the

species. In the female the first basal cell has a square hyaline spot ; the second basal

cell has the proximal third and the tip brown, and the anal cell is brown only at the

distal end. Both sexes have a triangular hyaline spot in the fifth posterior cell.

C. virgulatus was not identified by Osten Sacken (anted, p. 59).

Chrysops costatus (p. 46).

Chrysops costatus, Townsend, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (6) xix. p. 18 (1897).

To the localities given, add :—Mexico, San Rafael in Vera Cruz (Townsend 1), Teapa

- in Tabasco (Hl. H. Smith).

256 SUPPLEMENT.

2 (a). Chrysops 2

dé. Antenne altogether black, the first joint incrassate. Facial tubercles yellow. Mesonotum dark brown,

with inconspicuous stripes and yellow pile. Abdomen opaque brownish-black; second and following

segments each with a narrow posterior yellow border, dilated into a minute spot in the middle ; second

segment yellow on the sides. Legs black; base of the front tibie, the middle tibim and the base of the

middle metatarsi, the hind femora and tibie in part, and the hind metatarsi for the greater part, red.

Wings with a hyaline spot in the distal end of the two basal cells, and in the anal cell; the brown of the

distal costal margin scarcely exceeds the anterior branch of the third vein ; the fourth and fifth posterior

cells are for the most part subhyaline. Length 10 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Mexico city (H. H. Smith).

A single specimen. It is not impossible that this belongs to some described species

of which the female alone is known.

Chrysops latifasciatus (p. 46).

To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Jalapa (1. Trujillo).

A single female specimen from Jalapa I refer with some doubt to this species. The

first joint of the antenne is somewhat swollen proximally ; the second joint is stout,

and only a little shorter than the first; the third joint is fully one and a half times

the length of the second. The abdomen has a small yellow spot on the side of the

first segment, a large triangular spot on the sides of the second, and three small spots

on the posterior margin of the latter, of which the middle is the larger; the following

segments have each three small posterior spots. ‘The first two basal cells of the wings

are brown for two-thirds of their length; the broad median band reaches nearly to the

posterior border, with a subhyaline incision in the fifth posterior cell.

5. Chrysops neglectus, sp.n. (Tab. IV. fig. 20, 2.)

@. Black. Front blackish above, across the middle yellowish-pollinose ; the large frontal tubercle brown

above, yellowish below. Antenne elongate ; first joint slightly thickened ; second joint about two-thirds

the length of the first; third joint as long as the first two together ; first two joints and the immediate

base of the third yellow, the third joint for the most part black. Face reddish-yellow and almost wholly

shining; palpi reddish. Thorax shining black, nearly bare; mesonotum lightly greyish in front.

Abdomen black ; second, third, fourth, and fifth segments each with a small, triangular, yellow spot,

successively decreasing in size, on the hind margin; first segment with a small, second with a large, |

yellowish spot on the sides. Legs reddish-brown; the distal half of the four posterior femora, the middle

tibiee, and the first two or three joints of the four posterior tarsi, reddish-yellow. Wings with a broad

brown band reaching the posterior margin in the fourth posterior cell and emarginate in the fifth; the

brown of the costa continues narrowly to just beyond the anterior branch of the third vein; two basal

cells brown at the immediate base only. Length 84 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

One specimen. ‘The single row of yellow spots on the abdomen distinguishes this

from the black species hitherto described.

DIPTERA. 257

TABANUS (p. 48).

The determination of the species of Tabanus inhabiting Central America is very

difficult when one takes into account, necessarily, the numerous imperfectly described

I have spent many tedious hours reading the descriptions

of these latter with only meagre results. I give below a Table of the species from

Central America that have been described or mentioned in the present work, or are

Six species described or noticed by Osten Sacken I have not

identification will be not at all difficult. Those

59).

forms from South America.

otherwise known to me.

seen, but I believe that their

marked with an asterisk were not recognized by him (anted, p.

1. Altogether black species ; wings black 2.

Altogether light yellow mexicanus, Linn.

Not wholly black nor yellow . 6.

2. Halteres with a yellowish-white knob . - 3..

Halteres black 4,

. Upper angle of the third antennal joint drawn out into a long point ;.

subcallus flat, opaque

Upper angle rectangular, not drawn out; subcallus concave,

erebus, O.S.

shining . . coe ee ee . . . corone, O. S..

4. Front unusually broad, the frontal callosity transverse ; front tibiz

whitish at the base; first posterior cell strongly coarctate, often

closed . . eo oe ee atratus, Fabr..

Front not unusually broad, the frontal callosity not transverse ;

front tibiz altogether black ; first posterior cell only moderately

coarctate er . . . . OD

5. Narrow portion of the third antennal joint not remarkably elongate. sp.

Narrow portion of the third joint unusually long. . . . . . = [lugubris, Macq. |

6. Scutellum conspicuously velvety- black, with a white border; first

posterior cell closed . 2. 2. 1. 1 1 ew ee ee albonotatus, Bell.

Scutellum not so marked . ~ oe ee . . 7.

7. Wings with distinct brown markings, or brown with subhyaline

spaces soe ee 3.

Wings nearly uniform in colour or hyaline . 14.

. Wings with four or five small brown spots ;

abdomen with three

eyes hairy

rows of white spots ; Loe,

abdomen not so marked

Wings with spots or bands ;

quadripunctatus, Wiedem.

9. Body altogether black ; wings with two broad brown bands chionostigma, O. S..

Body not altogether black . 10.

10. Body black, the margins of the mesonotum and the tip of the

scutellum red ; wings brown, lighter distally, with a minute spot

at the furcation of the third vein (male) ~ sp.

Abdomen more or less yellowish-red . . 11.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER.,. Dipt., Aprid 1901.

258 SUPPLEMENT.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18. A

19.

20.

2l.

22.

23.

24,

Body black or deep brown, the abdomen broadly orange on the

sides, with median black stripe or spots . oe

Body light yellowish or brownish-red ; front and palpi very narrow.

Wings brownish, with conspicuous darker spots; black median

stripe of abdomen continuous . . - .

Wings brown, with subhyaline spaces; median stripe of abdomen

composed of discrete spots . .

Wings with a broad brown band evanescent distally, with two

hyaline spots, one at the furcation of the third vein, the other

over the posterior cross-veins .... . +

Wings with the brown band incomplete . soe .

Front narrow, the callosity linear and but little expanded below ; ;

wings brownish . . coe ee ee

Front not unusually narrowed ; the callosity quadrilateral .

Abdomen black at tip; first posterior cell narrowed .

Abdomen red throughout ; first posterior cell closed or much

narrowed . . . . _ . . oe

Second submarginal cell appendiculate (see also T. lineola) .

Second submarginal cell not appendiculate .

Abdomen variegated with brown and pale reddish-yellow

Abdomen deep brown, with a narrow whitish margin to the

segments dilated into a small median triangle .

Abdomen with definite white markings

Abdomen without definite white markings . .

Third antennal joint deeply excised, forming two branches, the

upper one blunt at the tip

Third antennal joint not deeply excised

Front much narrowed below; scutellum usually red at the tip;

non-annulate portion of third joint red

Front but little narrowed below coe eee ee

Non-annulate portion of third joint of antenne nearly as broad as

long; abdomen brown and red, with three series of white

spots (Atylotus) rr

Non-annulate portion of third antennal joint much longer than

broad

Eyes hairy ; third antennal joint black

Eyes bare . ee ee . .

Abdomen with a median, narrow, continuous white stripe .

The median spots of the abdomen not *ormuing a continuous white

stripe . . . «. . woe ee

Basal portion of the third antennal joint lack : sides of the

abdomen broadly red or reddish, without white markings

Basal portion of the third antennal joint red; sides of the abdomen

with a continuous abbreviated white stripe . .. .

12.

13.

aurantiacus, Bell.*

bifenestratus, O. S.

caliginosus, Bell.*

[ebrius, O. S.]

15.

16.

bigoti, Bell.

subruber, Bell.

17.

18.

cribellum, O. S.

pumiloides, sp. n.

20.

19.

venenatus, O. S.

hemagogus, sp. n.

Jiliolus, sp. n.

lineola, Fabr.

21.

Sp.

22.

sp.

23.

24.

sp.

furunculus, sp. D.

fur, sp. D.

DIPTERA. | 259

Tabanus quadripunctatus (p. 48).

Tabanus quadripunctatus, Willist. Kans. Univ. Quart. iii. p. 195°.

To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Acaguizotla and Amula in Guerrero (H. H.

Smith), Jaral in Guanajuato (Schumann).—Brazit, Rio J aneiro 1.

1(a). Tabanus aurantiacus.

Tabanus aurantiacus, Bellardi, Saggio etc. i. p. 67, t. 2. fig. 9 ‘

Hab. Mexico, Guadalajara, San Blas (Schumann), Orizaba.'.

Three specimens. The broad orange-coloured sides of the first four abdominal

segments, and the wings with blackish spots on the cross-veins and brown clouds along

the longitudinal veins, make this handsome species easily recognizable.

4. Tabanus caliginosus.

Tabanus caliginosus, Bellardi, Saggio etc. i. p. 68, t. 2. fig. 10°.

? Tabanus ebrius, O. Sack. antea, p. 49’.

To the localities given, add :—Mexico!, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (Schumann), Omealca

(M. Trujillo).

This species will be best recognized by the very narrow front and palpi, and the

markings of the wings, which are brown, with three hyaline spots, the largest over

the proximal cross-vein, a small one across the outer cross-veins, and another at the

furcation of the third vein; the tip of the wing and the anal angle are less deeply

coloured. Bellardi’s figure does not well represent it.

T. ebrius, O. S., seems only to differ in the more washed-out markings of the wings.

6 (a). Tabanus atratus.

Tabanus atratus, Fabr. (For the synonymy, see Osten Sacken’s Catalogue of N. Am. Diptera,

p. 57.)

Hab. Eastern Unirep Srates.—Mexico, Chihuahua (Kerr).

Four female specimens, agreeing with others from the United States.

9. Tabanus chionostigma (p. 54).

To the locality given, add :—Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

A single female specimen. The abdomen is black, not brown, as is also the

mesonotum, save the lateral margins. The first and second abdominal segments have

a minute yellow spot in the middle behind. The tibiz are hardly perceptibly yellowish

proximally. Notwithstanding these discrepancies, the species is so strongly marked

that there can be no question of the identity.

212

260 SUPPLEMENT.

11. Tabanus albonotatus (p. 55).

To the localities given, add :—Mextco, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

13. Tabanus lineola (p. 56).

Tabanus propinguus, Bellardi, Saggio etc. i. p. 65°.

To the localities given, add :—MeExtco!, Amula in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Four specimens. 7. propingwus, Bell. (nec Macq.), differs in the colour of the

hind legs and in the appendiculation of the submarginal cell; the firstementioned

character is of no importance, as similarly coloured specimens of 7. lineola are known.

14. Tabanus subruber.

Tabanus ruber, Macq. Dipt. Exot., Suppl. ii. p. 42° (nec Thunb.).

Tabanus subruber, Bellardi, Saggio ete. i. p. 55”.

Hab. Mexico!?, Teapa in Tabasco, Amula (H. H. Smith), Atoyac in Vera Cruz

(Schumann).

Five specimens.

15. Tabanus pumiloides, sp. n. (Tab. IV. figg. 21, 21a, 9 .)

2. Front yellowish-brown, with a square shining black callosity below, with a slender line reaching to a

darker brown spot above. Antenne red, the first joint and the annulate portion of the third joint black;

annulate part a little shorter than the basal portion, obtuse at the tip; basal portion somewhat angulated,

but not produced into a process above. Face opaque light grey. Palpi yellowish-white, with white and

black hairs. Mesonotum greyish-brown, opaque, with sparse white hairs and indistinct stripes. Abdomen

greyish or yellowish-brown, the segments each with a narrow whitish hind margin and an obsolescent

median stripe. Legs black; the basal half of the front tibize, and the middle and hind tibia, except the

immediate tip, yellow; basal joints of the posterior tarsi yellowish, the distal joints blackish, Wings

hyaline; first posterior cell broadly open; anterior branch of the third vein with a stump. Length

9-11 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Xucumanatlan and Omilteme in Guerrero, 7000 to 8000 feet (H. H.

Smith).

This species is allied to 7. pumilus, Macq., T. sparus, Whitn., and 7. cribellum,

O. S., from all of which it will be easily distinguished. The eyes are bare, with green

cross-bands.

16. Tabanus furunculus, sp. n.

¢. Face and front silvery-white, the latter blackish above ; hair white.

annulus of third joint with a tuberculate process above, longer than t

light yellow, with white hair. Mesonotum brownish

white-pollinose, with white hair. Abdomen black, with a median continuous white stripe; sides of the

first four segments broadly red, leaving the black as a broad median stripe; all the segments with a

narrow whitish hind-margin. Wings hyaline ; first and fourth posterior cells broadly open; second

submarginal cell not appendiculate. Legs black ; base of front tibie, the tip of the four posterior femora

and their tibie, except the distal end, yellow ; hair of front femora black, of the other femora white,

Eyes bare. Antenne black; basal

he following annuli together. Palpi

-black, whitish-pruinose, with dusky hair. Pleurw

DIPTERA. 261

9. Front of nearly equal width; callosity quadrilateral, shining mahogany-coloured, with a slender:

prolongation above. Basal joint of antenne in part red. Palpi with white and black hairs. Sides of

abdomen more broadly red. Length 14-15 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Tepetlapa in Guerrero (H. H. Smith), Santiago Iscuintla in Jalisco

(Schumann).

Two specimens.

17. Tabanus far, sp. n.

®. Front a little wider above, opaque ochraceous ; callosity rather small, shining reddish. Supra-antennal

space opaque, of the same colour as the front. Antenne dark red; attenuated portion of the third joint

black, a little shorter than the basal annulus, the latter with a small vertical process above. Face white,

with white hair. Palpi, for the most part, with short black hair. Eyes bare. Mesonotum deep brown,

slightly pruinose, with short, recumbent white hairs forming indistinct stripes; ante-alar callosity reddish.

Pleure white, with white hair, Abdomen reddish-brown, the tip blackish, not at all shining; in the

middle with a narrow continuous white stripe, reaching nearly to the tip; on either side with a rather

broader continuous white stripe reaching on the third segment ; narrow lateral margins of the abdomen

light yellow, with white hair. Wings hyaline; first and fourth posterior cells broadly open; second

submarginal cell not appendiculate. Legs yellow, the upperside of the front femora, the distal portion of

the front tibie, the immediate tip of the hind tibie, and all the tarsi, black or blackish. Length

13 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Misantla (Ff. D. Godman).

One specimen.

18. Tabanus hemagogus, sp. n.

$. Eyes bare, the upper facets not much larger than the lower, the areas not sharply limited. Face

ochraceous-yellow, the palpi of nearly the same colour. Antenne red, the attenuate portion of the third

joint black ; basal portion of the third joint rather narrow, angulated above, longer than the attenuated

portion. Mesonotum deep brown, almost black, lightly pruinose. Abdomen brownish-red, darker at the

extremity; immaculate, or with a black spot in the middle of the second segment and another at

the base of the first segment. Wings brown, lighter distally and behind ; all the posterior cells open ;

second submarginal cell not appendiculate. Legs brownish-red and brown, the tarsi darker, the base of

the front tibie lighter.

9. Front of moderate width ; callosity shining, reddish. Third joint of antennz somewhat broader. Thorax

and abdomen of about the same colour, red, immaculate; the abdomen sometimes yellow. Length

11-13 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Temax in Northern Yucatan (Gaumer).

Six specimens.

19. Tabanus filiolus, sp. n.

? Tabanus rufiventris, Macq. Dipt. Exot. i. 1, p. 141° (nec Wiedem.).

Q. Red or brownish-red throughout, the tip of the antenna, the end of the front tibie, and the greater part

of the tarsi, black or blackish. Front rather narrow, of equal width; callosity red, continued above as a

slender line. Basal portion of the third antennal joint longer than the annulate portion, angulated or

slightly toothed above. Face yellowish. Palpi rather slender, light yellow, with white hairs. Abdomen

usually of a lighter colour than the thorax, sometimes blackish at the tip. Wings yellowish or brownish ;

second submarginal cell not appendiculate; first posterior cell broadly open.

262 SUPPLEMENT.

- g. Third antennal joint more slender. Thorax black throughout, the pleure greyish-pollinose. Legs darker

than in the female, the front pair blacker. Length 12 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Yucatan (Gawmer).—ANTILLES, Cuba}.

Ten specimens. It is very probable that this species is identical with T. rufiventris,

Macq., though there is no trace of white spots on the abdomen. The name had been

previously used by Wiedemann. The colour varies not a little, from red to reddish-

brown, the abdomen sometimes almost yellow. The wings also vary in the intensity

of their colour.

LEPIDOSELAGA (p. 57).

Hadrus *, Perty, Del. Anim. art. Bras. p. 182 (1834).

1. Lepidoselaga lepidota.

? Hematopota crassipes, Fabr. Syst. Antl. p. 108°.

Tabanus lepidotus, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 193°. ,

Hadrus lepidotus, Perty, Del. Anim. art. Bras. p. 183, t. 36. fig. 9°; Walk. List &c. i. p. 209° ;

v. p. 272°; Bellardi, Saggio etc. i. p. 75°; Schiner, Reise der Novara, Dipt. p. 96"; Willist..

Kans. Univ. Quart. iii. p. 192°.

Lepiselaga lepidota, Macq. Dipt. Exot. i. 1, p. 154, t. 18. fig. 3°.

Lepidoselaga lepidota, Loew, Dipt. Centur. viii. no. 8°°; O. Sack. Prodr. N. Am. Tabanidz,

p- 475".

Lepidoselaga recta, Loew, loc. cit. ; O. Sack. antea, p. 57".

To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Santiago Iscuintla in Jalisco (Schumann).—

SoutH AMERICA; ANTILLES.

One male and two females have been sent from Jalisco. Loew separated L. recta

from L. lepidota chiefly on account of the difference in the colour of the lower part of

the front, but 1 do not believe that the distinction is valid. This part in the male

before me is yellowish, with the middle dark, and in the females blackish. A single

male from Brazil, in my collection, has the lower portion of the front light yellow, and

it would be clearly referable to L. recta; but in the four females sent, obtained at the

same time and place, the colour of this part varies from yellowish to deep black. I

can distinguish no difference whatever in the markings of the wings in any of the

specimens; neither do I find any appreciable difference in the shape of the tibie.

From L. albitarsis, Macq. (= Hadrus parvus, Willist.), the shape of the front and the

spots in the brown of the wings will at once distinguish the present species.

* This name is preoccupied in Coleoptera (Dejean Catalogue, 1833), though the genus was not characterized

till 1854.

iS)

DIPTERA.

DIACHLORUS (p. 57).

Diachlorus ferrugatus (p. 57).

To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

DICHELACERA (p. 58).

Dichelacera cervicornis (p. 58).

To the localities given, add :—-Mexico, Navarete in Tepic, Santiago Iscuintla in

Jalisco (Schumann), Acapulco and Rio Papagaio in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Four specimens. Were it not for the observations made by Osten Sacken I should

have felt little hesitation in treating these insects as a new species, so poorly do they

agree with Wiedemann’s and Schiner’s descriptions. In one example, the smallest,

the brown of the outer part of the wings is partly dissolved into spots. In all the

others the wings are dark brown, with the following light yellowish-hyaline markings:

a triangular spot in the marginal cell, the basal half of the first submarginal cell, the

basal third or less of the first posterior cell, the basal two-thirds of the discal cell, the

proximal end of the fourth and fifth posterior cells, and the whole of the second basal

cell. In the first-mentioned specimen, the middle legs are wholly yellow, the distal

joints, only, of the tarsi being somewhat infuscated ; in the others the tip of the tibie

and the tarsi are dark brown. In all of them, the front and hind tibiz and tarsi are

dark brown or black, the basal portion of the tibiae more or less yellow. The present

species is evidently not D. januarii, to judge from the large size of the frontal

callosity.

2. Dichelacera pulchra, sp. n. (Tab. IV. figg. 22, 224, 2.)

3. Eyes with an area of enlarged facets above, which are clearly distinguished from the small ones below

Frontal triangle and the sides of the face opaque light yellow ; convex portion of the face for the most

part shining, pitchy-black. Antenne rather longer than the head ; yellow, the annulate portion of the

third joint black, the distal part of the non-annulate portion brownish; the upper projection is acute,

and extends a little beyond the base of the annulate portion. Proboscis black, the labella enlarged ; in

length a little less than the vertical diameter of the head. Palpi black ; third joint curved upward,

somewhat swollen at the tip and clothed with black hair. Mesonotum black, moderately shining, with

plack hair; in front with the beginning of a broad cinereous stripe ; a triangular spot at the outer ends

of the suture, and a narrow band in front of the scutellum, covered with bright golden-yellow pile,

Pleure black, with black pile; lightly cinereous-pollinose below. Scutellum somewhat reddish on the

margin. Abdomen black or pitchy-black ; posterior part of the first segment yellow, as is also the narrow

hind margin of the next two or three segments ; pile black. All the femora black, with the exception of

the immediate tip, which is yellowish ; all the tibie: light yellow, with the exception of the distal half

of the front pair, which is dark brown; front tarsi brown, the four posterior tarsi brownish distally.

Wings with a broad dark brown band, the inner margin of which extends obliquely from near the end

of the first vein to the fifth posterior cell near its proximal third (the band leaves the outer margin of

the wing and the largest part of the fifth posterior cell nearly hyaline) ; a similar dark brown colour fills

out the outer half of the anal cell; costal, subcostal, and the proximal part of the marginal cells brownish-

yellow ; the large triangular space behind this front-border is yellowish-hyaline.

264 SUPPLEMENT.

. Front rather wide, black, covered with a greyish dust; the square shining black callosity with an elongate

’ y gate,

pointed projection above. Palpi elongate, slender, and curved downward. Length 10-13 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Rincon, Dos Arroyos, and Acapulco in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

One female and two males. ‘This species will be distinguished from D. scapularis,

Macq., from Tehuantepec, by the light yellow tibie, &c.

LEPTIDE (p. 60).

NN PHENEUS.

Pheneus, Walker, Ins. Saunders. p. 155 (1851).

Arthrostylum, Williston, Kans. Univ. Quart. iv. p. 108 (1895).

1. Pheneus tibialis.

Pheneus tibialis, Walk. Ins. Saunders. p. 155, t. 4. fig. 3°.

Arthrostylum fascipennis, Willist. Kans. Univ. Quart. iv. p. 109’.

Hab. Mexico, Xucumanatlan ? in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).—ANTILLES, Jamaica !.

A single specimen. ‘The genus has not before been identified since its description

by Walker. The antenne have a long, jointed, terminal style, composed of five distinct

segments. The front tibie have a single spur, the others two each. The male is

dichoptic ; the wings have the fourth posterior and anal cells closed.

CHRYSOPILA (p. 60).

5. Chrysopila plebeia, sp. n.

3 9. Eyes separated by a linear space. Occiput, front, and face black, covered with bluish-white dust ;

bulbous portion of the face shining yellow. Proboscis and palpi yellow. Thorax shining yellowish-red,

the mesonotum brownish, the scutellum and pleure yellowish. Abdomen reddish-yellow ; second, third, .

and fourth segments each with a broad brown band anteriorly; fifth and sixth segments with a blackish

band, the seventh wholly black ; in the female the fifth segment is yellow. Wings tinged with brown;

stigma brownish-yellow ; the second vein terminates beyond the first at a distance about as great as the

length of the anterior cross-vein; marginal cell but little dilated; anterior branch of the third vein

angulated ; vein between the second posterior cell and the discal cell very short or punctiform. Legs

yellow, the tibie a little darker, the tarsi blackish. Length 7-8 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Omilteme and Sierra de las Aguas Escondidas in Guerrero, 8000 feet

(. Hl. Smith).

Three males and twelve females. In one male the mesonotum has short depressed

yellow hair, which is scarcely perceptible in the other specimens. One example has

the thorax yellow, with the brown bands of the abdomen almost obsolete.

6. Chrysopila aterrima, sp. n.

3. Deep black, the tip of the femora, tibie, and basal joints of tarsi yellow or yellowish. Face somewhat

greyish. Eyes broadly contiguous, with an area of enlarged facets above. Mesonotum velvety ; hair ot

DIPTERA. 265

thorax black. Scutellum, pleura, and abdomen with a brownish tint; hair of abdomen yellow. Wings

hyaline; stigma round, deep brown; marginal cell considerably dilated ; contact of second posterior

cell about equal to the length of the posterior cross-vein. Length 5 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Amula in Guerrero 6000 feet (H. H. Smith).

One specimen. ‘This species will be at once distinguished from C. humilis, Loew,

by the black hair of the head and thorax.

7. Chrysopila basilaris.

Leptis basilaris, Say, Journ. Acad. Phil. ii. p. 46’; Compl. Wr. ii. p. 557; Wiedem. Aussereur.

zweifl. Ins. 1. p. 228°.

Hab, Usirep States, Pennsylvania’? *.—Mexico, Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith).

‘wo male specimens. The brief description applies to the Mexican insect, but this

does not make the identification certain.

8. Chrysopila invalida, sp. n.

3. Eyes broadly contiguous. Occiput, frontal triangle, and face bluish-white on a black background.

Palpi black; proboscis yellow; beard white. Antenne reddish-brown. Thorax black in ground-colour,

but thickly covered with a bluish-white dust; tomentum of mesonotum golden-yellow. Abdomen black;

first two segments light yellow, except for a black band or spot on the second; tomentum golden-yellow.

Legs light yellow, the cox excepted, the tibie a little darker than the femora, the tarsi blackish.

Wings hyaline, the small stigma brown; neuration as in C. aterrima. Length 7 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Xucumanatlan in Guerrero 7000 feet (Z/. H. Smith).

One specimen.

9. Chrysopila puella, sp. n.

$. Head and thorax nearly as in C. invalida, the eyes a little less closely approximated, the proboscis black,

and the mesonotum perhaps darker. Abdomen opaque black; first, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth

segments each with a broad, anterior, golden-tomentose band, the hair black. Wings infuscated distally,

otherwise as in C. invalida, the stigma perhaps more elongate. Length 5 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (#. H. Smith).

One specimen.

10. Chrysopila nana, sp. n.

3. Head asin C. plebeia, the bulbous portion of the face somewhat fuscous. Thorax blackish-brown, the pleure

in part obscurely yellowish or reddish; mesonotum and scutellum covered with green and golden

tomentum. Abdomen yellow, the tip black; second segment with a brownish, the third and following

segments each with a broad black anterior band; hair black. Wings brown on the distal half, the

basal portion to within the discal cell subhyaline; stigma a little darke ; neuration nearly as in

C. plebeia, Legs as in C. plebeca. Length 7-8 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

Three specimens. ‘This species is nearly related to C. qguadrata, Say.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., May 1901. 2m

266 SUPPLEMENT.

11. Chrysopila latifrons, sp. n.

°. Front as broad as long, opaque yellowish- or greyish-brown ; occiput, and face from below the impressed

line above the antenne, lighter-coloured, greyish or plumbeous-brown. Antenne deep brown, the basal

joints somewhat reddish. Palpi black, proboscis yellowish. Mesonotum dark opaque brown, with the

lateral margins and three median linear stripes in front lighter-coloured ; covered with light yellow

tomentum. Pleure nearly of the colour of the occiput. Abdomen uniform blackish-brown, a little

shining ; tomentum or short hair light yellowish. Legs yellow, the underside of the femora brown, the

tarsi distally brown, tomentum of the femora yellowish. Wings nearly hyaline proximally, lightly

infuscated distally ; a narrow brown band across the proximal cross-veins and over the tip of the anal

cell ; across the outer cross-veins a broad diffuse brownish band, beginning in the small brown stigma ;

outer part of the marginal cell more expanded than in C. plebeia; anterior branch of the third vein

angulated ; contact of the second posterior cell with the discal cell about equal to the length of the

posterior cross-vein. Length 7 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Amula in Guerrero 6000 feet (H. H. Smith).

One specimen. A single female specimen from Atoyac (H. H. Smith) closely

resembles the one described, but has the wings hyaline, save for the brown stigma.

ATHERIX (p. 62).

2, Atherix latipennis.

Atherix latipennis, Bellardi, Saggio ete. ii. p. 93°.

Hab. Muxico, Sierra de las Aguas Escondidas and Omilteme in Guerrero 7000 to

8000 feet (H. H. Smith), Angangueo!, Oaxaca !.

Twenty specimens. The males agree with the description ; the females differ very

materially in having the wings more largely hyaline, the basal brown spot being much

smaller, the legs for the most part yellow, &c. A. latipennis was not identified by

Osten Sacken in the earlier part of this work (anted, p. 62).

3. Atherix concinna, sp.n. (Tab. IV. figg. 23, 23 a, 2.)

$. Frontal triangle whitish, with a median opaque black spot. Antenne deep reddish-brown. Palpi black

and with black hair. Mesonotum shining black, somewhat pollinose in front. Pleure for the most part

white-pollinose. Halteres black. Abdomen opaque black, first four segments with a broad, posterior,

bluish-white pollinose band, broadly interrupted in the middle; fifth and sixth segments with the band

entire ; hypopygivm somewhat reddish. Legs yellow; middle and hind femora, except the tip, front

tibie and tarsi, the middle tarsi for the most part, aud the tip of the hind tarsi, black or blackish.

Wings brown, with the following spaces hyaline : the base of the first basal cell, an elongate spot in the

_anal angle extending into the anal cell, a transverse spot from the marginal cell across the outer part of the

first and second basal cells, a narrow band from the fourth vein to the hind margin in the fifth posterior

cell, and a narrow band from the costa into the base of the second posterior cell ; a hyaline or subhyaline

spot on the costa beyond the tip of the first longitudinal vein ; tip of the wing subhyaline.

Q. Legs in greater part yellow; tho hind femora yellow, except for a distal brown band, the middle femora

black on the basal half. Mesonotum more pollinose than in the male. Hyaline spaces of the wings

larger. Length 9-10 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Acaguizotla and Rincon in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Three specimens.

DIPTERA. 267

ACANTHOMERIDZ.

ACANTHOMERA (p. 67).

Acanthomera ——? (p. 68).

To the locality given, add :—Mexico, Cuesta de Misantla (MZ. Trujilio).

Three specimens, evidently of the same species as that noticed by Osten Sacken,

though I should not have described the antenne as “disciform,” but rather as

flattened-subulate or fusiform. The examples are all males, so that I cannot solve

the doubt expressed by him as to the identity of the insect.

MYDAIDA (p. 68).

LEPTOMIDAS (p. 68).

Leptomidas brachyrhynchus (p. 69).

To the locality given, add :—Muxico, Teapa in Tabasco (//. H. Smith).

A single male specimen, somewhat doubtfully referred to the present species. It is

black throughout, the abdomen shining, with the cross-bands distinct. The legs are

brown ; the hind pair black, with the basal half of the tibize and femora light yellow.

The humeri are yellow. The wings are nearly hyaline. ‘The species must be closely

allied to, if not identical with, L. tenuipes, Loew.

MYDAS * (p. 70).

Mydas, Osten Sacken, Berl. ent. Zeitschr. xl. p. 845 (1895).

Midas, antea, p. 70.

Mydas rubidapex (p. 70).

Mydas rubidapex, Brauer, Sitzungsb. der Akad. Wissensch. 1883, p. 151, tab. fig. 2°; Willist.

Trans. Kans. Acad. Sci. xiv. p. 55”.

To the localities given, add:—Muxico?, Venta de Zopilote, Dos Arroyos, and

Acaguizotla in Guerrero (1. H. Smith), Yucatan (Gaumer).

Three specimens. One, a female, has the antenne black, with the bulbous portion

of the lamella yellow, and the anal angle of the wings largely whitish. The others,

male and female, have the first two joints only of the antenne black, and neither has

any whitish colour in the anal angle. In all of them the abdomen is deep black,

without distinct violet or blue lustre. A single example from Yucatan has the alule

black and the abdomen deep violet. I am unable to see any other differences.

* (Prof. Williston prefers to use the original name, Mydas, for this genus, instead of the amended form,

Midas, adopted in the earlier portion of this volume.—Eb. |

2m 2

268 SUPPLEMENT.

Mydas decor (p. 71).

To the locality given, add :—-Mexico, Venta de Zopilote in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

6. Mydas annularis.

Mydas annularis, Gerst. Stett. ent. Zeit. 1868, p. 100°.

Hab. Mexico}, Chilpancingo in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

A single male specimen, which I do not doubt is of this species. The band on the

posterior part of the second segment is broadly interrupted on each side by a black

spot. M. annularis, as well as M. militaris, Gerst., was not identified by Osten

Sacken in the earlier part of this work (anted, p. 73). ’

7. Mydas militaris.

Mydas vittatus, Macq. Dipt. Exot., Suppl. iv. p. 60, t. 4. fig.6*; Bellardi, Saggio etc. ii. p. 7?

(nec Wiedem.).

? Mydas rufiventris, Macq. Dipt. Exot., Suppl. iv. p. 60°.

Mydas militaris, Gerst. Stett. ent. Zeit. 1868, p. 99‘; Willist. Trans. Am. Ent. Soe. xiii. p. 290°;

Trans. Kans. Acad. Sci. xiv. p. 56°.

? Midas rufiventris, Loew, Centur. vii. no. 22”.

Mydas ventralis, Gerst. Stett. ent. Zeit. 1868, p. 38 *.

Hab. Untrep States, California’, Arizona®.—Mexico!2, Venta de Zopilote nad

Iguala in Guerrero (H. H. Smith), Vera Cruz 4.—Braziu 3.

I have already® called attention to the great variation of this species, and

I feel pretty confident that the above synonymy will be found to be correct.

If such is the case, Macquart’s name rujiventris will have to be used; the fact that

Loew adopted the same specific term for what he supposed to be a new species was

a coincidence only.

8. Mydas quadrilineatus.

Mydas quadrilineatus, Willist. Trans. Kans. Acad. Sci. xiv. p. 56.

Hab. Mexico }, Tierra Colorada and La Venta in Guerrero (H. H/. Smith), San Blas

in Jalisco (Schumann).

Four specimens.

9. Mydas crassipes.

Mydas crassipes, Westw. Arcana Ent. i, p. 51, t. 18. fig. 3°.

Hab. 1 NortH America '.—Mexico, Teapa in ‘Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

One male specimen, agreeing with Westwood’s brief description, and differing from

M. decor in the details already given by Osten Sacken (anted, p. 71). The abdomen

is conical, |

DIPTERA. 269

NEMESTRINIDE (p. 73).

RHYNCHOCEPHALUS (p. 73).

1. Rhynchocephalus volaticus.

Rhynchocephalus volaticus, Willist. Canad. Ent. 1883, p. 71°; Trans. Am. Ent. Soe. xiii. p. 293%.

Rhynchocephalus ?, O. Sack. antea, p. 73°.

To the locality given, add:—Unitep States, Florida | ?.—Mexico, Chilpancingo in

Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Three specimens. Osten Sacken’s failure to positively identify this species was due

to errors in my original description.

BOMBYLIIDE (p. 75).

EXOPROSOPA (p. 77).

Exoptata, Coquillett, Canad. Ent, xix. p. 13 (1887).

Osten Sacken has the merit of being the first to clearly define the genus Hxoprosopa,

which previously had been made to include all those species with three submarginal

cells and a jointed style. The genus might include forms with but two submarginal

cells. Unfortunately, the species of Lwoprosopa having a brown anterior margin

to the wings are not so satisfactorily characterized. Upon first attempting their

separation in the collection before me, the task seemed to be an easy one; further

study, however, convinces me that very much more careful work is needed before

we can safely distinguish many of them.

The genus Exoptata of Coquillett cannot be satisfactorily separated from ELvoprosopa.

It differs solely in the division of the first posterior cell. The typical species,

E. divisa, I have seen from Las Cruces, New Mexico, near the border of Mexico.

E. singularis, Macq., has the same peculiarity.

Table of Species examined for this Supplement.

1. The pattern of the wings consisting of more or less distinct brown

bands Ce ee ke tC oe ek et

No cross-bands on the wings, but a more or less broad brown anterior

margin, the cross-veins sometimes clouded . . . . rs F

2, First posterior cell closed, the brown cloud at the base of the second

posterior cell not connected with the brown in front (length 7-9

millim.) 2... ee ee ee ee ee ota, O. Sack,

First posterior cell open ; the brown at the base of the second posterior

cell confluent with that in front . . . . 2... 2. we) .) pueblensis, Jaenn.

3. First posterior cell closed or narrowly open. . . . . - «- » . . &

First posterior cell distinctly open. 2 7. ee ee eee ee

10.

SUPPLEMENT.

. First abdominal segment black-tomentose ; first posterior cell usually

closed at some distance before the margin oo .

First posterior cell closed in the margin ; abdomen white, with narrow

black borders .

. Abdominal segments, except the second and last, black- tomentose, with

a narrow fringe of pale rufous; cross-veins of the wings clouded .

Abdominal segments, except the fifth, usually, with a white band; cross-

veins not distinctly clouded .

. Face rounded in profile, not conical ; proboscis protruding from the oral

margin as far as or farther than the length of the head .

Face distinctly conical; proboscis protruding not more than the length

of the labella beyond the oral margin . :

Antennal style shorter than or about as long as the third joint

Antennal style twice as long as the third joint . 2 oe oe

The portion of the proboscis protruding beyond the oral margin shorter

than that of the head ; style distinctly shorter than the third antennal

joint. a

The portion of the proboscis pr otrading beyond the oral margin longer

than that of the head

. Wings with conspicuous brown clouds on ‘the cross-velns

Wings without brown clouds on the cross-veins toe ee

Third antennal joint very much elongated, more than three times

the length of the style; brown of the wings less sharply limited

posteriorly. . . . . oe

Third joint not extraordinarily elongated, the style equal to about half

its length .

Exoprosopa pueblensis (p. 82).

[pennis, Macq.).

sp. ? (under limbi-

sackeni, sp. n.

limbipennis, Macq.

socia, O. Sack.

filia, O. Sack.

rostrifera, Jaenn.

pavida, sp. n.

10.

brevistylata, sp. u.

brevirostris, sp. 1.

To the localities given, add:—Mexico, Acaguizotla and Amula in Guerrero

(H. H. Smith), San Blas and Santiago Iscuintla in Jalisco, Jaral in Guanajuato

(Schumann).

Nine specimens.

Exoprosopa iota (p. 82).

Exoprosopa iota, Coquillett, Canad. Ent. xxiv. p. 1747.

with EK. doris, O. S.

To the locality given, add:—Unirep Srares, California 1—Mexico, Acaguizotla in

Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Four specimens.

Coquillett! thinks that this species is almost certainly identical

An examination of a number of examples of both forms

convinces me that such a union is premature. J. dor?s, it is true, does sometimes

DIPTERA. 271

have the closed first posterior cell of E. iota, but the wing-markings are always paler

and less extensive, especially in the proximal brown band.

Exoprosopa limbipennis (p. 84).

To the localities given, add:—Mexico, Dos Arroyos, Rincon, Tierra Colorada, and

Amula in Guerrero (H. H. Smith), Northern Yucatan (Gaumer).

Sixty specimens. The majority of them, both male and female, agree fairly well

with the description given by Osten Sacken; but there are others that do not, and

I am inclined to doubt the distinctness of EL. procne,O.S. I find that there is a

variation in the relative length of the third antennal joint, apart from other differences.

Several examples from Dos Arroyos, which at first sight seemed to belong to a very

different species, have the first posterior cell closed in the margin or narrowly open,

the abdomen almost wholly white-tomentose, the hind margin of the segments only

being black, and the brown of the wings narrower.

7 (a). Exoprosopa sackeni, sp. n.

Exoprosopa, sp.? no. 1, O. Sack. ante’, p. 86’.

&. Closely allied to H. limbipennis, differing more particularly in the markings of the abdomen. The second

segment has a broad white band, and the seventh also has white hairs, the abdomen elsewhere being

black-tomentose, with a fringe or narrow posterior band of rufous tomentum on each of the segments.

The wings have the anterior border coloured darker brown and more narrowly than in L. limbipennis ;

there is a brown cloud at the base of the fourth posterior cell, another, less distinct, at the base of the

third, and one also on the vein that closes the outer anterior submarginal cell near its Junction with

the second vein; and the anterior cross-vein has a broad cloud, coalescent with the brown of the

anterior margin of the wing. Antenne black, the first joint in large part reddish ; style rather more

than half the length of the third joint. Face and lower part of the front with fulvous pile; face

on the sides yellowish-red. Hair on the front and sides of the throat and at the base of the abdomen

reddish-yellow. The four posterior femora in great part, and the front femora also in part, yellow.

Length 12-18 miliim.

Hab. Mexico (Sumichrast'), Hacienda de la Imagen and Venta de Zopilote in

Guerrero (1. H. Smith).

Three specimens. ‘The one from Venta de Zopilote, a female, has the face wholly,

and the antenne in great part, as well as the femora and tibie, yellow; the brown of

the wings encroaches more in the second basal ceil, and the stump in the discal cell

islonger. It is possible that these differences are sexual. I believe that this is the

species mentioned by Osten Sacken (anted, p. 86, no. 1, under EL. anthracoidea).

Exoprosopa rostrifera (p. 8).

To the localities given, add :—MEexico, Xucumanatian, Amula, and Omilteme in

Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Fifteen specimens.

272 SUPPLEMENT.

Exoprosopa filia (p. 86).

To the locality given, add :—Mexico, San Blas in Jalisco (Schumann).

Two specimens, which agree in all respects with Osten Sacken’s description, save as

regards the terminal abdominal segments. The third and following segments are

clothed for the most part with whitish tomentum, somewhat intermixed with black

in front or in the middle. ‘The proboscis seems to be a little longer than he described,

though far shorter than in £. rostrifera.

9 (a). Exoprosopa brevirostris, sp. n.

é. Third joint of the antenne elongate-conical, the style equal to about three-fifths of its length; face

prominent. First posterior cell coarctate ; wings brown anteriorly and with clouds upon the cross-veins.

Structure of the hong nearly as in EH. limbipennis, the proboscis barely projecting beyond the oral margin,

the style of the anfénne perhaps a little shorter. Front and face clothed with black and rufous

tomentum: lower part of the front and ground-colour of the face reddish-yellow. Hair of the front

and sides of the thorax yellowish. Scutellum red. Abdomen black-tomentose, the second segment with

a yellowish-white band, narrower in the middle; fourth segment with a whitish spot on each side, and

the seventh segment with white hairs; the segments all have some rufous or yellowish tomentum on the

posterior margin. Wings brown in front, the brown margin running from the base of the fourth

posterior cell, where it coalesces with the dark brown clouds on the base of this and the third posterior

cell, to the tip of the first vein ; base of the anal cell brown; first posterior cell open. Legs wholly

black. Length 12-14 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Santiago Iscuintla and Guadalajara in Jalisco (Schumann).

Two specimens.

9 (s). Exoprosopa brevistylata, sp. n.

g. Allied to #. brevirostris, but differing from it in having the third joint of the antenne much elongated,

the style short and not one-third the length of the joint. The wings are less hyaline posteriorly, the

brown in front paler in tint, and its limits indistinct, more so than in Z. limbipennis. The second basal

and the discal cells are not clouded throughout with brown, but are subhyaline, like the posterior part of

the wings; the clouds on the cross-veins, though indicated as in Z. brevirostris, are, except those at the

base of the third submarginal and posterior cells, indistinct; the first posterior cell is narrowed.

Abdomen with a complete yellowish-white cross-band on the fourth segment, and with similarly coloured

spots on the sides of the second, fourth, and fifth segments. Length 15 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Acapulco in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

One specimen. ‘The species is at once distinguished from any other of this group

by the very long third antennal joint and short style. The front tibie, as in EZ. brevi-

rostris, are without spinules. A second example, sent with the other, has a white spot

on the sides of the second, third, fourth, and perhaps the fifth, segments. The abdomen

has the elongated form of that of EZ. limbipennis, &c.

Exoprosopa socia (p. 87).

To the locality given, add :—Mexico, Amula in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

A single specimen, which, though somewhat injured, agrees well with Osten

Sacken’s description. There is a hyaline spot on the inner marginal cell.

DIPTERA. 273

12. Exoprosopa pavida, sp. n.

3. Face conical ; proboscis with the tip of the labella protruding beyond the oral margin; third joint of the

antenne elongate-conical, the style equal to about one-third the length of the joint, short. Front tibie

without spinules; front tarsi with erect pile. Wings brown in front, the brown including the base of

the second basal cell; basal veins of the second, third, and fourth posterior cells, the outer submarginal

cell, the posterior veins, and the anterior end of the inter-submarginal vein, with conspicuous dark brown

clouds ; first posterior cell open. Legs black. Length 12 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Chilpancingo in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

One specimen. The abdomen has black and white tomentum. A second, larger,

example, from Amula, has the spots of the wings smaller, and those on the posterior

veins absent; the third antennal joint shorter, the style two-thirds of its length; and

the second abdominal segment with a complete white band. Other specimens, from

Acaguizotla, are rather smaller than the first, the wings more nearly as in the second,

the style intermediate in length. I am not sure whether these all belong to one

species.

HYPERALONIA (p. 89).

Velocia, Coquillett, Canad. Ent. xviii. p. 158 (1886).

The characters applied to this genus by Osten Sacken limit it sharply from Ezo-

prosopa ; nevertheless, in 4. erythrocephala, Wiedem., the third joint of the antenne

has a minute style, very much like that of Stonyx, though the front legs, the hind

ungues, and the wings agree otherwise with those of the normal species of Hyperalonia.

This character alone is hardly sufficient to define a genus, especially as the wings

do not show a very different pattern of coloration. VYhe metallic body is, however,

aberrant. The definition of the genus must therefore be modified to include species

with a long or a short style to the third antennal joint.

Hyperalonia proserpina (p. 92).

Exoprosopa cerberus, Macq. Dipt. Exot. 11. 1, p. 38, t. 16. fig. 5°.

To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

Eleven specimens, all agreeing with the observations of Osten Sacken. I have

numeious others agreeing with these, from Chapada, Brazil.

Hyperalonia kaupi (p. 94).

To the locality given, add :—Mextico, Amula in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Two specimens, agreeing with Jaennicke’s description and figure.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., June 1901. 2n

274 SUPPLEMENT.

STONYX (p. 94).

Stonyx clotho (p. 95).

To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Amecameca in Morelos (/. D. Godman).

A single injured specimen clearly belongs to this species, though Osten Sacken’s

figure of the wing does not quite agree with it: the brown of the distal is as dark as

that of the proximal portion, and not light yellowish, as shown.

8. Stonyx lacera.

Anthrax lacera, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. ii. p. 634°.

Hab. Mexico!, Acaguizotla and Hacienda de la Imagen in Guerrero (H. H. Smith),

Oaxaca 1.

Three specimens from Guerrero, agreeing well with the description.

4, Stonyx melia, sp.n. (Tab. V. figg. 1, 1¢, ¢.)

3 2. Deep black throughout, and clothed with black hair and tomentum, save on the immediate base of the

abdomen, where there is a lateral tuft of yellowish hair (perhaps also some white hairs on the sides of

the second and third segments). Wings dark brown and hyaline, the brown coloration nearly uniform.

The markings are similar to those of S. lacera, and may be described as follows: the brown ends

abruptly near the tip of the first vein, its margin thence extending outwardly to about midway between

the angles of the anterior branch of the third vein, and thence to and across the vein in front of the

third posterior cell, forming a small spot in that cell; the outer part of the discal cell is brown, the

brown margin again beginning at the fourth vein a little beyond the anterior cross-vein and extending

to the tip of the anal cell; in the outer part of the anal angle there is usually a small hyaline spot,

reaching into the anal cell; at the tip of the second vein a brown spot, sometimes connected with the

brown proximally, extending narrowly along the costa; a small hyaline spot on the outer part of the

first submarginal cell, and another at the anterior angle of the first basal cell. Structure throughout

as in S. lacera. Length 9-12 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Rio Papagaio and Acapulco in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Seven specimens. In some of them the small hyaline spot in the anal angle of the

wings is wholly obsolete; there may be a minute brown spot on the outer angle of

the anterior branch of the third vein.

5. Stonyx lelia, sp.n. (Tab. V. fig. 2, ¢.)

g. Very much like S. melia, but with a conspicuous row of light yellow hairs along the noto-pleural suture

and back of the halteres. The hair of the pronotum is yellowish, and the white hairs on the sides of

the abdominal segments are more abundant, the distal segments being apparently covered with white

tomentum. The hyaline excision extending across the anal angle into the anal cell is much larger than

in any specimen of S. melia before me, and there is less or no brown within the third posterior cell.

Length 10-12 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Chilpancingo in Guerrero (HZ. H. Smith).

Four specimens. The contrast between the deep black and the light yellow hair on

the sides of the thorax is very marked, the species differing in this respect from

S. melia.

DIPTERA. 275

‘ DIPALTA (p. 98).

Coquillett is of opinion that the name Dipalta should be suppressed and the

species united with Anthrax, on the ground that the cross-vein uniting the anterior

branch of the third with the second is adventitious. J have seen many specimens of

D. serpentina from various regions of the United States and Mexico, but never one

with the cross-vein wanting. I am not prepared to reject the genus, though, as I have

remarked before, I am not satisfied of its distinctness from Diplocampta, Schiner,

notwithstanding the remarks of Osten Sacken. Even though the cross-vein should be

wanting, the peculiar shape of the second vein is characteristic.

Dipalta serpentina (p. 98).

To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Amula in Guerrero (ZZ H. Smith), Atoyac in

Vera Cruz (Schumann).

Six specimens.

ARGYRAMGBA (p. 98).

The genus Spogostylum, Macquart [Dipt. Exot. ii. 1, p. 53 (1840)], has twenty years’

priority over Argyramaba, Schiner, from which it merely differs in having three

submarginal cells formed in the usual way—that is, by a cross-vein connecting the

anterior branch with the second vein: Schiner suspected that they were synonymous *.

Coquillett has referred North-American species to Spogostylwm, in which the third cell

was formed by the division of the outer submarginal cell, or, as he describes it, by the

presence of a cross-vein connecting the anterior branch of the third vein with the third

vein, which is quite another thing. Abnormal specimens of Argyrameba with three

submarginal cells are not rare.

Argyrameba simson (p. 100).

To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Amula in Guerrero (H. L/. Smith).

Argyrameba acroleuca (p. 101).

To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith).

Argyrameba cdipus (p. 102).

To the localities given, add:—Mexico, Northern Yucatan (Gaumer).

10. Argyrameba angustipennis.

? Anthrax angustipennis, Macq. Dipt. Exot. ii. 1, p. 64, t. 21. fig. 9°.

Hab. Mexico, Acapulco in Guerrero (J7. H. Smith).—Gutana!.

A single specimen from Acapulco, without head, may be a variety of this species. The

* Reise der Novara, Dipt. p. 120. nota.

2n 2

276 SUPPLEMENT.

wings differ from the figure in having the first posterior discal and the fourth posterior,

cells brown at the base, the anal cell and anal angle almost wholly brown. A specimen

from Brazil, in my collection, which I identify as belonging to this species, is marked

more nearly as in Macquart’s figure, and it has the tip of the abdomen wholly silvery.

The anal cell in both specimens is remarkably narrow.

LEPIDANTHRAX (p. 107).

Lepidanthrax disjuncta (p. 108).

To the localities given, add:—Mexico, Chilpancingo and Hacienda de la Imagen in

Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Three specimens. LL. disjuncta bears the same relation to its congeners that Exoptata

divisa, Coq., does to the species of Exoprosopa.

Lepidanthrax proboscidea (p. 109).

? Anthrax proboscidea (Loew), Coquillett, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. xiv. p. 168°.

Lepidanthrax proboscidea, var., O. Sack. antea, p. 110°.

To the localities given, add:—Unitep States, Arizona !.—Mexico, Hacienda de la

Imagen and Acaguizotla in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Four specimens from Guerrero, apparently belonging to the same species as those

mentioned by Osten Sacken ? from the Tres Marias Is.

ANTHRAX (p. 111).

Isopenthes, antea, p. 96.

Anthrax cyanoptera (p. 115).

To the locality given, add:—Mexico, Tepetlapa and Palo Blanco in Querrero

(H. H. Smith).

1 (a). Anthrax (Isopenthes) blanchardiana.

Isopenthes blanchardiana, O. Sack. antea, p. 96.

To the localities given, add:—Mexico, Xucumanatlan in Guerrero (H. H. Smith),

Puebla (fF. D. Godman).

Six specimens, in one of which there are but two submarginal cells. The very great

variability in this respect convinces me that the genus Jsopenthes does not present

sufficient claims for generic independence.

1(s). Anthrax (Isopenthes) sackeniana, sp. n.

3. Black, front with black hair, and golden tomentum below. Face projecting conically. Antenne with a

slender style, not twice the length of the bulbous portion. Proboscis withdrawn within the oral cavity.

DIPTERA. 277

Thorax with yellowish hair along the sides and in front. Abdomen with black hair along the sides,

intermixed with white, especially in front; last two segments clothed with silvery hair. Front tibive

smooth; pulvilli wanting. Wings brown and hyaline: the brown coloration fills out the basal two-thirds

or thereabouts of the anal cell, the base of the third and fourth posterior cells, the base of the discal, first

posterior, and first submarginal cells, and the marginal cell as far as the tip of the first vein; in addition,

there is a spot on the outer cross-vein and on the veins at the base of the other submarginal cells. Length

9 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Amula in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

One specimen. This species differs materially from 4. blanchardiana in having a

conical, not receding face; the style of the antenne is thicker (instead of hair-like),

and the smooth tibiz are also otherwise formed. These differences again indicate that

Isopenthes is not a valid genus. Possibly the present species has normally but two

submarginal cells and has been described under Anthrax; if so, I fail to find it.

Anthrax lucifer (p. 116).

Anthrax lucifer (Fabr.), Coquillett, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. xiv. p. 180°.

To the localities given, add:—Unirep Srares, California’, Louisiana }.—Mexico,

Atoyac in Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith).

Three specimens.

Anthrax arethusa (p. 116).

To the localities given, add:—Usrrep States, Colorado, New Mexico (Mus. Univ. of

Kans.).—Mexico, Acaguizotla, Rincon, and Venta de Zopilote in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Six specimens from Guerrero. In one of these the fourth posterior cell has a stump

of a vein and is not bisected, though otherwise agreeing with the rest; another has

five posterior cells.

3(a). Anthrax pluricella, sp.n. (Tab. V. fig. 3, 3.)

gd. Wings with five posterior cells, all open, the first a little coarctate in the margin, the fourth about one-half

the width at the margin of the third; second vein strongly curved forward at the tip; anterior branch of

the third vein sinuous, and with a stump of a vein at the angle; contact of the discal cell with the filth

posterior cell a little greater than the length of the anterior cross-vein. ‘The brown coloration fills out

the marginal cell, except: a hyaline spot beyond the middle, and reaches across the first submarginal cell :

its margin extends from the second vein nearly opposite the furcation, and covering the furcation, to the

posterior angle of the second posterior cell, thence along the vein separating the third from the fourth

cell and the outer end of the discal cell to the third vein, running backward a little beyond the anterior

cross-vein, through the extreme base of the fourth posterior cell and the base of the fifth to the tip of the

anal cell; there is a small hyaline spot opposite the sixth vein at the outer part, and a brown cloud

covering the vein between the fourth and fifth posterior cells, nearly confluent with the brown of the

second cell. Legs yellow, with light yellow tomentum; the distal portion of the femora, the tip of

the tibie, and all the tarsi, brown; front tibie with spinules; front tarsal joints clearly differentiated

and not hairy; all the claws small; pulvilli present, though small. Abdomen dark brown, opaque, with

black and fulvous tomentum: sides of the fourth segment with silvery pile; the hair on either side of

the base of the abdomen longer and yellowish. Scutcllum subtriangular in shape, black, not shining, with

278 SUPPLEMENT.

fulvous tomentum and distinct black bristles along the margin. Mesonotum brownish-black, opaque, the

tomentum fulvous and black (the specimen is somewhat abraded) ; pleuree whitish, with white hair, which

is bushy and silvery above the front coxe. Head black, rounded in shape, the face scarcely visible in

profile, and clothed, like the front, with black and yellow pile. Antenne small; third joint short, onion-

shaped, with a slender style nearly as long as the whole of the preceding portions of the antenna together.

Proboscis very short, with large, fleshy, pseudo-tracheate labella. Length 10 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith).

A single example. The head has been glued on, and I am not quite sure that it

belongs to the remainder of the specimen.

In not a few species of Anthrax, such as A. arethusa, &c., the fourth posterior cell

is divided by a cross-vein, and the vein is usually considered adventitious. In the

present insect this vein runs to the margin of the wing, and is quite as in those families

where the full complement of five posterior cells is present. ‘This would indicate that

the stump, whenever present, is vestigial, and that those forms in which the fourth

posterior cell is divided have really five true posterior cells, a character lost in nearly

all the species of the family. |

Anthrax edititia (p. 119).

Anthrax impiger, Coquillett, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. xiv. p. 1771.

To the localities given, add :—Unitep States, Arizona 1.—Mextco, Venta de Zopilote

in Guerrero (1. H. Smith).

I have no doubt whatever that the present insect is the real A. edititia of Say, whose

description agrees perfectly, and it is altogether probable that his types came from

Mexico. Coquillett’s A. edititia (loc. cit. p. 175) is a different species, and the synonyms

quoted by him? therefore do not apply here. The Guerrero specimens agree well with

those of Osten Sacken, but in his figure the basal portion of the wings is paler. It is

evident that Coquillett must have overlooked this author's description and figure, as he

~.makes no mention of them in his later papers on Anthraz.

Anthrax paradoxa (p. 120).

To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Acaguizotla in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Two specimens appear to belong to this species. ‘The face is not red, but black; the

first two joints of the antenne are black; the abdomen is black, with yellow hair, and

some black hair on the sides, and with black tomentum. The legs are black. The

wings agree with Jaennicke’s figure, save that there are no brown spots on the anterior

branch of the third vein, and the stumps are wanting. The bisinuosity of the second

vein is also wanting. Is Osten Sacken’s insect from Texas of the same species ?

' DIPTERA. 279

7(a). Anthrax hirsuta, sp. n.

Black; abdomen clothed thickly with yellow pile, obscuring or concealing the sparse tomentum of the same

colour. Wings hyaline, with the base and two cross-bands brown, the proximal one extending across the

wing to the tip of the anal cell, with two hyaline spots, one just back of the second vein, the other in

the proximal end of the discal cell; the second cross-band reaches from the tip of the first vein over the

posterior cross-vein; a small brown spot at the tip of the anterior furcation of the third vein; first

posterior cell narrowed in the margin. Tip of the abdomen with black pile on the sides, and a tuft of

white pile in the middle. Mcsonotum with yellow pile, intermixed with black, the disk apparently hare ;

tomentum yellow. Pleure with more whitish pile. Legs yellow, the femora in part, and the tip of the

tarsi, blackish. Front tibiee with spinules; front tarsi small, without hair; pulvilli wanting. Face

strongly conical. Third antennal joint short, conical, not one-half the length of the styliform prolongation.

Front rather narrow above, clothed with erect black pile and yellow tomentum. Cheeks reddish. Length

13 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Acaguizotla in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

One specimen.

10 (a). Anthrax (Chrysanthrax) astarte.

Anthrax astarte, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. il. p. 637°.

3 2. Abdomen with the ground-colour reddish at the sides; tomentum dense; on the sides, for nearly a third

, of the width, fulvous; in the middle black, from the base to the sixth segment, with a few scattered

yellow scales on the hind margin of the median segments; hair nowhere long. Body elsewhere black,

the sides of the face and cheeks, only, yellowish. Slender portion of the third antennal joint about as

long as the conical part. Proboscis not protruding beyond the oral margin. Hair and tomentum every-

where fulvous, except the erect pile of the front, and the similar, though scattered, pile of the mesonotum,

which ure black. The brown coloration of the wings has a yellowish tint in places, and about the

cross-veins on either side of the discal cell it is perceptibly darker; it fills out the whole of the subcostal

cell and leaves the tip of the anal cell, and sometimes the outer posterior margin of the anal angle, hyaline ;

contact of discal and fourth posterior cells punctiform. Length 10-15 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Dos Arroyos, Rincon, and Tierra Colorada in Guerrero, Teapa in

Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

Seventeen specimens. The species is a typical Chrysanthrax, as defined by Osten

Sacken. It was placed by him in the list of unidentitied species (anted, p. 140).

14(a). Anthrax leucothoa.

Anthrax leucothoa, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. ii. p. 638 ‘.

Hab. Mexico 1, Acaguizotla, Chilpancingo, and Tepetlapa in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

The five specimens which I identify as this species differ from A. diana in having the

legs black, with the hind tibie only somewhat reddish, the hair of the pectus and front

coxe black (not yellowish), the outer part of the wings less purely hyaline, and the

clouds on the outer cross-veins smaller, that on the base of the second posterior cell

being only feebly indicated ; moreover, all of them have (male and female) a stump of

a vein at the furcation of the third vein. d. /eucothoa was placed by Osten Sacken in

the list of unidentified species (ante@, p. 14V).

280 SUPPLEMENT.

14 (s). Anthrax diana, sp. n.

Q. Third antennal joint conical, the styliform portion longer than the bulbous portion. Face conical;

proboscis withdrawn. Black; face and front with yellow appressed tomentum, the front with erect

black pile; ground-colour of the oral margin yellow. Thorax with yellowish pile on the sides and in

front; mesonotum with sparse yellowish tomentum and erect black pile. Abdomen with yellowish hair,

intermixed posteriorly with black ; tomentum of the same yellowish colour for the most part, the posterior

portion of the segments black-tomentose ; sixth and seventh segments densely covered with silvery-white

pile. Legs black or dark brown, with yellow tomentum; the distal part of the anterior femora and all

the tibize for the greater part yellow; front tibie with spinules. Wings brown on the antero-proximal

portion, hyaline distally ; the cross-veins on either side of the discal cell, within the brown portion, are

darker-coloured, and there is a conspicuous dark brown cloud on the furcation of the third vein, and one

equally large on the vein at the base of the second posterior cell ; the brown coloration of the furcature is

coalescent with the brown of the anterior part within the submarginal cell; in the anal cell the brown

extends nearly as far as the base of the fourth posterior cell, and fills out the proximal portion of the

anal angle; the dilated end of the marginal cell is wholly hyaline. Length 10-11 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Acaguizotla in Guerrero (1. H. Smith).

Four specimens.

Anthrax consul (p. 125).

To the locality given, add:—Mexico, Acaguizotla, Chilpancingo, Tepetlapa, and

Amula in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Numerous specimens. The abdomen has a conspicuous, rather narrow, whitish or

yellowish band. on the anterior part of the second, third, and fourth segments. ‘The

sixth and seventh segments in the female are as described by Osten Sacken ; in the

male they are wholly silvery-white. ‘There is a considerable amount of variation in

the degree of the encroachment of the brown colour in the axillary angle of the wings.

Certain examples from Brazil, in my collection, come very close to this species, and

Coquillett doubtfully identifies specimens from South Dakota with it. There are,

however, so many concurrent forms that direct comparison is needed to fully determine

examples from such remote localities.

16 (4). Anthrax fulvohirta. -

Anthrax fulvohirta, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 308'; Coquillett, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc.

xiv. p. 174,

Anthrax conifacies, Macq. Dipt. Exot., Suppl. iv. p. 112, t. 10. fig. 13°.

Hab. Unitep States, New Jersey 2, Virginia 2%, Georgia 1, Kansas ?.—Mexico, Dos

Arroyos, Venta de Zopilote, Rio Papagaio, and Tierra Colorada in Guerrero (H. H.

Smith).

The pile and tomentum throughout is fulvous, not yellowish, and the tomentum of

the middle of the abdomen is largely intermixed with black or wholly black. The

species will be distinguished from A. astarte by the entirely brown anal and axillary

cells. The synonymy is given on Coquillett’s authority ?.

DIPTERA. 281

Anthrax palliata (p. 126).

To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Tepetlapa in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Two specimens, the specific identity of which I do-not feel quite sure: they are

not more than 8 or 9 millimetres in length; the face is wholly reddish-yellow; and

the antenne are reddish, with the slender termination of the cone not longer than the

cone itself. The abdomen is wholly covered with light yellowish pile and tomentum

(I can only distinguish a few black hairs posteriorly). The tarsi are brownish. The

brown coloration of the wings 1s of a light shade.

Anthrax lepidota ? (p. 130).

A female Anthrax from Venta de Zopilote, Mexico (H. I. Smith), seems to agree

with A. lepidota, O. S., in all its characters, except as regards the structure of the face,

if I interpret the description aright: I should call it conical; the borders meet in

nearly a rectangle. The anal cell is about half filled out with brown colour, and there

are no scales on the hind tibie.

‘Two other, abraded specimens, from Hacienda de la Imagen and Acapulco respec-

tively (7. H. Smith), have a hyaline spot in the outer part of the second basal cell. All

three examples are somewhat smaller than those described by Osten Sacken.

26 (a). Anthrax orbitalis, sp.n. (Tab. V. fig. 4, ¢.)

¢. Wings deep brown and hyaline; the brown coloration is of a uniform tint (without darker or lighter

markings), its border extending from the tip of the first vein, with a shallow concavity, sometimes relieved

by a short convexity in its middle, to very near the end of the anal cell; first posterior cell broadly open ;

a stump of a vein usually present on the furcation of the third vein. Body black throughout, the

jmmediate oral margin only yellowish. Head nearly spherical, the face not prominent in profile, the

proboscis short and retracted. Front clothed with black, its lower part, the face, and the posterior orbits

with dense silvery tomentum. Bulbous portion of the third antennal joint very short, almost reniform,

not more than one-third the length of the styliform portion, the distal half of which is distinctly

attenuated. Mesonotum and scutellum deep velvety-black; in well-preserved specimens there is some

yellow tomentum in front of the scutellum; near the humeri and just back of the halteres with golden

hair; pleura with white hair. Abdomen clothed with deep black tomentum and hair; on either side of

the first segment with a conspicuous tuft of white hair; on each side of the fifth, sixth, and seventh

segments thickly white- or light yellowish-pilose. Front tibie with minute spinules; pulvilli wanting ;

femora with white tomentum. Length 10 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Chilpancingo, Rincon, Rio Papagaio, and Amula in Guerrero, Teapa

in Tabasco (H. H. Smith), Santiago Iscuintla and San Blas in Jalisco (Schumann).

This species belongs in the subgenus Anthrax of Osten Sacken, and is nearly allied

to the following, A. curta, Loew. ‘The anterior branch of the third vein is not

bisinuous.

26 (ps). Anthrax curta.

Anthrax curta, Loew, Centur. vill. no. 35’.

Hab. Usrrep Srates, California 1.—Mexico, Northern Yucatan (Gaumer).

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., June 1901. 20

282 SUPPLEMENT.

This species differs from the preceding, A. orbitalis, in having a narrower front in

the male, and the face and front clothed with a whitish or yellowish, sometimes

brownish, tomentum. The hair of the pleure is for the most part black; the anal

angle of the wing is more hyaline at the tip, &c. I can distinguish no spinules on the

front tibie. A closely allied insect from Brazil, in my collection, is without the yellow

on the sides of the abdomen in front.

A male from Rincon (H. H. Smith), which I am unable to identify, represents a

distinct species which may be confounded with A. curta. It is apparently clothed

throughout with black pile and tomentum, save a white tuft on the sides of the

first abdominal segment. ‘The deep brown coloration of the wings is not sharply

limited in front and fills out most of the fourth posterior cell; the hyaline portion

is whitish.

26 (c). Anthrax nigrofimbriata, sp. n.

Black ; abdomen clothed wholly with deep black hair and tomentum, save on the posterior margin of the fifth

segment, and the sixth and seventh segments for the most part, where the tomentum is chiefly white. Front

rather broad above, clothed with erect black pile and fulvous tomentum ; face with fulvous tomentum ;

in profile the face projects in nearly the same line as the front, it being slightly convex and not conical.

First two joints of the antenne reddish ; third onion-shaped, with a long slender style, at least three

times the length of the bulbous portion. Proboscis projecting more than the length of the face beyond

the oral margin. Posterior orbits yellowish-tomentose, the immediate margin of the sides silvery.

Mesonotum with fulvous pile in front and a small tuft of fulvous hairs below the humeri; sides with

black hair, as also the pleura. Wings dark brown antero-proximally, hyaline distally, the brown

extending with only slight irregularities from the tip of the first vein to the extreme end of the anal cell.

Front tibie with distinct spinules; no pulvilli. Length 10 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Hacienda de la Imagen in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Two specimens.

26 (p). Anthrax pleuralis, sp.n. (Tab. V. fig. 5, 2.)

Q. Face retreating in profile, covered with white pile or tomentum. Proboscis short, with fleshy labella.

Bulbous portion of the third antennal joint very short, broader than long, about one-third the length of

the styliform portion, which is distinctly attenuated on the distal half. Front narrow above, with black

pile; white-tomentose below. Occipital orbits silvery-tomentose. Mesonotum opaque velvety-black, with

some yellow tomentum ; in front and on the sides with light yellow hair; below the yellow hair the pleurx

are covered with depressed white pile ; a tuft of yellow hair in front of the halteres and another on each side

of the base of the abdomen. Abdomen clothed for the greater part, apparently, with black tomentum ;

sides of the second, fifth, and sixth segments with white hair. Front tibie smooth; front tarsi with erect

pubescence, Wings dark brown and hyaline; the brown coloration, the limit of which is somewhat

evanescent, especially in front, leaves only the extreme tip of the marginal cell hyaline—it extends in the

submarginal cell nearly to the furcation of the third vein, crosses the discal cell beyond the middle, and

covers a considerable space in the third and fourth posterior cells; anal cell and anal angle hyaline only

at the tip; a small stump on the anterior furcation of the third vein, and in the third posterior cell from

the vein limiting the discal cell. Length 13 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Venta de Zopilote in Guerrero (HZ. H. Smith).

DIPTERA. 28

26 (x). Anthrax ceria, sp. n.

dg. All the segments of the abdomen, save the first, with an anterior band of dense white tomentum, of equal

width, and a little narrower than the posterior band of equally dense black tomentum ; sides of the first

three segments with white hair, of the remaining segments with short black hair. Wings brown and

greyish-hyaline; the brown coloration fills out the costal and subcostal cells, the submarginal cell to tho

end of the first vein (though dilutcly so behind from the origin of the second), the first basal cell to a little

beyond the anterior cross-vein, and the second basal cell, except on the outer part; the cross-veins on

either side of the discal cell are narrowly clouded with darker brown, and there is a small brown spot at the

base of the fourth posterior cell and an almost imperceptible one on the furcation of the third; the second

vein is bisinuate, and the first posterior cell is narrowed at the margin. Front tibie smooth; front tarsi

small, the joints indistinctly separated, without erect pile, and with minute ungues. Length 9 millim.

Hab. Muxtco, La Venta in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

One specimen.

26 (r). Anthrax maria, sp. n.

3. Black. Front with erect black pile; front and face with appressed fulvous tomentum, the face prominent.

First two joints of the antenne red; third joint with the short bulbous portion as broad as long, the style

slender and long. Proboscis projecting about 1 millim. beyond the oral margin. Mesonotum with hght

yellow hair in front and on the sides; pleura with bushy, nearly white hair; there is some bushy white

hair, also, just back of the wings. Abdomen on the sides with light yellowish hair; dorsum clothed

laterally with bright fulvous tomentum, intermixed with black in the middle, the black largely prepon-

derating; tip with white tomentum, and there is some tomentum of the same colour on the sides

of the third segment. Legs yellowish, with fulvous tomentum, the tarsi blackish; front tibiae with

spinules ; front tarsal joints distinctly differentiated and without erect pubescence; no pulvilli. Wings

brown and hyaline; the brown coloration fills out the marginal cell as far as the tip of the first vein, the

first and second basal cells, the anal cell to the base of the fourth posterior cell, and a little more than

half of the anal angle—it also encroaches upon the base of the first, third, and fourth posterior cells, and

forms a narrow cross-band over the furcation of the third vein to and over, narrowly, the vein at the base

of the second posterior cell, the first posterior cell thus having a hyaline spot in it, sometimes much

reduced in size, with the fourth vein behind it narrowly clouded, and separated by a cloud on the third

vein from a spot in the first submarginal cell. Length 6-8 millim,

Hab. Mexico, Hacienda de la Imagen and Tepetlapa in Guerrero (//. H. Smith).

‘Ten specimens. One of these is much larger than the others; but I can distinguish

no other differences, save that it has the legs almost wholly red.

29 (s). Anthrax lateralis.

Anthrax lateralis (Say), O. Sack. antead, p. 188 (under sp. no. 29).

‘To the locality given, add :—Mexico, Omilteme in Guerrero 8000 feet (1/. H/. Smith).

ONCODOCERA (p. 141).

Oncodocera, antea, p. 141 (part.).

8. Oncodocera analis, sp. n.

¢. Eyes contiguous above; the large frontal triangle and the face black-pilose, without trace of white. Third

joint of the antenne elongate, moderatcly dilated at the base, the distal half slender. Thorax deep black,

with black pile; mesonotum with long yellowish-white pile. Abdomen with long light yellow or white

202

284 SUPPLEMENT.

pile, and a band of black pile posteriorly ; sides with long and abundant black pile ; last two segments

covered with silvery-white pile. Legs black. Wings nearly as in O. leucoprocta, the first basal cell filled

out with brown.

9. Eyes narrowly separated at the vertex; front and face for the most part, or altogether, silvery-white-

pilose. Mesonotum, except in front, with light yellow pile; upper part of the pleure with more bushy

pile of the same colour, Abdomen with black pile; all the segments with a fringe of white pile

posteriorly. Length 7-8 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Xucumanatlan, Amula, and Chilpancingo in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Ten specimens. This species is closely allied to O. leucoprocta, Wiedem., but is

easily distinguishable in the male by the absence of white pile on the front and face,

and in the female by the pilose markings of the abdomen.

ANISOTAMIA.

Anisotamia, Macquart, Dipt. Exot., Suppl. iv. p. 115 (1850).

Oncodocera, Osten Sacken, anted, p. 141 (part.).

The great difference in size between the known species of Oncodocera and Anisotamia,

together with the closed or widely open first posterior cell, are, I believe, sufficient to

justify their separation. In Anisotamia the closure of the anal cell is variable.

1. Anisotamia valida.

Anthrax valida (Wiedem.), Roeder, Wien. ent. Zeit. v. p. 264‘.

Oncodocera valida, OQ. Sacken, antea, p. 142°.

To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Tuxtla, near Amula, Tierra Colorada, Chil-

pancingo, and Dos Arroyos in Guerrero (H. H. Smith), Northern Yucatan (Gauwmer).

Seven specimens, including both sexes. ‘The one from Yucatan has the wings

almost black and otherwise differs; it is a female.

2, Anisotamia fasciata, sp. n. (Tab. V. fig. 6, 2.)

£. In structure and appearance very like A. valida. Black; front and face thickly covered with recumbent

white hair (antenna wanting); mesonotum in large part (or wholly ?) covered with short, thick, yellow

pile; pleuree with white pile; abdomen concealed beneath thick black hair and tomentum, the uante-

penultimate segment wholly covered with dense, white, recumbent hair; legs and wings as in A, valida ;

anal cell open. Length 16 millim.

Hab. Mexico, San Blas in Jalisco (Schumann).

One specimen.

EPACMUS (p. 142).

Epacmus modestus (p. 142).

To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Venta de Zopilote in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

A single female specimen, which upon comparison with what 1 believe to be the

DIPTERA. 285

real E. modestus (Loew) I cannot say with certainty is of the same species. ‘The face is

for the most part shining black, the oral margin yellow. ‘The abdomen has the first

segment covered with white tomentum or hair; the second segment with a broad band

of black tomentum in front, an equally broad fulvous one behind it, and the immediate

hind margin whitish; the remaining segments are covered with fulvous tomentum,

except on the immediate hind margin, where it is whitish.

APHCEBANTUS (p. 143).

Aphebantus conurus (p. 148).

To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Hacienda de la Imagen, Tepetlapa, and

Chilpancingo in Guerrero (fH. H. Smith).

Seven specimens, including male and female. The males agree well with the types

in the Kansas University collection, save that the bristles on the hind margin of the

abdominal segments are for the most part white. The females accord in nearly every

detail with A. cervinus, Loew, from Texas; the face, however, is prominent, not as

much so as in the species of Zpaemus, but more so than most of those of Aphewbantus.

Coquillett, in his Tables of the North-American forms, has wrongly identified the last-

mentioned insect, which has the hind margin of the scutellum shining, as expressly

stated by Loew.

If I have correctly identified A. cervinus, the genus Epacmus cannot be distinguished

from Aphebantus by the structure of the face; and as to the presence or absence of

pulvilli, I agree with Coquillett that it is a character of doubtful value.

BOMBYLIUS (p. 150).

3. Bombylius io, sp.u. (Lab. V. fig. 7, ¢.)

2. Black. Front and face clothed with golden-yellow pile, the vertex sometimes with a few black hairs.

Antenne longer than the distance from vertex to oral margin ; first two joints yellow, with yellow hair ;

third joint slender, broadest at the base, longer than the first two joints together, the style small. Proboscis

about as long as the thorax. Thorax and abdomen clothed with abundant, moderately long, bright

yellow hair, without admixture of darker hair; some black hairs on the venter posteriorly. Legs light

yellow; distal tarsal joints brown. Wings hyaline, yellowish at the base.

3g. Like the female, except that there is no black hair on the venter; eyes broadly contiguous; the first two

joints of the antenne usually brownish or brown. Length 8-12 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Dos Arroyos and Acaguizotla in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Eight specimens. In one of them the femora are brownish, in others they are light

yellow.

4, Bombylius clio, sp. n.

Q. Like B. io, but with the first two joints of the antenne black and clothed with black hair; the hairs on

the face usually black ; the posterior part of the mesonotum and the abdomen with scattered, long, black

hairs; the wings more infuscated at the base.

286 SUPPLEMENT.

3. Hair of the frontal triangle and the face for the most part black; basal third or fourth of the wings dark

brown. Length 7-12 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Acaguizotla, Hacienda de la Imagen, Tierra Colorada, and Rincon in

Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Numerous specimens. This species is very variable in size. It will be best

distinguished from the foregoing, B. zo, by the colour of the basal joints of the antenne

and their hair, black in the latter, yellow in the former.

5. Bombylius coquilletti, n. n.

Thlipsogaster ater, Coquillett, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. xxi. p. 108 (March 18.35) °.

Bombylius coquilletti, Will. Psyche, viii. p. 331’.

Hab. Unitep States, Louisiana }.—Mexico, Dos Arroyos in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

A single male specimen from Guerrero, which seems to agree with Coquillett’s

description. This species does not belong to Thlipsogaster, as I have shown (J. ¢.).

6. Bombylius albopenicillatus.

Bombylius albopenicillatus, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1892, p. 363 (3)’.

. Deep black, opaque. Front with appressed orange-coloured tomentum, and scattered, long, black hairs ;

face with long black hair, intermixed with orange hairs; on either side of the base of the antenne with

a spot of appressed silvery-white pile. Antenne black ; first joint with black hair above; third joint

longer than the first two together, slenderly fusiform in shape; style short. Palpi black. Occiput with

abundant yellow hair above ; lateral orbits silvery-white-pilose. Mesonotum with orange tomentum, and

with six or eight silvery-white tomentose spots. Pleurz thinly greyish-pollinose and with light yellow

hair. Scutellum with orange tomentum and long black hairs. Abdomen thinly covered with orange

tomentum, and sparse, lonz, black hair; on the sides of the second and third segments with bushy black

hair; the sides of the fourth, fifth, and sixth segments, and also those of the first in front, with light

yellow or silvery hair; there is also some appressed silvery tomentum on each side of the first segment

behind, and a small spot in the middle of each following segment posteriorly. Legs yellow; the tip of

the femora, the distal part of the tibiee, and the tarsi brownish; hind femora with a row of long bristles

on the outer side. Wings tinged with brownish, more distinctly so at the base and in the costal and

subcostal cells ; anal cell open ; first posterior cell closed in the margin. Length 6-7 millim.

3. Frontal triangle small ; hair of the antenne and face more bushy and longer ; usually without yellow hair

on the face. Front part of the mesonotum with long bushy and abundant yellow pile. Abdomen more

thickly black-pilose, the sides of the fourth, fifth, and sixth segments with longer and bushy white hair;

the yellow tomentum and silvery spots everywhere wanting. Wings darker brown at the base.

Hab. Mexico}, Rincon and Acaguizotla in Guerrero (1. H. Smith).

Two females and ten males. This and the’ following species are closely allied

structurally to B. coquilletti, and may require a new genus for their reception.

7. Bombylius dolorosus, sp.n. (Tab. V. fig. 8, ¢.)

Q. Closely allied to B. albopenicillatus, Bigot. The tomentum of the front and mesonotum is of a deeper

rufous colour, the pile on the occiput is rufous (not orange-yellow), and there is no yellow pile on the

face or abdomen. The hair is deep black throughout, except on the occiput. The white tomentum of

the mesonotum is less in extent or evanescent; on the abdomen there is a small spot on each side of the

DIPTERA. 287

first segment and one in the middle of the posterior segments, as also on the sides of the fifth, sixth, and

seventh segments. The legs are darker-coloured, the femora black. The wings darker.

dg. Differs from the male of B. albopenicillatus in having the hair of the head entirely black, the yellow pile

on the anterior part of the mesonotum darker-coloured, and partly black in front, and the yellow pile on

the abdomen entirely absent. The white spots on the mesonotum are wanting ; those of the abdomen

are very minute, and on the sides of the posterior segments much shorter and less abundant. Length

6-8 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Dos Arroyos, Venta de Zopilote, and Tierra Colorada in Guerrero

(H. H. Smith).

Ten specimens.

SPARNOPOLIUS (p. 154).

No Central-American species were definitely referred to this genus by Osten Sacken

in the earlier part of this work.

1. Sparnopolius diversus, sp. n.

3. Head black ; vertical triangle with a tuft of black hair; frontal triangle small, silvery ; face bare, the

hair of the lower margin of the cheeks black, rather abundant. Antenne black; first joint swollen,

more than three times the length of the second, both clothed with bushy black hair; third joint about

the length of the first, slender, the basal half a little dilated; style small, consisting of a short cylindrical

first joint and a bristle of about the same length. Proboscis about as long as the thorax. Thorax and

abdomen opaque black, clothed with light yellow pile, bushy on the anterior part of the mesonotum and

on the sides of the abdomen ; terminal segments of the latter clothed with long and abundant black

hair ; posterior part of the mesonotum and the middle of the abdomen with long black hair. Legs black ;

femora with yellowish tomentum and long bristly hairs. Wings hyaline; marginal cell dilated at the

extremity ; first basal cell a little longer than the second. Length 6 millim.

Hab. Muxico, Hacienda de la Imagen in Guerrero (4. H. Smith).

A single specimen. The species will be at once distinguished by the black hair at

the tip of the abdomen.

2, Sparnopolius fulvus.

? Bombylius fulvus, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 3477; Loew, Neue Beitr. ii. p. 43°. (For

other synonymy see Osten Sacken’s Catalogue.)

Hab. Norra Amertca !.—Mexico, Hacienda de la Imagen in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

A single female, taken at the same time and place with the male of the foregoing

species. It agrees in structure precisely with that specimen, as well as with Wiede-

mann’s description of Bombylius fulous. On comparing it with individuals of the insect

usually considered to be S. fulvus, I find that the third joint of the antenne is a little

shorter, and more dilated at its basal end, and that the pile is fulvous; at the tip of

the abdomen some black hairs are visible. Is it the real B. fudvus of Wiedemann,

described from the female, or that sex of the preceding species %

288 SUPPLEMENT.

LORDOTUS (p. 154).

Lordotus gibbus (p. 154).

There are a number of forms generally referred to ZL. gibbus in collections about

whose specific identity I do not feel sure. The following are the variations that the

specimens now before me present :—

a. Costal and first basal cells of the wings yellowish ; first two joints of the antennew, and the femora wholly,

yellow; mesonotum with distinct tomentose stripes; abdomen opaque, with a median row of triangular

yellow-tomentose spots, the extreme tip white-pilose, with some blackish hairs on the fourth segment.—

Hab. Muxico, Tepetlapa, Chilpancingo, and Venta de Zopilote (H. H. Smith), Three specimens.

b. Like a, but with the first joint of the antenne and the base of the femora black.—Hab. Mexico, near the

city (Schumann). One specimen.

c. Antenne wholly black; femora black, except the tip; mesonotal and abdominal stripes white-tomentose,

the abdomen shining, with a complete black-pilose band before the tip—Hab. Unirep Srares, New

Mexico. One specimen.

Neither Loew nor Jaennicke mention the tomentose stripes on the mesonotum.

L. pulcherrima, Will., has no stripes, the abdomen is uniformly yellow-pilose and

tomentose, and the first two joints of the antenne and the femora are yellow. There

can be no doubt of its distinctness from the foregoing, but I am not sure but that it

may be the real L. gibbus.

L. zona, Coq., must closely resemble the form from New Mexico.

a PHTHIRIA (p. 155).

Cyclorhynchus, Macquart, Dipt. Exot. 11. 1, p. 114 (1840).

Pecilognathus, Jaennicke, Abh. Senckenb. Ges. vi. p. 350 (1867).

There is not a little variation in the neuration and in the structure of the head

among the species heretofore referred to this genus, which may afford grounds for

generic division. Acreotrichus, Macquart, has been accepted by both Schiner and

Coquillett, but the only tangible character that I can find for distinguishing it from

some of the species now located in Phthiriu is the greater dilatation of the upper

part of the third antennal joint, and even this is not very marked. In the following

Table I include all the known Central-American forms. From the great dissimilarity

of the colour-markings in the two sexes, so common in this genus, it is usually very

difficult to associate them :—

1. Deep black throughout ; hair of the head black, that of the face long

(males). 2. 2. 2. 1 we ee wee ee ee ee

More or less yellow or yellowish species (females). . . . . . . 3.

2. Hair of the thorax black. (Length 8-4 millim.) . . . . . . ~~ similis, Coq.

Hair of the thorax yellow. . . 2. 2. 2 ee {ee Sp. 2

consors, O. 8.

3. Wings spotted, the tip strongly infuscate. . . . . . . . 2. . &

Wings not spotted 2. 2. 1 1 we ew ee eee eee ee

DIPTERA. 289

4. Face broad on the sides, produced . . . . «. . «ee thlipsomyzoides, Jaenn.

Face of the usual structure . . . . . . . 1. ee) lterans, sp. n.

5. Mesonotum almost uniformly opaque yellowish-brown ; discal cell

unusually large ; furcation of third vein beyond the base of the

second posterior cell; wings hyaline. (Length 3 millim.) . . . albida, Wiedem.

Mesonotum distinctly striped, with yellow lateral margins . . . . 6.

6. Abdomen with black and yellow bands . .......2.2.%7.

Abdomen not banded . . . . . . . 1. ee eee ew BE

7. Legs for the most part yellow . . . . . .. . . . . « « cingulata, Loew.

Legs for the most part black . consors, O. 8.

8. Mesonotum with opaque black stripes; wings hyaline. (Length

Smillim.) . 2. . 2. 2 we ew ee ee ee ew pulohella, sp. n.

Mesonotum with brownish stripes; wings brownish . . . . . . = sororia, sp. n.

Phthiria consors (p. 155).

To the locality given, add:—Unitep States, New Mexico, Magdalene Mts. (Snow,

in Kans. Univ. Coll.).

A number of specimens from the above locality agree with the description. They

are of especial interest, because they include the male, hitherto unknown. These are

deep black throughout (the sides of the venter only being yellow); the hair of the

head is black, and that of the thorax light yellow; the wings are not brownish, as in

P. dolorosa.

2. Phthiria similis. |

? Phthiria similis, Coquillett, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. xii. p. 103°.

Hab. Uniten States, Southern California }.—Mexico, Amula in Guerrero (H. #.

Smith).

Two males from Guerrero, differing from Coquillett’s description! in having the

proboscis a little longer, the third joint of the antenne of equal width throughout,

and the pile of the abdomen yellowish, not whitish. Possibly this is the male of

either P. cingulata, Loew, or of the following.

3. Phthiria pulchella, sp. n.

Q. Head yellow; front with a median black stripe ; sides of the face above with a blackish spot, not very

distinct. Antenne, proboscis, and palpi black. Mesonotum for the most part opaque velvety-black, the

sides narrowly, and the posterior part broadly, yellow; in the middle with two slender yellow stripes,

pollinose anteriorly. Pleure light yellow, the mesopleure and pectus largely black. Abdomen uniformly

yellow or reddish-yellow. Legs, including the coxa, yellow ; distal part of the front femora blackish ;

all the tibiz for the greater part, and the tarsi wholly or for the greater part, blackish or black. Wings

nearly hyaline. Length 3 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Amula in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., June 1901. 2p

290 SUPPLEMENT.

One specimen. It is possible, though not at all probable, that this may be the

female of what I have considered to be P. similis; if so, the specimens thus referred

cannot belong to that species.

4, Phthiria dolorosa, sp. n.

3. Very like the species here identified as P. similis, Coq., differing chiefly i in the larger size and the whitish

colour of the pile of the thorax. Subopaque black throughout, the halteres only yellowish ; the tip of

the femora and the tibie red. Hair of the head black, rather abundant on the sides of the face and on

the cheeks. Third joint of the antenne rather more than twice the length of the first two joints together,

tapering distally. Palpi about one-third the length of the proboscis, which is more than twice the

length of the head. Mesonotum and scutellum with long, erect, light yellow hair. Abdomen with light

yellow hair at the base above and along the sides. Wings more or less strongly tinged with brownish.

Length 5-6 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Amula in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Six specimens. This species differs from P. diversa, Coqg., and P. fuscipes, Big., in

the colour of the hair of the head and in the brownish wings; and from P. consors,

O. S., in the larger size, brownish wings, and red tibie.

5. Phthiria albida.

_ Phthiria albida, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 356; Macq. Dipt. Exot. i. 1, p. 115°,

@. Front broad, light ochraceous-yellow ; on either side below a whitish spot, connected by a brownish

transverse spot ; face yellow, very narrow on the sides. First two joints of the antenne short, of nearly

equal length, yellow; third joint yellow, blackish distally. Occiput for the most part yellow. Proboscis

black, about twice the length of the head. Palpi black, projecting but little beyond the oral margin.

Mesonotum opaque yellowish-brown, somewhat whitish on the sides, and yellow posteriorly. Scutellum

yellow, the tip ochraceous. Abdomen opaque whitish, the segments each with an opaque black band,

becoming narrower posteriorly, the terminal ones without them. Legs light yellow; distal joints of all

the tarsi black. Wings nearly hyaline ; discal cell unusually large, the veins closing it exteriorly nearly

in the same line; furcation of the third vein beyond the base of the second posterior cell. Length

3 millim. .

Hab. Sovrnuern Unirep States (Hans. Univ. Coll.).—Mexico, Medellin near Vera

Cruz (H. H. Smith).—Braziu !?,

One specimen. ‘The peculiar neuration agrees with that of a male in the Kansas

University Collection. Wiedemann’s description! was also taken from an example of

that sex.

6. Phthiria cingulata.

? Phthiria cingulata, Loew, Linn. Entom. i. p. 383°.

Hab. Mexico, Chilpancingo in Guerrero (H. H. Smith), Oaxaca 1.

One specimen, which I refer somewhat doubtfully to Loew’s species. It differs from

P. consors, O. §., chiefly in the colour of the legs, which are obscurely yellow, the.

tibiz more or less infuscated, the tarsi in large part blackish. The second vein is not

distinctly curved at the end. J. cingulata was noticed, but not identified, by Osten

Sacken in the earlier part of this work (anted, p. 16).

DIPTERA. 291

7. Phthiria sororia, sp. n.

2. Head yellow; ocellar tubercle and the beginning of a stripe below it brown. Antenne black, the first

joint yellow, and of nearly the same length as the second. Palpi shorter than the head, black ; proboscis

about three times the length of the head. Thorax yellow; mesonotum with three broad, nearly confluent,

ochraceous or brownish stripes; pleura with two or three small spots of the same colour. Abdomen

yellowish-red, sometimes variegated with brownish. Legs yellow; tibiz darker, the tarsi blackish

toward the tip. Wings tinged with yellowish on the basal portion, brownish distally ; no adventitious

vein in the discal cell. The pile everywhere yellow. Length 6 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Chilpancingo and Amula in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Fifteen specimens. ‘The fact that these are females, while all those of P. dolorosa

are males, together with the infuscation of the wings in both, may indicate that they

belong to one species. There were none collected together, however, and the

extraordinary difference in coloration would seem to make it highly improbable that

such could be the case.

8. Phthiria thlipsomyzoides.

? Pecilognathus thlipsomyzoides, Jaenn. Abh. Senckenb. Ges. vi. p. 351°.

Hab. Mexico 1, Amula in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

A single female. This specimen differs not a little from Jaennicke’s description of

the male, and as there are several concurrent species here, it is possible that our insect

may belong to some other male. For that reason I give a description of it :—

9. Front ochraceous, on the sides light yellow, opaque, the ocellar tubercle and a spot in the centre black ;

strongly depressed in the middle longitudinally, the lower half shining and with black hair. Sides of

the face very broad, shining yellow, with two large, nearly confluent black spots; oral opening nearly

vertical in profile. First two joints of the antenne yellow, the first about as long as the second, and

both with black hair above ; third joint rather narrow, tapering at the distal end only, black, yellow at

the base. Proboscis and palpi black, the former nearly three times the length of, and the latter a little

shorter than, the head. Mesonotum with three rather broad, narrowly separated stripes; posterior part

reddish-yellow ; sides more purely yellow. Scutellum light reddish-yellow, the margins broadly light

yellow. Pleure for the most part light yellow. Abdomen obscurely brownish or reddish-yellow, with

the segments blackish anteriorly. Legs reddish-yellow, the tarsi in large part black. Wings hyaline,

the tip broadly margined with brown ; costal cell yellowish, the subcostal brownish ; small brown spots

on the basal cross-veins, the anterior cross-vein, the furcation of the third vein, the posterior basal cross-

vein, and the vein at the base of the third posterior cell. Length 10 millim.

The neuration of both wings is anomalous, in that the discal cell is confluent with

the second posterior cell; there is also a stump of a vein on the second longitudinal

vein opposite the anterior cross-vein. P. thlipsomyzoides was not identified by Osten

Sacken in the earlier part of this work (anted, p. 106).

9. Phthiria alterans, sp. n.

Q. Very like P. thlipsomyzoides, but with the sides of the face much narrower. Front opaque brownish and

yellow on the upper part ; below the transverse groove shining light yellow, with a large brown spot in

the middle ; face shining yellow, with two dark brown spots; oral opening nearly vertical. First two

2p2

292 SUPPLEMENT.

joints of the antenne light yellow (the third wanting). Proboscis black, about twice the length of the

head ; palpi very slender and short. Cheeks with some black hairs below. Occiput light yellow, black

in the middle. Mesonotum light yellow on the sides, with three broad brownish-red vitte, separated

by two slender opaque light yellow stripes. Pleure light yellow, with reddish spots. Scutellum light

yellow, the disk for the most part reddish. Abdomen brownish-red, each segment with the posterior

part yellow or yellowish. MHalteres with a brown knob. Legs yellow, the tarsi blackish at the tip.

Wings hyaline, the anterior part, and the distal border broadly, infuscated ; all the cross-veins with brown

clouds, as also on the origin of the second vein and the anterior branch of the third; a long stump of a

vein in the discal cell from the vein at the base of the third posterior cell. Length 9 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Sierra de las Aguas Escondidas in Guerrero 9000 feet (H. H. Smith).

A single specimen. P. scolopax, O. S.,examples of which I have seen from Southern

New Mexico, is an allied species: it is smaller, the proboscis much longer, the front

narrower below, &c. P. punctipennis, Walk., is also very much smaller.

GERON (p. 156).

No species was definitely referred by Osten Sacken to this genus in the earlier part

of this work.

1. Geron rufipes.

Geron rufipes, Macq. Dipt. Exot., Suppl. i. p. 119°.

Hab. Mexico, Chilpancingo, Tepetlapa, and Amula in Guerrero (H. H. Smith),

Jalisco (Schumann), Yucatan ! (Gawmer).

Numerous specimens.

2. Geron trochilides, sp. n.

d. Frontal triangle and face greyish-yellow-pollinose, black in some reflections. Antenne black ; third joint

more than twice the length of the first two joints together, dilated distally, with an excision on the upper

anterior angle, in which is placed a minute style. Proboscis as long as the head and thorax together, black.

Palpi rudimentary. Mesonotum densely yellowish-grey-pollinose, with a pair of median slender stripes

and a series of three spots on each side, the one behind the suture dilated outwardly in front, all opaque

black ; pile for the most part blackish, erect, rather abundant. Pleure yellowish-grey-pollinose ; knob

of the halteres yellow. Scutellum shining black, grey on the margins, with black pile. Abdomen opaque

greyish-yellow, with long dusky yellowish pile. Legs yellow, the tip of the femora and tibia, and all

the tarsi, black or blackish, Wings brownish, more distinctly so at the base; ultimate and penultimate

sections of the third vein of equal length ; anterior branch of the third vein terminating a little before

the tip of the wing ; anterior cross-vein situated before the middle of the discal cell. Length 5 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Acaguizotla in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

One specimen.

SYSTROPUS (p. 157).

Table of Species examined in the supplementary collections received from Mexico.

1. Legs black throughout . toe. dolorosus, sp. n.

DIPTERA. 293

2. Hind metatarsi black . . . . wee ee ee ee) 6Q*cuadripunctatus, sp. n.

Hind metatarsi, except the tip, light yellow rn 2

3. Mesonotum dark red . . . . eee ew ee puleher, sp. 2.

Mesonotum black, with light yellow markings Soe es ~ 4

4. Thorax, except the yellow margins of the mesonotum, wholly black . similis, sp. 0.

Pleurz with yellow and red markings. . . . . .. . . . « rogersi, O. Sack.

Systropus rogersi (2) (p. 158).

To the locality given, add :—Mexico, Amula in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

A single female specimen from Guerrero perhaps belongs to this species. The head

and thorax agree pretty well in colour with the description, save that the whole

posterior underpart of the latter, from the base of the abdomen to the hind coxe, is

red. The abdomen is brown above, not black, and reddish-yellow on the underside.

The hind femora are yellow, with the upperside on the basal half brown.

7. Systropus dolorosus, sp. n.

3 @. Frontal triangle and sides of the face silvery. Antenne black; second and third joints taken

together as long as the first, the third nearly twice the length of the second. Thorax black; a transverse

spot on the humeri, one in front of the root of the wings, one on the post-alar callus, and one above the

front coxe, light yellow. Abdomen reddish-yellow, the base and distal segments black. Legs black or

deep brown, the knees narrowly reddish. Wings brownish. Length 14-16 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Jalisco (Schumann), Temax in Yucatan (Gaumer).

Four specimens. The two from Yucatan have the yellow spots of the dorsum of the

thorax smaller or obsolete, and the dorsum of the abdomen black or brown throughout ;

they are also larger than the others. This species can hardly be the same as

S. angulatus, Karsch, as the anterior branch of the third vein is not angulated, and no

mention is made of the pleural spot. The presence of the yellow spot on the pleure

will distinguish S. dolorosus from S. infuscatus and S. imbecilius, Karsch.

8, Systropus quadripunctatus, sp. n.

9. Frontal triangle, save the uppermost portion, and the sides of the face, light yellow. Antenne black, the

basal portion of the first joint yellowish ; first joint only a little longer than the second and third joints

together, the third about one and two-thirds the length of the second. Thorax black ; mesonotum with

a hoary geminate stripe in the middle; the sides from in front of the root of the wings, extending

inwardly, anteriorly, and downwards to the front coxe, and a small spot on the post-alar callus, light

yellow ; the whole posterior inferior part, from the base of the abdomen to the hind coxee, and including

the hypopleure, also light yellow, and with four small black spots arranged ip pairs. Abdomen red, the

first three or four segments black above, the distal segments brown. The four anterior legs are light.

yellow; hind femora brown, yellow below distally; hind tibia blackish ; hind tarsi black. Wings

tinged with brownish. Length 13-15 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Northern Yucatan (Gaumer).

294 SUPPLEMENT.

9. Systropus pulcher, sp. n.

@. Face pale yellow; frontal triangle reddish or brownish-yellow. Proboscis black; palpi reddish-yellow.

Antennx black, the third joint about one and a half times the length of the second. Thorax dark red,

with an oval black spot immediately above the root of the wings and a small black spot or strigula on

each side of the scutellum; mesonotum with two narrow brown stripes. Abdomen with the first

segment of the same colour as the mesonotum; the remainder black above, the narrow portion light

yellow on the underside. Four anterior legs yellow, their cox brown; hind femora red or brownish-

red, with the distal portion lighter-coloured; hind tibiz black, the base on the inner side more or less

red; hind metatarsi light yellow, except the immediate tip, the remaining joints black. Wings tinged

with brownish. Length 17-18 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Amula in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

10. Systropus similis, sp. n.

o& Q. Face pale yellow; frontal triangle silvery ; palpi yellow; antenne and proboscis black, the third joint

of the former a little longer than the second. Thorax black; mesonotum with a hoary stripe in the

middle, the lateral margins to the root of the wings light yellow, this colour extending a little inwards

at the humeri. First segment of the abdomen black; the remaining segments red, with the upperside

and the distal end brownish; knob of the halteres mostly black. Four anterior legs light yellow; hind

femora brown, with the distal end broadly yellow; immediate base of the hind tibie yellowish ;

hind metatarsi light yellow, its tip and the remaining joints black, like the tibie. Length 15-18 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Sierra de las Aguas Escondidas in Guerrero 9000 feet (H. H. Smith).

Two specimens. This species is nearest allied to S. rufiventris, O. S.

LEPIDOPHORA (p. 160).

Lepidophora vetusta (p. 160).

To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith).

A single specimen, apparently conspecific with those mentioned by Osten Sacken

(l.c.). It has the expanded end of the marginal cell hyaline. Three other examples

before me, from Brazil, have the apex of the wings clouded with brown as in the

insects referred to LZ. vetusta in the earlier part of this work; they are also a little

smaller. I cannot distinguish the forms otherwise specifically.

TOXOPHORA (p. 161).

Toxophora amphitea (p. 161).

To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Chilpancingo in Guerrero (Hl. H. Smith).

2. Toxophora varipennis, sp. n.

2. Black, shining. Structure of the head as in 7. amphitea. Antenne black, with black tomentum. Hair

of the occiput nearly white. Mesonotum with sparse black and iridescent tomentum; sides of the

mesonotum and upper part of the pleure with yellowish and white hair ; bristles black; pleure whitish-

pollinose. Abdomen with abundant yellow tomentum on the fifth, sixth, and seventh segments, each with

two denuded spots ; on the anterior segments the tomentum is black (but the surface of the single specimen

is apparently abraded); on the venter the tomentum is silvery-white. Legs with silvery-white and

yellowish tomentum. Wings deep brown, hyaline and subhyaline ; the hyaline space forms an arcuate

DIPTERA. 295

band, beginning ac the first vein at the tip of the auxiliary vein and passing across the marginal,

submarginal, and first posterior cells, and nearly connected with a spot in the discal cell, and across the

base of the third posterior cell; beyond this hyaline band there is a narrow, irregular, brown, arcuate

band, beginning at the second vein, passing over the first section of the anterior branch of the third vein,

the middle of the first posterior cell, the subangulated posterior cross-vein, and reaching the tip of the

anal cell; the narrow outer margin of the wing and the anal and axillary cells are subhyaline. Length

7 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Amula in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

One specimen.

ECLIMUS (p. 161).

2. Eclimus fascipennis, sp.n. (Tab. V. fig. 9, 2.)

Q. Front opaque black, with long black pile and short, closely-set, bright golden pile; on the lower third or

more and the face densely white-pollinose ; cheeks and the oral margin shining black. Antenne black ;

third joint longer than the first, broad at the base, pointed distally, and with a minute style at the tip.

Proboscis as long as the head and thorax together, black. Palpi about one-fourth the length of the

proboscis, black; the second joint about two-thirds the length of the first, with an attenuated tip, as

though a small third joint were present. Occiput with golden pile and long yellowish hair; opaque

grey below, opaque black above. Mesonotum opaque black, with the lateral margins and a median

stripe, expanded posteriorly, of close-lying golden pile; everywhere with long, sparse, dusky pile.

Pleurz densely white-pollinose, with white hair and a little golden pile. Scutellum covered with golden

tomentum. Knob of the halteres black. Abdomen opaque black; the first four segments with

golden tomentum, the distal segments with white pile, intermixed with longer and coarser black hair,

which forms a fringe at the tip; venter whitish, with white hair. Legs wholly black. Wings nearly

hyaline, with two uarrow, partly confluent, brown bands beyond the middle, connected in the marginal

cell, and with a small spot at the anterior basal cross-vein and another at the origin of the third vein ;

costal margin at the tip narrowly clouded. Length 9-11 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Tepetlapa and Chilpancingo in Guerrero (/Z. H. Smith).

Seven specimens.

3. Eclimus quadratus, sp. n.

2. Front black, opaque on the upper portion, with recumbent white pile and longer black hair; on the

lower portion, to the upper part of the face, thickly white-dusted ; oral margin, more broadly so than

in E. fascipennis, and the cheeks, shining black. Antenne and proboscis in colour and structure like

those of the preceding species; second joint of the palpi relatively shorter. Mesonotum opaque black,

the lateral margins and a median line with recumbent white pile, less abundant than in £. fascipenms.

Pleure brown, with white hair. Abdomen opaque black; first four segments with sparse golden pile,

the fifth with white pile, the other segments with longer, more abundant, and wholly black hair.

Femora and tibia red or brownish-red, the tip of the latter and the tarsi blackish. Wings hyaline,

with a broad, quadrate, brown spot, lighter-coloured in the interior of the cells; a large spot in the

proximal half of the first basal cell, and a small cloud on the anterior basal cross-vein, also brown ;

costal and subcostal cells yellow or brown. Length 10 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Rincon in Guerrero (H. LZ. Sinith).

SPHENOIDOPTERA, gen. nov.

@. Head broader than the thorax; front broad, with a median longitudinal groove ; face short, its profile

continued in the line of the lower part of the front, the sides narrow, the oral margin at about an angle

of forty-five degrees with the occiput. Proboscis extending about as far outward as the tip of the

296 SUPPLEMENT.

antenne; palpi slender, single-jointed. Antenne about as long as the distance from their base to

the ocelli, which are situated at the vertex ; first joint stout, about three times as long as the second ;

second joint about as long as broad; third of nearly the same length as the first and but little broader,

not tapering, with short black hair and a minute style. Thorax with black bristles before the root of

the wing, on the posterior part of the mesonotum, and on the margin of the scutellum ; nearly bare of pile.

Abdomen elongate, cylindrical, with nearly parallel sides, not broader than the thorax, composed of seven

segments, bare of pile, except on the sides of the first segment; with bristles on the hind margin of the

segments. Wings narrow, markedly wedge-shaped at the base, the alule wholly wanting; anal and

axillary cell narrow ; origin of the second vein before the base of the discal cell; marginal cell dilated

at the extremity, the second vein joining the costa at nearly a right angle; two submarginal cells, four

posterior cells ; all the cells open, All the tibie with bristles ; pulvilli well-developed.

In the shape of the wings and the venation, this genus somewhat resembles Scinaz,

and in the elongate bristly body, Thiipsomyza. It is perhaps best placed near

Eclimus.

1. Sphenoidoptera varipennis, sp.n. (Tab. V. fig. 10, ¢.)

@. Black, the distal part of the tibiee and the basal joints of the tarsi reddish. Front opaque, and with long

black hairs; face shining. Mesonotum opaque, with white tomentum. Pleure whitish-pollinose ;

mesopleure with a longitudinal row of short white hairs, above which there are scattered longer black

hairs, the portion below them being bare. Abdomen moderately shining ; first segment with a tuft of white

hair on either side; remaining segments with black and white tomentum; hairs at the tip black.

Wings hyaline and brown; the costal border is brown as far as the tip of the first vein, including the

marginal cell; from the extremity a brown band extends back to the fourth posterior cell over the cross-

veins; proximally, another projection extends to the anal cell over the base of the fourth posterior cell,

between which and the basal brown colour there is a narrow hyaline band reaching to the first vein and

to the axillary cell, the latter being hyaline ; a brown spot over the base of the second posterior cell, the

furcation of the third vein, the tip of the second and anterior branch of the third veins, and a minute

one on a small stump of the second vein in the dilated part of the marginal cell. Length 6 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Chilpancingo in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Two specimens.

AMPHICOSMUS.

Amphicosmus, Coquillett, Western American Scientist, vii. p. 220 (1891).

1. Amphicosmus cincturus, sp.n. (Tab. V. figg. 11, lla, 3.)

dg. Eyes narrowly separated above, behind the ocelli, which are situated far forward ; the narrow front forms

a rounded ridge. The front above and the frontal triangle black, greyish-dusted, the triangle with erect,

short, black hair. Face protruding conically forward, the conical portion shining black, the sides

whitish-pubescent. Proboscis protruding as far forward as the tip of the antenne. Antenne short;

first two joints thickened, of equal length ; third joint slender, a little longer than the first two together,

pointed; all the joints black. Mentum yellowish. Thorax deep black, shining, the mesonotum with

erect, soft, whitish pile. Abdomen black, shining, bare, contracted at the distal end of the second

segment, thence cylindrical, with the distal portion a little thickened ; second and third segments with

the narrow hind margin yellow. Legs black, wholly without bristles; the femora with soft, short, white

pile. Wings nearly hyaline, the veins at the base yellow; distal end of the marginal cell dilated; three

submarginal cells present. Pulvilli present. Length 12 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Venta de Zopilote in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

One specimen.

DIPTERA. 297

THEREVIDE (p. 162).

PSILOCEPHALA.

Psilocephala, Zetterstedt, Ins. Lapp. p. 525 (1840).

1. Psilocephala univittata.

Psilocephala univitiata, Bellardi, Saggio etc, 11. p. 90°.

Hab. Mexico, Xucumanatlan, Amula, and Omilteme, all in Guerrero, 6000 to 8000

feet (H. H. Smith), Puebla !.

Three females and five males. Bellardi described the female. The males agree so

closely with Wiedemann’s description of P. notata that I do not feel sure that the

present species is really distinct. Coquillett, in his Table of the North-American

forms, distinguishes P. notata as having the silvery dust on the lower part of the front

meeting above the antenne, which is hardly the case with these Mexican specimens.

The legs are black, with the hind tibie yellow.

2. Psilocephala festina.

Psilocephala festina, Coq. Canad. Entom, xxii. p. 225°.

Hab. Unttep States, Florida !.—Mexico, Dos Arroyos in Guerrero, Vera Cruz

(H. H. Smith).

Four female specimens, which agree with Coquillett’s description, save that the

abdomen is almost wholly deep black and the tibie are reddish (not yellowish). <A

single male, from ‘Tabasco, differs from the others in having the black stripes of the

mesonotum narrower and less distinct, and the posterior margin of the abdominal

segments yellowish ; the whole abdomen, moreover, is silvery-pubescent.

CYRTIDE (p. 163).

PHILOPOTA.

Philopota, Wiedemann, Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. 11. p. 17 (1830).

This genus was not represented in the collections reported upon by Osten Sacken in

the earlier part of this work.

1. Philopota lugubris, sp.n. (Tab. V. figg. 12, 124, ¢.)

Deep black, with yellow markings. Frontal triangle silvery-white-pubescent. Antenne black. Labium

short, black, the proboscis otherwise light yellow. Prothorax above yellow, its median line brown.

Mesonotum and scutellum brassy-black, finely punctulate, moderately shining; on either side of the

mesonotum in front a yellow spot connected with the yellow of the pronotum; post-alar callosities

yellow. Mesopleurz silvery-pubescent. Abdomen black, silvery-pubescent ; first four segments with an

interrupted yellow band on the posterior part, that on the second forming two large subcrescentic spots,

the others narrower; on the fifth segment a narrow yellow hind border ; all these segments with the

BIOL, CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., September 1901. 29

298 SUPPLEMENT.

posterior angle broadly yellow. Femora black; their tip, the tip of the tibia, and the basal joints of

the tarsi, yellow ; tibiee and tarsi otherwise reddish or brownish. Wings tinged with yellowish. Length

6-7 millim.

Hab. Muxico, Xucumanatlan and Amula in Guerrero 6000 to 7000 feet (H. H.

Smith).

Four specimens. In one of them the yellow on the margin of the fourth and fifth

abdominal segments is wanting. Although the markings are very similar to those of

P. truquit and P. conica, the present species cannot be identified with the former on

account of its black colour, nor with the latter by reason of yet more pronounced

differences.

2. Philopota dolorosa, sp. n.

Very much like P. lugubris; but the frontal triangle is larger, reaching midway to the ocelli; the abdomen

is wholly without yellow, save the very narrow lateral margins of the segments; the mesothorax also

lacks the large yellow spots, and there is only a small reddish spot on each side of the posterior margin

of the pronotum. The legs are black, with the knees and basal joints of the tarsi reddish. Length

6-7 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Amula in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

One specimen. I cannot believe that the strongly marked differences between this

and the preceding species are merely varietal, though such is possibly the case. J am

unable to determine the sex: it appears to be the same in our examples in both

forms.

ASILIDE (p. 167).

LEPTOGASTER (p. 167).

Three Mexican species of this genus were briefly noticed by Osten Sacken in the

earlier part of this work, but none of them were known to, or identified by, him. The

supplementary collections since received contain representatives of eight others, which

may be tabulated thus :—

1. A row of well-developed bristles on the upper part of the occiput . 2.

No upper occipital bristles present . . . . . - . oe ow e 5,

2. Empodia nearly as long as the ungues; mesonotum for the most part

shining black . 2. 2. 1 ee ee ee ee ee ee ee trtungulata, sp. n.

Empodia very much shorter than the ungues. . . . . . . . . . 8

3. Mesonotum shining reddish-yellow for the most part . . . . . . . rubida, Wiedem.

Mesonotum wholly opaque. . . . - - - ee ee ee ee

Third antennal joint yellow . . . 2... ee + ee ee ee COnCiNnAtA, sp. n.

5. Empodia present. 2 2-2 we ee ee ee ee ee

DIPTERA. 299

6. Mesonotum shining for the most part, with a black stripe and two con-

fluent spots of the same colour . . 6 6 ee ee ee tts intima, Sp. lL.

Mesonotum wholly opaque, for the most part brown . . - + + + dorsalis, sp. 0.

7. Hypopygium very large; style of antenne thickened and shorter than

the third joint .

a . macropygialis, sp. n.

Hypopygium small; style bristle-like and longer than the third joint. . micropygialis, sp. n.

1. Leptogaster triungulata, sp. n. (Tab. V. figg. 13, 134, 6.)

3d 2. Antenne inserted about midway between the upper angle of the eyes and the oral margin ; black, the

second joint somewhat reddish at the tip; third joint elongate-ovate ; style slender, longer than the

third joint, a little thickened distally and ending in a minute bristle. Front and face thickly grey-

pollinose. Occiput densely grey-pollinose, with a row of well-developed bristles below the vertex.

Thorax densely grey-pollinose ; the mesonotum, except the lateral margins and behind, shining deep

reddish-black. Abdomen red or orange-yellow, the second segment at its base above, or along the middle

for its whole length, and the sixth and following segments, black ; sometimes the abdomen throughout

is obscurely blackish ; hypopygium small. Legs deep piceous, the tarsi black ; basal portion of all the

tibiee yellow, the hind metatarsi in part reddish or yellowish ; hind femora slender, moderately thickened

distally ; empodia very much developed, only a little shorter than the claws. Wings nearly hyaline ;

fourth posterior cell petiolate; the furcation of the third vein takes place beyond the distal end of the

discal cell ; proximal end of the second posterior cell about midway between the anterior cross-vein and

the proximal end of the third posterior cell. Length 15-16 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Amula in Guerrero (HZ. EH. Smith).

Five specimens. Allied to L. audouint, Macq.

2. Leptogaster rubida.

? Leptogaster rubidus, Wiedem. Aussereur. gweifl, Ins. ii. p. 533°.

? Leptogaster testuceus, Loew, Centur. il. no. 10°.

@. Antenne inserted midway between the upper angle of the eyes and the oral margin: yellow, the third

joint slightly brownish ; style slender, nearly as long as the antenna. Front and face narrow, clothed

with brownish-yellow, at the oral margin whitish-yellow, dust. Palpi rudimentary ; proboscis reddish-

yellow. Bristles of the occiput small and yellow, confined to the sides and not reaching across on the

upper part. Thorax light yellow, clothed with whitish dust ; mesonotum broadly shining, amber-yellow,

the posterior part and the lateral margins deeper yellow, and covered with whitish dust. Abdomen

slender ; light yellow, the distal segments wholly and the others in part brownish. Legs yellow, the tip

of the hind femora, the distal part of the hind tibia, and the tip of all the tarsal joints, brownish; hind

femora slender, moderately thickened distally ; empodia not reaching to the middle of the claws. Wings

hyaline, very narrowly brownish along the apical margin ; furcation of the third vein beyond the distal

end of the discal cell ; base of the second posterior cell only a little more proximal than that of the third ;

fourth posterior cell long-petiolate. Length 16 millim.

Hab. 1 Uxivep Staves, New York 2.—Mextco, Northern Yucatan (Gawmer).—Souta

AmERIca |.

One specimen. I am not sure that this species is the same as that described by

Loew. It appears to have the second submarginal cell longer, as well as the petiole

of the fourth posterior cell. Wiedemann’s description ’ also is too indefinite for the

certain determination of the insect.

2¢q2

300 SUPPLEMENT.

3. Leptogaster crocea, sp. n.

3 @. Antenne inserted distinctly above the middle of the distance between the upper angles of the eyes and

the lower margin of the face ; reddish-yellow, the third joint black or blackish ; style short and rather

thick, not two-thirds the length of the third joint. Occiput and front opaque yellow, the occiput with a

row of well-developed bristles above on each side of the vertical groove ; face silvery-white ; front broad

above, the distance between the upper angles of the eyes nearly or quite equal to the length of the

antennz without the style. Palpi and proboscis black. Thorax opaque ochraceous-yellow ; mesonotum

with three rather broad black stripes (appearing dull brown through the yellowish dust); ground-colour

of the lower part of the pleura black. Abdomen only moderately slender; brownish-red, the distal

segments black or blackish, opaque, the venter yellowish. Legs yellow or reddish-yellow, the distal

joints of all the tarsi brownish-yellow ; hind femora considerably thickened distally ; empodia reaching

to about the middle of the claws. Wings yellowish-hyaline; furcation of the third vein opposite the

base of the second posterior cell, which is only a little more proximal than that of the third; fourth

posterior cell short-petiolate. Hypopygium small. Length 15 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Acaguizotla and Omilteme in Guerrero (H. H. Smith),

Nine specimens. The furcation of the third vein may vary to a slight extent.

4. Leptogaster concinnata, sp. n.

3. Closely allied to LZ. crocea, but unquestionably distinct. The third joint of the antenne is reddish-yellow

(not black); the bristles of the upper occipital orbits are yellower ; the mesonotum is blackish, showing

less distinct stripes; and the hind femora are more slender proximally (in L. crocea the thickening begins

more gradually near the middle, while in the present species the thickening is restricted to the distal

end, the femora appearing more strikingly club-shaped). Length 16 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Omilteme and Sierra de las Aguas Escondidas in Guerrero 8000 to

9500 feet (H. H. Smith).

Three specimens. The peduncle of the second submarginal cell is not one-third of

the length of the cell, while in Z. crocea it is about one-half. This character will

distinguish the species from LZ. favillaceus, Loew. From L. brevicornis, Loew, to

which it is more closely allied, the present insect will be distinguished by the length

of the style of the antenne (this being shorter than the third joint), and by the second

posterior cell not reaching more than one-third of the distance to the cross-vein in the

discal cell.

5. Leptogaster intima, sp. n.

3 2. Distance from the upper ocelli to the root of the antennse about equal to that from the latter to the

oral margin. Antenne dark brown, the second joint yellow; third joint scarcely longer than the first

two together ; style slender, about as long as the antenna. Front and face thickly light grey-pollinose.

Proboscis reddish-yellow. Occiput thickly light yellow-pollinose; no bristles on the upper part. Thorax

light yellow; the sides of the mesonotum and its posterior part and the pleure white-pollinose ; mesonotum

shining reddish-yellow, with a median stripe and a contiguous spot on each side shining black, the

median stripe continued more narrowly beneath the white dust posteriorly ; pleure with black spots

beneath the pollen inferiorly. Abdomen opaque, nearly black; sides of all the segments and the

immediate base of the anterior ones reddish-yellow ; hypopygium small. Legs yellow; tips of all the

femora and of the tibiw, and the tarsal joints, dark brown; hind femora with a brownish ring beyond

the middle, very slender on the proximal two-thirds, moderately thickened distally ; the empodia reaching

fully to the middle of the claws. Wings hyaline, greyish at the apex; the first vein is broadly separated

DIPTERA. 301

from the costa to its tip; furcation of the third vein beyond the distal end of the discal cell; fourth

posterior cell petiolate. Length 15 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Xucumanatlan in Guerrero 7000 feet (H. H. Smith).

Fifteen specimens. ‘The abdomen is sometimes almost wholly brown, at other

times yellowish. The ring of the hind femora is not always distinct: in some examples

the femora would be best described as brownish-yellow in colour, with a broad

preapical yellow ring. The species is related to L. badia, Loew, differing from it in

having the fourth posterior cell short-petiolate, the rings of the femora indistinct, &e.

6. Leptogaster dorsalis, sp. n.

Q@. Very much like 2. macropygialis, but with the third antennal joint more oval, the style thicker and only

about as long as the third joint, the mesonotal margins more broadly grey, leaving three, subconfluent,

brown stripes; the abdomen appears to have broader grey hind-margins; the thickening of the hind

femora is more pronounced, the dark markings less distinct; and the tarsi have distinct, but short,

empodia. The anterior cross-vein is a little more distal in position. Length 8-9 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Xucumanatlan and Omilteme in Guerrero, 7000 to 8000 feet

(Hl. H. Smith).

Four specimens. ‘he middle tibie have a slender blackish line on the front side.

The species is yet more closely allied to ZL. varipes, Loew, from which it differs in

having the second joint of the antenne yellow, the fourth posterior cell quite

sessile, &c.

7. Leptogaster macropygialis, sp. n. (Tab. V. fig. 14, ¢ .)

¢ 2. Distance from the upper ocelli to the root of the antenne about one-half that from the antenne to the

oral margin. Antenne yellow, the third joint, except its immediate base, brown ; the latter rather long,

narrow, and tapering; style shorter than the third joint. Front brownish-yellow-pollinose; the very

narrow face whitish-yellow-pollinose. Proboscis black. Occiput without bristles. Thorax light yellow,

the pleuree and the immediate margins of the mesonotum silvery-pollinose ; mesonotum elsewhere opaque

dark brown. Abdomen opaque, nearly black, slender ; first segment yellow, the posterior margin of the

others whitish-pollinose ; hypopygium of the male very large and complicated, the lateral inferior forceps

with long bristles, and there is a large, globular, shining black swelling below. Legs light yellow ; the

tips of all the femora and tibiz, a broad ring on the middle of the four posterior femora and tibie, and a

less distinct one on the anterior femora and tibixw, brown; tarsal joints brownish at the tip; hind femora

much thickened on the distal half; empodia wanting. Wings hyaline; furcation of the third vein

opposite the distal end of the discal cell ; veins at the basal end of the second and third posterior cells of

nearly equal length ; anterior cross-vein situated nearly opposite the proximal end of the fourth posterior

cell, which borders narrowly on the second basal cell. Length 11 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

Four specimens. ‘his species will be at once distinguished from L. varipes, Loew

(t=pictipes, Loew), to which it is closely allied, by the absence of the empodia.

8. Leptogaster micropygialis, sp. n.

3 9. Front short, the distance from the upper ocelli to the root of the antennie distinctly less than half that

from the latter to the oral margin. Front brownish-yellow; face silvery-white. Proboscis black.

302 SUPPLEMENT.

Occiput thickly whitish-pollinose; no bristles on the upper part. Antenna reddish-yellow ; style

bristle-like, distinctly longer than the third joint. Lateral margins and the posterior part of the

mesonotum and the pleure wholly white-pollinose ; mesonotum otherwise dark opaque brown, as though

marked with three confluent stripes. Abdomen very slender, deep brown or black, not shining, the

lateral and posterior margins of the segments more or less reddish ; hypopygium small. Legs yellow or

reddish-yellow ; the extreme tip of all the femora, the apex of the hind tibie, two spots on the hind

femora, and an incomplete ring on the proximal part of the hind tibiz, brown; tip of hind tarsal joints

brown or brownish; empodia wanting; hind femora moderately thickened on the distal part. Wings

hyaline; fourth posterior cell narrowly contiguous at the base with the second basal cell: furcation of

the third vein about opposite the distal end of the discal cell; anterior cross-vein a little beyond the

proximal end of the fourth posterior cell. Length 9-12 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Dos Arroyos, Tierra Colorada, Acaguizotla, and La Venta in Guerrero

(H. H. Smith).

Eighteen specimens. ‘This species bears a considerable resemblance to the preceding,

but the great difference in the size of the hypopygium, among other particulars, will

easily distinguish them. |

DICRANUS.

Dicranus, Loew, Bemerk. tiber Fam. Asil. p. 18 (1851).

Macronyz, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1857, p. 549.

1. Dicranus jaliscoensis, sp.n. (Tab. V. fig. 15, 3.)

yellow ; the third joint red, with some black hairs on its upperside. Beard shorter and less abundant

than in D. rutilus, Wiedem., yellowish-white or white. Mesonotum yellowish-brown, the humeri and

the lateral margins ochraceous-yellow; on the inner side of each humerus, broadly in front, but narrowly

behind, and reaching to about the middle of the mesonotum, there is a dark brown stripe, between which

there is a smoother geminate stripe; bristles black. Scutellum yellow. Pleure thickly yellowish-grey-

pollinose. Abdomen brownish-red, opaque, the posterior segments blackish, the anterior ones red (in

some specimens it is dark brown throughout, in others dark red); lateral margins of all the segments

thickly grey-pollinose. Legs yellow, sometimes wholly so, but usually with the hind femora or all the

femora along the upperside, and the hind tibie or all the tibie along the outer side, black; distal hind

tarsal joints more or less blackish at their tips. Wings hyaline; all the cells opening on the distal part

of the wing, and the interior of the discal and the fourth posterior cells, with grey clouds. Length

27 millim.

Hab. Mexico, San Blas, Santiago Iscuintla and Guadalajara in Jalisco (Schumann).

Five specimens. The three species of this genus hitherto known are all from the

Argentine Republic or Brazil. I have compared the Mexican examples with others of

D. rutilus from Brazil, and find that they agree closely in their structural characters.

From both this and D. longiungulatus the present insect differs in the colour and

vestiture of the third antennal joint, and in the absence of yellow-haired cross-bands

on the abdomen. From JD. tuema, Lynch, with which D. jaliscoensis agrees best, it

will be at once distinguished by the opaque colour of the abdomen: the face, too, is

not golden-yellow.

DIPTERA. 303

OSPRIOCERUS (p. 168).

Ospriocerus ——? (p. 168).

To the locality given, add :—Mexico, Jaral in Guanajuato (Schumann).

A single specimen, agreeing with others from Northern Sonora mentioned by Osten

Sacken, except that they have the venter wholly black.

8. Ospriccerus diversus, sp.n. (Tab. V. fig. 16, 2.)

@. Antenne black, third joint more than twice the length of the first two together, excised on the distal two-

fifths, and with a minute thickened style at the tip. Front brownish-yellow ; face white-pubescent ;

cheeks, immediately below the eyes, shining black; bristles of the face black. Mesonotum opaque,

brownish-grey, with three dark brown stripes, the middle one divided by a lighter-coloured line, the

lateral ones composed of two elongated spots; bristles white. Abdomen a little longer than the wings,

black; the distal segments shining, the anterior ones thinly yellowish-pollinose ; a part of the second

segment, the third, fourth, and fifth segments, and a spot on the sixth, red. Legs yellowish-red; the

upperside of the four anterior femora, the hind femora for the greater part, and the inner distal side of

the hind tibie, black; bristles black and light yellow, the hair white. Wings strongly tinged with

yellowish or brownish, lighter-coloured on the basal posterior part ; fourth posterior cell closed in the

margin or narrowly open. Length 18-19 millim

Hab. Mxxico, Venta de Zopilote in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

‘Two specimens. This insect has the lower portion of the face slightly convex, not

straight or gently concave as in the preceding species. It differs from the typical

Osprioceri in the more slender abdomen (which wants the characteristic brick-red

coloration) and the minute style. I cannot believe that the absence or presence of a

small style is sufficient to separate Stenopogon from Ospriocerus: a better distinctive

character is the excision of the distal part of the third antennal joint on the under-

side. Another example from Chilpancingo, apparently belonging to a different species,

has the abdomen black throughout, the legs black, except the upper part of the four

‘anterior femora and the basal portion of the front tibie, the wings hyaline, except for

the very narrow brown clouds along the veins, and the markings of the mesonotum

somewhat different.

SCLEROPOGON.

Scleropogon, Loew, Centur. vil. no. 45 (1866).

1. Scleropogon truquil.

Dasypogon truquii, Bellardi, Saggio etc. i. p. 76, t. 1. fig. 10°.

Hab. Mextco!, Tepetlapa and Venta de Zopilote in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Ten specimens, varying in length from 16-26 millim. I do not feel quite sure of

the determination, inasmuch as the Guerrero examples want the fuscous spot in the

middle of the wings in front, and they have the abdomen for the most part opaque

ochraceous, with the distal segments more or less reddish. None of them have an

additional posterior cell, the presence of which, however, is hardly a specific character.

304 SUPPLEMENT.

The third joint of the antenne is one-fourth longer than the first two joints together ;

the style is about equal in length to the second joint. S. truguit was noticed by Osten

Sacken under the genus Stenopogon (anted, p. 169).

2. Scleropogon lugubris, sp. n.

Q. Antenne black, the two basal joints in part reddish ; third joint a little longer than the first two together ;

style nearly half as long as the third joint. Front dark ochraceous, with black bristles; the stout bristles

back of the vertex also black. Face yellowish-pollinose above, white below; bristles wholly white; hair

or bristles of the occiput, except those above, white. Mesonotum with two narrow opaque black stripes

in the middle, narrowly separated by a brown line, and dilated sagittally at the front end; on either side

the greyish colouring two large brown spots are visible, forming a sort of stripe, broad behind ; bristles

for the most part black, those on the sides and behind, and on the margin of the scutellum, white.

Pleure greyish-yellow-pollinose. Abdomen black, subopaque, the distal segments somewhat shining ;

covered, more thickly on the anterior part, with greyish dust; on the sides of the segments, scarcely

visible from above, there is a large, dark brown, opaque spot. Legs black, with white hair and black and

white bristles ; the upperside of the front femora and the inner side of the front tibie and tarsi red: this

red colour is probably more or less variable in extent. Wings cinereous-hyaline, the broad distal margin

in front and behind tinged with blackish; first and fourth posterior cells closed. Length 18 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Dos Arroyos in Guerrero (H. H. Snuith).

One female. A second, male, specimen (from Tepetlapa) seems to agree in all

respects, except in size (length 11 millim.) and in the more distinctly marked lateral

stripes of the mesonotum. .

DIZONIAS (p. 169).

2. Dizonias phonicurus.

Dizonius phenicurus, Loew, Ceutur. vii. no. 53°.

?, O. Sacken, antea, p. 170 (¢)’.

Hab. Mexico 2, Guadalajara and San Blas in Jalisco (Schumann), Tamaulipas}.

Dizonias

Four males. In one specimen the first two segments of the abdomen are black, the

remainder red; in two others the third segment has a large black triangle, one of

these having the second segment also in part red. It is evident therefore that the

coloration is in a measure variable. In two of the examples the second and third

segments have rather feebly marked spots of whitish dust on the sides; in the others

no spots are visible.

8. Dizonias lucasi.

Dasypogon lucasi, Bellardi, Saggio etc. ii. p. 81, t. 1. fig. 7’.

Hab. Mexico!, Jalisco, San Blas, and Guadalajara in Jalisco (Schumann).

Five males. This species, noticed by Osten Sacken under sp. no. 2 (anted, p. 170),

is nearly related to D. phenicurus, but is easily distinguished by the white hair and

bristles of the head and thorax. The colour and markings of the abdomen seem to

vary in the same way.

DIPTERA. 305

Dizonias, spp.?

Seven females, collected by Schumann in Jalisco at the same localities and at the

same times with the males of D. pheenicurus and D. lucasi, 1 refer to three distinct

species, two of which, without doubt, are the foregoing, and the third, possibly,

D. tristis, Walk. The very dissimilar coloration of the two sexes of the species of

this genus, and the uniformity of the structural characters, render it almost, if not

quite, impossible to collocate them. Observations in the field will be necessary for this

purpose. As the females of Dizonias appear to be unknown, descriptions of those now

before me are appended.

Species A.

Black; bristles of the face black, with white ones intermixed, those of the thorax black; bristles and hair of

the occiput white. Abdomen wholly black, shining ; first segment with a small spot on the sides behind,

and the second, third, fourth, and fifth segments each with a spot on the anterior angles (the two spots

nearly touching in the middle on the second segment, the following ones becoming more and more widely

separated): they are formed of greyish-yellow dust, and are connected broadly on the venter. Wings

brownish-yellow, the distal third or fourth brown.—Jalisco. Two specimens.

Species B.

Antenne wholly red. Face red, blackish above, clothed with orange-red hair. Mesonotum yellowish-red, like

the antenne, with a narrow median stripe and a small spot on either side behind, black ; bristles yellow ;

pleure shining black. Scutellum black. Abdomen red; the first segment, a spot on the second, and the

narrow posterior margin of the second, third, and fourth segments, black ; second, third, fourth, and fifth

segments each with a yellowish-pollinose spot on either side in front. Legs wholly reddish-yellow.

Wings uniformly dark brown.—San Blas. One specimen.

Whether the remaining examples pertain to one or more distinct species I cannot

say with any degree of assurance. They differ from the last as follows :—

a, Third joint of the antenne black, except the proximal end. Black borders of the abdominal segments

broader. Four anterior femora black at the base.—Jalisco. One specimen.

6. Antenne black. Black stripes and spots of the mesonotum larger, Abdomen slender, with four golden,

subinterrupted cross-bands, All the femora black along the upperside. Wings yellow, with the tip

broadly brown.—Guadalajara. One specimen.

c. Like 6, but with the mesonotal markings similar to those of B. Hind femora wholly black, and the others

black along the upperside. Wings uniformly brown. (Third antennal joint wanting.) — Santiago

Iscuintla. One specimen.

d. Third antennal joint black. Mesonotal markings almost obsolete. Abdomen very stout and robust,

yellowish-red, with the first segment and the narrow hind margin of the second and third segments

black. Legs wholly yellowish-red, the four anterior femora with a little of the blackish colour above.

Wings uniformly brownish-yellow.—Jalisco. One specimen.

These variations seem extraordinary if the insects all belong to one species. I have

another female of a Dizonias from Brazil that belongs to the same group, though

evidently distinct from any of the foregoing; it has the hair of the face black, the

pollinose markings of the thorax are different, and the whole distal part of the abdemen

is black.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., September 1901. Ir

06 SUPPLEMENT.

HOLOPOGON.

Holopogon, Loew, Linn. Ent. ii. p. 473 (1847).

1. Holopogon pulcher, sp. n. (Tab. V. fig. 18, 3.)

dg. Front opaque yellow; on the sides with long black hairs ; bristles of the ocellar tubercle long and hair-like.

Face opaque, nearly white, the black ground-colour showing through slightly in some reflections; hair

light yellow; some black bristles above. Antenne black, slender, the second joint swollen distally ;

third joint a little longer than the first two together ; style slender, more than one-half the length of the

third joint. Mesonotum yellowish-pollinose on the sides, but almost wholly opaque black, the dark coloration

apparently formed by three confiuent stripes ; hair long and black, the black bristles hair-like; scutellum

subshining, black, with long, black, hair-like bristles on its margin. Pleurs grey-pollinose. Abdomen

rather narrow and elongate, gently tapering from the base; opaque greenish-yellow ; each segment with

a large, opaque, triangular black spot, the apex of which reaches nearly to the hind margin ; hair short,

erect, everywhere black; hypopygium shining black, with black hair. Femora shining black; four

anterior tibia and the first four joints of their tarsi red; hind tibie distally, and the hind tarsi largely,

black, the basal portion of all red; bristles long and slender, black. Wings clouded with brownish,

darker on the distal part in front. Axillary cell narrow; alule rudimentary. Length 8 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Venta de Zopilote in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Three specimens.

2. Holopogon violaceus, sp. n. (Tab. V. fig. 17, 2.)

@. Head, wings, and legs as in H. pulcher, the pubescence of the face a little less abundant and yellower, the

hind tibiae and tarsi redder. Mesonotum greyish on the sides, yellowish-pollinose toward the middle,

with a geminate brown median stripe, and two subconfluent spots on each side, the latter forming a stripe.

Pleure grey, with a shining vertical spot in the middle. Abdomen somewhat oval (not so narrow as in

H. pulcher), shining black, with brilliant violaceous reflections; all the segments with a triangular,

yellowish-grey-pollinose spot on each hind angle; the hair short, erect, and black, save on the sides of

the anterior segments, where it is longer and white. Length 8 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Venta de Zopilote in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

One specimen.

3. Holopogon dejectus, sp. n.

9. Front and face broader than in H. violaceus, covered with greyish-yellow dust, somewhat variable on the

face, the lower part of the front blackish ; hairs of the ocellar tubercle small and whitish; black hairs of

the sides of the face and front short. First two joints of the antenne of nearly equal length, subtriangular

in shape; third joint one-third or one-half longer than the first two together, narrowly fusiform in shape ;

style not divaricate, about half as long as the joint. Mesonotum greyish-pollinose on the sides (discoloured

in the middle in the single specimen received) ; bristles distinct, black ; scutellum with two bristles on its

margin. Pleure thinly and uniformly greyish-pollinose. Abdomen elongate-oval, shining black, glabrous ;

the first five segments each with a small, triangular, yellowish-grey-pollinose spot on the hind angles.

Legs rather slender, black, the immediate base of the tibiz only yellowish; bristles black. Wings

uniformly clouded with brownish. Length 7-8 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Venta de Zopilote in Guerrero (HI. H. Smith).

One specimen.

| HETEROPOGON.

Heteropogon, Loew, Linn. Ent. iv. p. 488 (1849).

Anisopogon, Loew, Berl. ent. Zeitschr. 1874, p. 377.

DIPTERA. 307

1. Heteropogon rejectus, sp. n.

mixed with black. Style of antennz about one-half the length of the third joint. Mesonotum with

a median, deep brown stripe, separated from the subvittate spots of the same colour on each side by a

narrow whitish stripe, all opaque. Scutellum opaque brown; near the margin shining blue-black.

Abdomen bare; the posterior angles and lateral margins of the segments, more broadly so posteriorly,

reddish-yellow (the yellow may extend across the hind margin of the posterior segments narrowly),

Femora black, their tip and the tibie wholly red; the tarsi a little darker red. Wings nearly hyaline,

with small brown clouds on the cross-veins and the furcation of the third vein. Length 10 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Venta de Zopilote in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

A single female. This species is allied to H. lautus, Loew, but will be at once

distinguished by the absence of pollinose cross-bands on the abdomen and the yellow

margins of the segments. The immediate base of the wings is brownish.

TOWNSENDIA.

Townsendia, Williston, Kans. Univ. Quart. iv. p. 107 (1895).

Head broad, much wider than high. Front very broad above, about three-fourths the width of the head,.

narrow below, the sides gently convex, only moderately excavated ; nearly bare, with some bristles at the

vertex and on the ocellar tubercle. Face narrow, with parallel sides, flat; much receding, not at all

visible in profile, with a thin row of bristles on the oral margin, otherwise wholly bare. Antenne not so

long as the head, inserted near the middle of the head as seen in profile; first joint shorter than the

second, the second about as broad as long; third joint longer than the first two together, gently tapering

from near its base; style slender, divaricate, about half the length of the joint. Proboscis short. Thorax

moderately convex above, with bristles on the posterior part. Scutellum with a row of thin bristles on

its margin. Abdomen elongate, its sides nearly parallel, moderately flattened, bare. Legs moderately

stout; the first two joints of all the tarsi a little incrassate; no spur on the front tibie. Wings long,.

narrow toward the base; axillary cell narrow, without anal angle; alule wholly wanting ; discal cell long

and narrow ; penultimate section of the fourth vein a little shorter than the ultimate; the third vein

from the discal cell, that separating the third and fourth posterior cells, absent, and therefore but four

posterior cells present ; marginal cell open.

This genus is remarkable on account of the small size of the typical species, the

broadness of the front, the narrowness of the wings at the base, the absence of the

alule, and the presence of but four posterior cells. In one of the two specimens from.

which this description is drawn there is a very slight angulation of the vein at the

posterior part of the discal cell where the missing vein should have its origin, but even

this is wholly wanting in the other example ; I cannot believe that this character should

be regarded as very important, as it is not at all improbable that species may be

discovered in which the neuration is normal. The very broad front, the receding face,

and the narrowness of the base of the wings are, I believe, the most essential characters

of the genus, which is named in honour of Professor C. H. T. Townsend, well known

for his dipterological writings.

1. Townsendia minuta. (Tab. V. fig. 19, 3.)

Townsendia minuta, Willist. Kansas Univ. Quart. iv. p. 107°.

3. Black; front and face thickly white-pollinose; mystax white. Antenne black. Mesonotum opaque

Dm 9

308 SUPPLEMENT.

yellowish-white, with a broad median stripe and a spot on each side brown. Pleurw thinly whitish-

pollinose. Abdomen shining black, the first segment whitish-pollinose, the pile along the sides of the

anterior segments whitish. Legs yellowish-red, the front and middle femora above, the hind femora,

except the base and tip, and the tarsi for the most part, black. Wings greyish-hyaline. Length

32 millim.

Hab. Unirep States, New Mexico (coll. Univ. of Kansas)—Mexico!, Teapa in

Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

Two specimens. This species is the smallest member of the family known to me.

PSILOCURUS.

Psilocurus, Loew, Berl. ent. Zeitschr. xviii. p. 871 (1874).

Orthoneuromyia, Williston, Kans. Univ. Quart. ii. p. 67 (18938).

1. Psilocurus caudatus, sp.n. (Tab. V. fig. 20, ¢.)

3 2. Black. Front brownish-yellow-pollinose, with a shining spot in the middle, Face moderately gibbose

on the lower half, the convex portion covered with yellow hair; clothed throughout with yellow dust and

pubescence. Occiput with a transverse row of black bristles above. Antenne black, the third joint

shorter than the first two together; ovate, with a minute style. Ground-colour of the mesonotum in

some reflections wholly concealed beneath the appressed yellow pubescence or short pile. Pleure grey-

pollinose ; with a median, vertical, oval black spot. Scutellum clothed with yellow pubescence, its border

with two stout, erect, black bristles. Abdomen, when seen from the side, concealed beneath pubescence

like that of the mesonotum, appearing, however, variable, the pubescence in a direct view only slightly

modifying the shining, somewhat metallic, black colour; posterior angles of all the segments with a

triangular spot of opaque, greyish-yellow dust; near the middle of the lateral border of each segment are

two erect yellowish bristles; sixth segment in both sexes with its posterior border fringed with long

black bristles, which are longer and more abundant in the male. Legs throughout with appressed

yellow pubescence, varying in appearance in different reflections; all the metatarsi emarginate below.

Wings greyish-hyaline, the veins closing the outer end of the discal and fourth posterior cells sometimes

continuous, but usually separated by a short segment of a vein, and sometimes not quite parallel. Length

9 millim.

Hab. Muxico, Chilpancingo, Amula, and Tepetlapa in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Six males and eight females. This species, while apparently very closely allied

structurally to P. nudiusculus, Loew, the type of the genus, differs very materially in

the coloration, especially in the female. P. modestus, Willist., from , has the

antenne longer and two additional bristles on the scutellum. 542

HOLCOCEPHALA (p. 171).

2. Holcocephala nitida.

Dasypogon nitidus, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. ii. p. 6431; Walk. List &c. vi. p. 503”.

Discocephala nitida, Walk. List &c. vi. p. 496°; Bellardi, Saggio ete. ii. p. 82+.

Discocephala minuta, Bellardi, loc. cit. p. 83°.

Hab. Mexico123, Fortin near Vera Cruz, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith),

Tuxpango near Orizaba 4, Jalapa 5,

Twenty-five specimens. N otwithstanding Bellardi’s observations, I believe that the

DIPTERA. 309

above synonymy is correct. The species is more especially characterized by the

V-shaped stripes on the face, seen better in an oblique light. It is very variable

in size.

H. nitida was placed by Osten Sacken amongst the unidentified Mexican members

of the genus (anted, p. 171).

DAMATLIS.

Damalis, Fabricius, Syst. Antl. p. 147 (1805).

Chalcidimorpha, Westwood, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. iv. p. 684 (1835).

The genus Damalis includes about twenty-five described species, from Africa, Kast

Indies, China, Philippine Islands, &c. Judging from the characters mentioned by

Wiedemann and Loew, the insect now added seems also to belong to it. I give,

however, the structural peculiarities of the Mexican species somewhat in detail.

1. Damalis occidentalis, sp. n. (Tab. V. fig. 21, ¢.)

3 2. Head broad, flat, nearly twice as wide ashigh. Front narrow, not more than one-seventh of the width

of the head, its sides straight and very slightly convergent above. Eyes twice as remote beneath as at

the vertex, the facets on the upper part larger. Face longitudinally convex, not at all visible in profile ;

on either side with a deep groove, as in the species of Leptide, leaving the middle part strongly convex

transversely. Antennse short ; first two joints of nearly equal length, about as long as broad; third

joint flattened, nearly circular in outline, with a terminal slender arista. Thorax strongly convex above

longitudinally, the mesonotum in profile nearly semicircular. Abdomen not more than twice the length

of the thorax, depressed, oval; male organs porrect, wholly exserted, composed of a short, thickened,

middle piece and a stout forcep on each side below, enclosing other, less visible parts ; ovipositor short,

spherical. Legs stout ; hind femora a little thickened distally, with some spinous bristles below distally

in the male; hind tibie straight; hind metatarsi incrassate. Body wholly without bristles, save as

noted, and small short ones on the tarsal joints. Anal cell of the wings closed ; fourth posterior cell

closed or narrowly open ; first posterior cell open ; two submarginal cells.

Front yellowish-brown, opaque. Antenne brown. Face yellowish-white, with sparse white hairs and a thin

white mystax. Occiput nearly white, with abundant white hair. Mesonotum wholly opaque, reddish-

yellow, with three broad black stripes ; the lateral margins whitish, the ground-colour of the humeri and

post-alar callosities red. Scutellum opaque white, with long white hair. Pile of the mesonotum erect,

abundant, moderately long, black; that of the pleure longer and whitish. Abdomen opaque brown, the

posterior margin of the first segment more broadly so laterally ; aspot on the sides of the second segment,

an arcuate band on the front part of the third segment (leaving a slender semioval spot of the ground-

colour), and the fourth and fifth segments, except the hind margin, silvery-grey, opaque. Legs piceous-

red, the hind pair lighter ; pile dark brown or black, except on the underside of the hind femora, where

it is white. Wings brown, darker in front proximally. Halteres large, light yellow. Length 7-8, of

the wings 8-9 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Tepetlapa in Guerrero (H. H. Smith), Santiago Iscuintla in Jalisco

(Schumann).

One male and two females. The fourth posterior cell in the male is closed in the

margin ; in one female it is only narrowly, and in the other widely, open. This

character is evidently variable and cannot be used specifically. Walker has doubtfully

referred a species from Brazil to this genus, D. (?) divisa (List &c. vii. p. 762).

310 SUPPLEMENT.

TRICLIS.

Triclis, Loew, Bemerk. iiber der Fam. Asil. p. 17 (1851).

1. Triclis argentifacies, sp.n. (Tab. V. fig. 22, ¢.)

do. Black. Antenne black, the third joint dark red; first joint with black bristles below, about twice the

length of the second; the third rather longer than the first two together, the style minute. Front

yellowish-grey-pollinose, with black hair on the sides. Face most prominent at the oral margin, covered

with close-lying silvery-white hair, which is long and thatch-like on the lower portion, concealing in

part the black bristles of the oral margin. Occiput grey, with white hair below. Mesonotum opaque

brown, with close-lying short hair, which is brown in the middle and whitish on the sides; a broad

median stripe and two large spots on each side, not distinctly differentiated, darker brown. Pleure

thickly white-pollinose; in the middle with a shining, vertical black spot. Scutellum with short

yellowish-white hair above; no bristles on the margin. Abdomen brownish-black, very finely roughened,

due to abundant microscopic hairs; hair on the sides longer, white; all the segments with a narrow

white hind margin, which becomes broader towards the sides. Legs black; underside of all the femora

and the base of the tibize red, clothed with close-lying, short, white hair ; on the inner side of the front

and hind tibiee and tarsi velvety-yellow. Wings nearly hyaline; first and fourth posterior cells closed at

some distance from the margin of the wing. Length 8-9 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Chilpancingo in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Six specimens.

BLEPHAREPIUM.

Blepharepium, Rondani, Studi Ent. i. p. 89 (1848).

Planetolestes, Lynch, antea, p. 171.

1. Blepharepium coarctatum.

Laphria coarctata, Perty, Del. Anim. art. Brasil, p. 181, t. 36. fig. 4°.

Blepharepium coarctatum, Lynch, An. Soc. Cient. Arg. vill. p. 1457; v. d. Wulp, Tijdschr. voor

Ent. xxv. p. 88°.

Planetolestes secabilis (Walk.), O. Sack. antea, p. 171%.

To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Tepetlapa in Guerrero, Medellin in Vera

Cruz, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith), Atoyac in Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith, Schumann),

Santiago Iscuintla in Jalisco (Schumann).—Braziu!; ARGENTINA 23,

Osten Sacken adopts the generic name Planetolestes, instead of Blepharepium, for

this species ; but there can be no reasonable doubt that it is the one to which Rondani

gave the name Blepharepium. If every genus has to be correctly and fully diagnosed

before it can be accepted, I am afraid there would be no end of confusion.

DEROMYTIA..

Deromyia, Philippi, Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, xv. p. 705 (1865).

Diogmites, Loew, antea, p. 173.

There are numerous representatives of this genus in the collection under examination,

DIPTERA. 311

but their identification presents unusual difficulties. I have recognized two or three

of them only.

The rights of priority of the name Deromyia over Diogmites I have discussed

elsewhere. Notwithstanding Osten Sacken’s objections, I still insist that it must

take precedence. Deromyia was described earlier than Diogmites, of that I think

there is no question; its type clearly pertains to the same genus, and the original

description by Philippi was better than that of Diogmites by Loew. Deromyia

gracilis, Rond., has a closed fourth posterior cell, and it cannot possibly be separated

from the species of Diogmites: this must be considered the type of the genus. Osten

Sacken says: ‘Should even the generic identity be proved, Deromyia may remain

as a subgenus” of Diogmites, which was described later, less completely, and

without figure !

1. Deromyia sallei.

Diogmites sallei (Bellardi), O. Sack. autea, p. 174, t. 3. fig. 8°.

To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Tierra Colorada, Chilpancingo, Rio Papagaio,

Venta de Zopilote, Dos Arroyos and Tepetlapa in Guerrero, Atoyac in Vera Cruz,

Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith), Santiago Iscuintla, San Blas, and Guadalajara in

Jalisco, Navarrete, Tepic (Schumann), N. Yucatan (Gaumer).

Thirty-five specimens, differing considerably in size.

7. Deromyia jalapensis.

? Diogmites jalapensis (Bellardi), O. Sack. antea, p. 177.

To the locality given, add:—Mexico, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith), San

Lorenzo, Cuesta de Misantla (I. Trujillo), N. Yucatan (Gaumer).

Seven specimens, one of which is from Jalapa, whence the type was obtained.

7 (s). Deromyia ——?

? Diogmites jalapensis (Bellardi), O. Sack. antea, p. 177.

Hab. Mexico, Amula and Omilteme in Guerrero 6000 to 8000 feet (A. H. Smith).

Thirty-five specimens. They may belong to D. jalapensis, as identified by Osten

Sacken, but they are all larger, the palpi and the anterior end of the median velvety

stripe of the mesonotum are black, and the hind femora are without black. Otherwise

they agree well with D. rubescens, the size being the same.

9. Deromyia 2

S$ Q.A well-marked species, which I am not able to certainly identify with any previously described. The

abdomen is deep brown, with broad conspicuous posterior bands. The markings of the mesonotum are

312 SUPPLEMENT.

brown, not black ; the median stripe is narrow, the spots small. The markings are better indicated than

in D, sallei, but not nearly so well as in the preceding. The palpi are black. Length 20-22 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Chilpancingo in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Five specimens.

SAROPOGON (p. 179).

2. Saropogon pulcherrima, sp. n. (Tab. VI. fig. 3, 3.)

3 2. Front black, with purple and blue reflections and black hair. Antenne black ; third joint longer than

the first two together, not dilated. Face flat on the upper part, concave, a little prominent below, the

oral margin projecting; thickly clothed with light yellow tomentum and, on the margin, with a thin

row of light yellow hair. Occiput deep black, with short black hair; orbits narrowly silvery.

Mesonotum wholly, and uniformly, deep velvety-black. Scutellum like the mesonotum, with a shining

purple margin. Pleure shining below, opaque above. MHalteres black. Abdomen brilliant steel-blue

throughout, without markings, the sides nearly parallel. Legs light reddish-yellow ; the immediate base

of the femora, the tip of the tibie, and the tarsi, deep black; hind femora stout, but notincrassate. 'The

body throughout is nearly bare, with the exception of sparse black pile about the head and anterior coxe.

Wings brown, darker along the costa. Length 10 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Venta de Zopilote in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Four specimens. The third joint of the antenne is sometimes in large part red.

TARACTICUS.

Taracticus, Loew, Centur. ii. no. 240 (1872).

1. Taracticus similis, sp. n.

3 2. Antenne about as long as the width of the head, black ; first joint a little longer than the second; the

third nearly three times the length of the first two joints together, near its distal end with an emargi-

nation on the upperside, at the proximal end of which there is a short spine ; beyond this spine the joint

is narrower. The prominent ocellar tubercle shining black; the front, elsewhere, and the face covered

with dense light yellow dust, wholly concealing the black ground-colour; mystax light yellow, not very

abundant. Mesonotum with two median stripes, separated by a slender line, and, on each side, with two

large rounded spots, partly confluent at the suture, and narrowly separated from the median stripes: in

most of the specimens the markings are opaque black, but in one they are deep brown; the other parts

thickly covered with light yellow dust. Pleure densely pollinose; on the upper part yellowish, below

white. Scutellum flat, lightly wrinkled, but little shining, the margin yellow-pollinose. Abdomen

shining, somewhat metallic, black, punctulate, its colour slightly modified, except on the smooth posterior

margin of each segment, by shorter, sparse, yellow hairs; all the segments on the hind angles with a

light yellowish opaque spot, reaching narrowly to the front margin at the sides and for a short distance

inward along the hind margin. Legs yellowish-red; front femora along the upper margin, the middle

and posterior femora usually for a less extent along the upper border, and the distal joints of the tarsi

for a variable extent, black ; sometimes the front tibice along the upper margin and the middle tibie in

part are also black; structure of the hind legs as in 7. octopunctatus, Say. Wings tinged with yellowish ;

venation as in 7. octopunctatus. Length 10-12 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Omilteme and Sierra de las Aguas Escondidas in Guerrero 8000-

9000 feet (H. H. Smith).

Fifteen specimens. The extent of the black of the legs is variable. The species is

closely allied to 7. octopunctatus, Say, but differs in the structure of the antenne and

in the markings of the mesonotum.

DIPTERA. 313

9 Taracticus nigrimystaceus, sp.n. (Tab. V. fig. 23, ¢ .)

3 @. Black. Antenne black; third joint nearly three times the length of the first two together, with a

small bristle on the upper margin near the distal third. Face and front covered with yellowish-white

tomentum or dust ; face distinctly convex on the lower part, projecting in profile, and clothed with long

black hairs to near the middle, somewhat intermixed with white ones on the sides. Occiput white-

dusted on the sides and clothed with white hair. Mesonotum covered with light brownish-yellow dust,

leaving two median, narrowly separated, stripes and two rounded, subcontiguous spots on each side dark

brown ; there are two bristles near the outer end of the suture and one on each post-alar callus; other-

wise, the mesonotum is clothed with very sparse, long, slender hairs. Abdomen elongate, with the sides

nearly parallel, the median segments not twice as long as broad; shining, metallic black, punctulate,

covered with short, sparse, black hairs, except on the smooth, narrow, hind margin of the segments ; all

the segments with a small, transverse, yellowish-white, opaque spot on each lateral hind margin. Legs

black, the knees very narrowly reddish; bristles and the short pile of the inner side of the tibise and tarsi

yellow ; underside of the hind femora with the usual long bristles. Wings tinged with yellowish,

slightly infuscated distally. Length 10-13 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Xucumanatlan in Guerrero 7000 feet (H. H. Smith).

Two specimens.

3. Taracticus nigripes, sp. (var. ?) n.

go @. Very much like 7’. similis, but with the legs wholly black, except very narrowly at the knees. Length

8-11 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Xucumanatlan, Omilteme, and Chilpancingo in Guerrero (H. #.

Smith).

Numerous specimens. The abdomen is much more elongated and narrow in the

male than in the female. The colour of the face is yellowish in some examples, in

others white, and that of the mesonotum appears to vary. Two specimens from

Chilpancingo have the wings quite dark anteriorly, but I cannot separate them

otherwise; another, from Amula, is very much smaller, measuring only 4 millimetres

in length.

4. Taracticus vitripennis.

Ceraturgus vitripennis, Bellardi, Saggio etc. 11. p. 60°.

Hab. Mexico, Chilpancingo in Guerrero (H. H. Smith), Cuautla!.

A single male specimen from Chilpancingo undoubtedly belongs to this species,

though Bellardi omitted important characters in his description, and wholly overlooked

the anterior tibial spur, which, though small, is apparent. The peculiar structure of

the antenne, as described by him, will render the species easily recognizable. It must

be closely allied to 7. nigripes, Macq.

In the earlier part of this work T. vitripennis (Bellardi) was placed by Osten Sacken

amongst the unidentified species of Ceraturqus (anted, p. 167).

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., September 1901. 25

314 SUPPLEMENT.

COPHURA (p. 181).

Blazx, Loew, Centur. x. no. 24 (1872) (nomen prezocc.).

Blacodes, Loew, Berl. ent. Zeitschr. 1874, p. 377 (nomen preocc.).

Loewiella, Williston, Manual North-Amer. Dipt. p. 57 (1896) (nomen przocc.).

In his remarks on Cophura, Osten Sacken says that “the description of the antenne

and of the venation proves Blacodes (Blax olim) to be a different genus”: the only

difference in the venation is the more coarctate fourth posterior cell, which certainly

is not a character of generic value. The antenne of Blacodes have a slender elongate

style—* stylo terminali lineari, acuto, articulis duobus primis simul sumtis breviore ”:

in the three species before me the style is short, but it may be slender, ending in a

bristly point. The characters of Cophura, pretty nearly as Osten Sacken defined them,

are brought out in my remarks on Nicocles scitulus, Willist., and Aphamartania fur,

Willist.: apparently Osten Sacken overlooked the descriptions and figures of these

species. lacodes cristatus, Coq., moreover, has the style “ slender, slightly over half

as long as the third joint.” Taking all these facts into consideration, the differences

between Cophura and Blacodes wholly disappear. Furthermore, the type of coloration

is markedly alike in Blacodes bellus and Cophura humilis, which has a short style. On

the other hand, there is a distinct type observable in the remaining forms—a blue-

black abdomen, with white-pollinose markings.

The following species belong to the genus Cophura as understood by me :—C. bella

Loew, Texas; C. scitula, Willist., Washington ; C. fur, Willist., Arizona; C. cri tata,

Coq., C. truncus, Cog., and C. clausa, Cog., California; and C. pulchella, Willist.,

C. humilis, Willist, and C. sodalis, O.S., Mexico. Taracticus brevicornis, Willist., also

agrees in all respects, save that the abdomen is lightly punctulate.

Cophura, sodalis (p. 181).

To the locality given, add :—Mexico, Guadalajara in Jalisco (Schumann).

Two females, apparently belonging to this species, though the legs and wings seem

to be darker coloured; the parts described as brown by Osten Sacken are black, and

the wings are deep brown, uniform in colour in one specimen, with paler spots in

the other.

2. Cophura pulchella, sp.n. (Tab. V. fig. 24, 2.)

3 2. Antenne black ; first joint scarcely longer than the second ; third joint not twice the length of the first

two together ; style divaricate, about as long as the second joint. Front and face thickly covered with

light yellowish-white dust or tomentum ; hairs of the mystax nearly white. Mesonotum densely light

yellowish-pollinose, in the middle with a broad opaque brown stripe, obsoletely divided and dilated

anteriorly ; on either side are two rounded spots of the same colour ; scutellum and pleuree wholly opaque

light yellowish-grey; metanotum shining black; the mesonotum furnished for the most part with

moderately short, sparse, light-coloured bristles, and there are some weak bristles on the margin of the

scutellum. Abdomen shining black, with a strong blue reflection ; all the segments opaque light grey

DIPTERA. 315

at the sides, this colour extending inwards on their posterior part and reaching nearly across the terminal

ones. Legs wholly deep black, with light-coloured hair and bristles ; hind tibice somewhat thickened.

Wings tinged with brown ; fourth posterior cell only a little, or not at all, contracted at the margin ; anal

cell open. Length 7-8 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Venta de Zopilote in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Seven specimens. This species is allied to C. (? Nicocles) scitula, Willist., and

C. (Aphamartania) fur, Willist., but will be at once distinguished by the brownish

wings.

3. Cophura humilis, sp. v.

o. Black. Face densely white-pollinose, when seen from the side; hair white. First two joints of the

antenne of nearly equal length; third longer than the first two together ; style slender, shorter than

the second joint. Sides of the occiput white-pollinose. Mesonotum opaque ; median stripes obscure ;

on the sides and behind with golden tomentum. Abdomen brownish-black, a little shining, the narrow

hind margins of the segments somewhat reddish. Legs black; knees and basal portion of all the tibie

yellow ; tarsi in large part yellowish ; hind tibie not clavate; hind metatarsi moderately thickened.

Wings deep brown on the basal two-fifths or more, nearly hyaline distally.

Q. Abdomen deep red or brownish-red ; wings less extensively hyaline at the tip. Length 8 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Tepetlapa in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Two specimens, the female being greasy. The description of Dasypogon humilis,

Bell., applies pretty well to this species, but there is no spur on the front tibie (?).

PSEUDORUS (p. 183).

Pseudorus bicolor (p. 183).

To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Acapulco and Amula in Guerrero (HT. H.

Smith), Santiago Iscuintla in Jalisco, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (Schumann), Omealca

(M. Trujillo).

Thirteen specimens. ‘The thorax is shining black, the wings uniformly deep brown.

In structure this species agrees well with P. piceus, Walk., examples of which I have

examined from Brazil; both have the marginal cell closed and but two submarginal

cells.

ATOMOSIA (p. 183).

Atomosia mucida (p. 184).

To the locality given, add:—Mexico, N. Yucatan (Gaumer).

A male specimen. This species is a true Atomosia, notwithstanding the unusual

length of the antenne. The front is narrow above; the first posterior cell is narrowed ;

and the hind tibie are brown at the tip.

316 SUPPLEMENT.

8. Atomosia macquarti.

Atomosia macquarti, Bellardi, Saggio etc. ii. p. 201.

Hab. Mexico1, Amula in Guerrero, Atoyac in Vera Cruz, Teapa in Tabasco

(H. H. Smith), N. Yucatan (Gaumer).

Numerous specimens, perhaps belonging to this species. None of them have the

first posterior cell quite closed. ‘The dust of the face is white, that of the mesonotum

only rarely yellowish. The male hind tarsi are rather densely clothed with silvery-

white hairs. In some examples the tibie are largely yellow; such agree pretty well

with the description of A. tibialis, Macq. A. macquarti was not identified by Osten

Sacken.

4. Atomosia anonyma, sp. n.

Q. Antenne elongate, the first joint about three times the length of the second, the two together two-thirds

the length of the third. Face with white hair and dust. Mesonotum and abdomen shining, somewhat

metallic black. Legs yellow; distal half of the hind femora, the hind tibiew, except the base, and the

hind tarsi, except the base of the metatarsi and the distal joints of the other tarsi, black ; sometimes the

four anterior tarsi for the most part, or the distal joints only of the hind tarsi, are black. Wings

hyaline; first posterior cell closed. Length 8 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Chilpancingo in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Six specimens. There are many descriptions of South-American species that will

nearly apply to this one, but none sufficiently well to remove doubt.

ATONIA.

Atonia, Williston, Psyche, 1889, p. 257.

1, Atonia brevistylata, sp. n. (Tab. VI. fig. 1, ¢.)

9. Black, shining. Front, face, and occiput clothed with whitish-grey dust, with a silvery reflection below.

Beard and thin pile of the face silky-white; mystax not abundant, white. Antenne black; first two

Joints of equal length, short, with black bristles; third joint scarcely twice the length of the first two

together, the lower border convex, the upper nearly straight, truncate at the tip; style small, short,

conical, divaricate. Mesonotum with sparse, rather long, silvery pubescence, and sparse, erect,

short, black hair, Pleurse densely white-pollinose ; a shining black spot on the mesopleurex ; trichostical

bristles white. Tegule yellow. Abdomen black, shining, finely punctulate, the pubescence or short pile

on the posterior angles and borders of the segments white. Legs black ; all the tibie and tarsi with

long, chiefly black, bristles and white hairs, which on the middle tibie are regularly arranged ; hind

tibiz on the inner side with short white pile. Wings nearly hyaline; second posterior cell coarctate,

the first widened in the margin. Length 6 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

A single specimen. ‘This insect is very closely allied to the type of the genus,

A. miki, Will., from San Domingo (Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. xiii, p. 290), and it is possible

that it may be the other sex of that species. The middle tibie do not have the

peculiar dilatation described, but that would not be expected in the female. The

Mexican insect chiefly differs from the Antillean form in the length of the antennal

style and the shape of the third joint.

DIPTERA. 317

CEROTAINIA.

Cerotainia, Schiner, Verh. .zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, xvi. pp. 662, 673 (1866); Reise d. Novara,

Dipt. p. 170 (1868).

This genus and its allies are often misunderstood. For their definition the reader is

referred to a paper by the writer in ‘ Psyche,’ 1889, p. 255.

1. Cerotainia ——?

Hab. Mexico, Amula in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Three specimens. Two of them are teneral; the other must resemble C. argyropus,

Schiner, closely, and possibly belongs to that species.

APHESTIA.

Aphestia, Schiner, Verh. zool.- bot. Ges. Wien, xvi. p. 673 (1866).

1. Aphestia mexicana, sp.n. (Tab. VI. fig. 2, 2.)

9. Black, moderately shining. Antenne black, the first two joints somewhat reddish. Front and face

densely greyish-white-pollinose ; head throughout with white hair and soft bristles. Mesonotum with

rather abundant, appressed, light golden pubescence. Pleure thickly grey-pollinose. Scutellum with

bristles. Abdomen punctulate, with light golden pubescence, less apparent than on the mesonotum ;

hind margins of the segments, when seen from behind, white. Legs for the greater part light yellow ;

the femora for the most part, and the tips of all the tibie, brown or black; tarsi black. Wings nearly

hyaline ; first posterior cell narrowed. Length 10 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Amula in Guerrero, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith).

Two specimens, one of them teneral. This species must closely resemble A. brasilt-

ensis and A. calcarata, Schiner, especially the latter, but will be at once distinguished

by the more abundant yellow pubescence of the mesonotum. ‘The front is narrowed

above, as in Atomosia, with the sides emarginate. The face is narrow, and arched in

profile.

Aphestia is a valid genus, and the Mexican insect seems to agree closely in its

structural characters with the type.

LAPHRIA (p. 185).

3. Laphria cerulea, sp. n.

3. Black; the mesonotum, abdomen, and legs brilliant metallic-blue. Face on the sides with tufts of bright

golden recumbent hair. Facial gibbosity abruptly prominent, black, with long black bristles. Antenne

black; third joint a little broader distally, about one and a half times the length of the first two joints

together. Proboscis about as lorg as the vertical diameter of the head, obtuse at the tip. Sides of the

occiput below densely white-pollinose and white-pilose. The metallic-purple and blue colour of the

mesonotum is largely concealed beneath very short black hair. Pleurs thickly white-pollinose. Abdomen

318 SUPPLEMENT.

elongate, narrowed beyond the base; shining metallic-green and blue, but the colour modified, as on the

mesonotum ; first and second segments covered with close-lying yellow pile, a small patch of which is

also visible on the hind angles of the third segment. Legs deep resplendent blue, the tarsi deep black ;

hind femora much thickened ; inner side of the front and middle tibie and the underside of the femora

with long and abundant bushy black hair; front coxe and the underside of the middle tibis: with similar

hair, but white in colour; hind tibiz on the inner side with abundant, but shorter, black hair. Wings

deep brown, uniform in colour. Length 19-20 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (Schumann).

One specimen, The long bushy pile of the legs is probably a sexual character.

Is this a Maira?

4, Laphria marginalis, sp. ».

. Black; the sides of the third, fourth, and fifth, and the whole of the sixth and remaining segments red.

Front and face thinly greyish-pollinose ; facial gibbosity small, with sparse black bristles; sides of the

face with a tuft of white hair. Antenne black; third joint a little widened distally, about one and a

half times the length of the first two joints together. Beard white. Mesonotum shining blue-black,

clothed thinly with short, yellow, sparse, more erect, black hair. Pleure grey-pollinose. Abdomen

black, with blue reflections ; the sides and tip red, as described above. Legs thinly white-pilose ; hind

femora moderately thickened distally. Wings brownish, more hyaline toward the base and in the

interior of the outer cells; first posterior cell slightly coarctate. Length 10 millim.

Hab. Muxico, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (Schumann).

One specimen.

LAMPRIA (p. 186).

Lampria aurifex (p. 187).

To the localities given, add:—Muxico, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (Schumann), Teapa in

Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

NUSA.

Nusa, Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt. p. 108 (1853).

Andrenosoma, Rondani, Dipt. Ital., Prodr. i. p. 160 (1856).

1. Nusa rubida, sp. n.

dQ. Front and face thickly yellowish-white-pollinose, with white hair, and on the moderately prominent,

shining black, facial gibbosity with long black bristles. Antenne black ; third joint red, a little longer

than the first two joints together, slender on the proximal portion, dilated distally. Beard abundant,

white. Thorax lilac-red, covered with white pollen, leaving bare on the mesonotum a broad, geminate,

median stripe, and two large, partially confluent spots on each side. Scutellum shining red on its.

margin, and with black bristles; mesonotum with sparse, short, black and white bristles, and without

pile. Abdomen dark red, shining, the terminal segments and the hypopygium of the male lighter-

coloured, the sides with white hair, the dorsum covered with short black hairs ; near the middle of the

lateral margin of each segment with a black bristle, the first segment with two. Legs black, the tibie

for the most part dark red; hair of the femora and tibie long, rather abundant, white; hind femora only

DIPTERA. 319

moderately thickened. Wings lightly infuscated distally ; first posterior cell closed before the margin.

Length 15 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (Schumann).

Two specimens. This species appears to be allied to Nusa (Laphria) formidolosa,

Walk., but, judging from the description, it is less densely pilose, lighter coloured,

and much smaller.

2. Nusa sexpunctata, sp.n. (Tab. VI. fig. 4, ¢.)

3. Black. Front and face thickly white- or brownish-white-pollinose, the latter with a shining black spot

in the middle. Third antennal joint considerably dilated, not longer than the first two joints together.

The rather prominent facial gibbosity is clothed in the middle with long black, on the sides with

white, bristles. Occiput greyish-pollinose, and with white hair. Thorax greyish-pollinose (the pollen

modifying the ground-colour to some extent); hair of the mesonotum sparse, black, that of the pleurze

white; the broad median stripe and the lateral spots of the mesonotum indistinctly indicated. Abdomen

shining black, the posterior part of the fifth and the following segments shining red; a small white-

pollinose spot near each posterior angle of the second, third, and fourth segments. Legs with long,

soft, white hair; all the femora thickened, the hind pair especially so. Wings tinged with brownish ;

a brownish spot sometimes present near the middle; first and fourth posterior cells closed at some distance

before the margin of the wing. Length 8-9 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Amula in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Two specimens. This species must be allied to Lampria cinerea, Bell., but can

hardly be the same, from the fact that the latter is figured as having the first posterior

cell wide open, and the extent of red on the abdomen is less. Moreover, the size is

very much greater.

MALLOPHORA (p. 189).

1. Mallophora freycineti.

Asilus infernalis, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. i. p. 475°.

Mallophora freycineti, Macq. Dipt. Exot. i. 2, p. 85°; Suppl. 1. p. 77 *,

Mallophora infernalis (Bellardi), O. Sack. antea, p. 189°.

_ pe Uw

To the localities given add:—Mexico, Rio Papagio and Acapulco in Guerrero

(H. H. Smith)—Coroms1a #3; Braziu'.

Two specimens from Guerrero, one of which agrees with an example from Brazil

that I identify as M. freycineti; the other has yellow pile on the scutellum.

My male from Brazil has some white hairs on the hind tarsi; the female of the

Mexican insect has some white hair on the same tarsi, differing in this respect

from M. craverii.

2, (a). Mallophora aca, sp. n.

g. Allied to M. freycineti, M. pluto, &c. Large, robust, black, with black and yellow hair. Hair of the

upper part of the occiput, of the front, the bristles of the face above the oral margin, and a short tuft

below the eyes on the occipital orbits, some hair on the front part of the mesonotum, the scutellum

320 SUPPLEMENT.

(densely), a band across the second and third abdominal segments, and the extreme tip of the abdomen,

all sulphur-yellow; back of the broad yellow band of the abdomen, and reaching nearly to the tip, the

hair is rufous, intermixed with black. Elsewhere the body, including the palpi and venter, is clothed with

black hair, which is long and dense on the hind tibie. Wings brown. First two joints of the antenne

reddish. Length 20 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith).

One specimen.

Mallophora fautrix (p. 191).

To the locality given, add :—Mextico, Tepic, Jalisco (Schumann), Atoyac in Vera

Cruz (H. H. Smith), N. Yucatan (Gaumer).

Numerous specimens. Most of them agree well with the description, but others

show marked differences, which in isolated examples might indicate distinct species.

Some of the Yucatan insects have the hair of the scutellum largely, and others almost

wholly, black ; in several of them, as well as others in which the scutellum is yellow-

haired, the hair of the hind tibiee and femora is in part, or almost wholly, white.

6. Mallophora craverii.

Mallophora craverii, Bellardi, Saggio ete. ii. p. 22".

Hab. Mexico, Atoyac in Vera Cruz, Teapa in Tabasco (Hf. H. Smith), Oaxaca}.

Two specimens. This species was not identified by Osten Sacken.

7. Mallophora trapezoidalis.

Promachus trapezoidalis, Bellardi, Saggio etc. ii. p. 28, t. 2. f. 4.

Hab. Mexico 1, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (Schumann, H. H. Smith).

Twenty-four specimens, varying from 14-20 millim. in length. This species is

distinctly Promachus-like in facies, but it has the claws obtuse, as in Mallophora, and

the abdomen scarcely longer than the wings. It is apparently allied to VW scopifera,

Wiedem. WM. trapezoidalis is included by Osten Sacken amongst the unidentified

species of Promachus (anted, p. 197).

8. Mallophora trichostica, sp. n.

Q. Hair of the beard (which is long and abundant), of the occiput above, and of the palpi and oral margin,

yellowish-white ; bristles of the face black, somewhat intermixed with white above. Hair of the

scutellum black and white. The long and abundant trichostical hairs, a small tuft below them, and some

hairs on the front and middle cox, white. First two segments of the abdomen with black, the remaining

segments, both above and below, with yellowish-white hair. Legs black, with black hair. Thorax dark

brown. Wings brown. First two joints of the antenne dark red. Length 25 millim.

3. Very few of the bristles of the face white, and none on the upper part of the occiput. The white

trichostical hair less abundant, and absent on the front and middle coxe. Hair of the abdomen white

DIPTERA. 321

on the posterior part of all the segments; the first, third, fourth, and fifth broadly black in front, the

sixth wholly black-haired.

Hab. Mexico, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (Schumann).

Two examples, male and female, apparently referable to the same species. I give a

name to this insect with some hesitation, since, as Osten Sacken has already remarked

(ante, p. 189), the identification of species in this genus from among the many

descriptions is a very difficult, or almost impossible, task. Extensive collections and

patient study will be needed to determine the limits of variation and the sexual

differences.

9. Mallophora breviventris.

? Mallophera breviventris, Macq. Dipt. Exot., Suppl. iv. p. 77, t. 7. f. 1’.

Hab. Mexico, Rio Papagaio in Guerrero (1. H. Smith).—Braziu}.

Nine specimens, including both sexes. The males have the scutellum partly

covered with yellow pile, no vestige of which is visible in the female. The identity

of the Mexican species with that described by Macquart is of course more or less

doubtful. It must resemble MW. beelzebul, Schiner, but is distinctly smaller. Length

15 millim.

PROMACHUS (p. 192).

Promachus cinctus (p. 193).

To the localities given, add :—Mexico, San Lorenzo, near Cordova (MM. Trujillo).

A single female specimen. It has the bristles of the face wholly white, and the

hair at the base of the abdomen also white, not yellowish.

Promachus forfex (p. 194).

Promachus quadratus, Bellardi, Saggio ete. ii. p. 27, t. 2. f. 3 ‘ (nec Wiedem.).

Promachus forfex, O. Sack. antea, p. 194’.

To the locality given, add:—Mexico!, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (Schumann).

A single male specimen. The bristles of the face are yellow, save at the upper

part. Ihave no doubt of the synonymy, of which O. Sacken did not feel certain,

P. quadratus being included by him amongst the unidentified species at the end of

the genus (anted, p. 197).

Promachus anceps (p. 194).

‘Yo the localities given, add :—Mexico, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (Schumann).

One female specimen, agreeing well with the description.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., September 1901. 2t

322

SUPPLEMENT.

8. Promachus truquii.

Promachus truquii, Bellardi, Saggio ete. i1. p. 30, t. 2. f. 6°.

is sparse and short.

ERAX (p. 197).

Efferia, Coquillett, Canad. Entom. xxv. p. 175 (1893).

10.

ll.

T2.

Hab. Mexico!, Amula in Guerrero (H. H. Smith), Atoyac in Vera Cruz (Schumann).

The face has no black bristles, and the hair of the sides of the base of the abdomen

The species was not identified by Osten Sacken.

Table of the Males of the Species represented in the Supplementary Collections

now under examination.

. Three submarginal cells present

Two submarginal cells as usual .

. Mesonotum compressed, and with a mane-like crest .

Mesonotum not compressed, and without mane-like crest .

. Hair of the head white; second to fourth abdominal segments with a

distinct posterior band ;

Hair of the head yellowish

sixth and seventh segments silvery

. Fifth to seventh abdominal segments silvery

Fourth to seventh abdominal segments silvery

. The furcation of the third vein occurring before the base of the

posterior cell

The furcation of the third vein occurring opposite or beyond the

base of the second posterior cell

. Abdomen largely silvery-white, with white hair directed outwards ;

front femora and tibize conspicuously yellow-haired ; hypopygium

large woe ee . . ae

Abdomen with two pairs of white spots and a posterior white ring ;

hypopygium small .

. Sixth abdominal segment, except the posterior margin, black .

Sixth abdominal] segment silvery-white, with or without a black spot.

. Sixth and seventh segments without black spots

Sixth segment, at least, with a black spot

. Tibize wholly black .

Tibiz more or less red or yellow . . . oe

Sixth and seventh abdominal segments each with a large triangular

black spot . .

Sixth segment wholly silvery, or + with a slender black streak .

Hind tibiz dilated on the distal two-fifths

Hind tibiz normal .

Femora with long black hair

Femora with yellow hair .

anomalus, Bell.

prolificus, O. S.

carinatus, Bell.

concinnatus, sp. nN.

splendens, sp. u.

maculatus, Macq.

dolichogaster, sp. n.

cinerascens, Bell.

disjunctus, sp. 0.

10.

guadrimaculatus, Bell.

11.

sagax, sp. D.

12.

. pavidus, sp. n.

bimaculatus, Bell.

DIPTERA. 323

Erax anomalus (p. 199).

Efferia anomalis, Coquillett, Canad. Entom. xxv. p. 175°.

To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Tepetlapa in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

A single specimen. Mr. Coquillett! has proposed the generic name of Efferia for

this and other species of Erax having three submarginal cells, but, as I have shown

(Entom. News, v. p. 187), the genus is not tenable, since it must include a number of

heterogeneous forms having this character in common ; if it is regarded as valid, the

name LHichoichemus, Bigot, has priority.

Erax maculatus (p. 200).

To the localities given, add :—MeExico, Guerrero &e. (H. H. Smith).

Erax cinerascens (p. 202).

To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Guerrero &c. (H. H. Smith).

Thirty-five specimens of this very widely distributed insect are contained in the

Mexican collection before me.

Erax prolificus (p. 202).

To the locality given, add:—Mexico, Venta de Zopilote in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Ten specimens, agreeing with Osten Sacken’s description. ‘There is, however, some

long white hair on the first three abdominal segments, not mentioned by him.

8 (4). Hrax concinnatus, sp. n.

$. Closely allied to HZ. prolificus, but with the hair of the face, occiput, beard, posterior part of the

mesonotum, and scutellum quite yellow (not white), and the second and third abdominal segments

without a grey-pollinose band posteriorly. The tips of the tibie, and the tarsi for the most part,

are black.

Q. Like the male, but with the abdomen black, with the lateral margins of the segments 2-6 broadly grey,

the grey coloration expanding narrowly across their posterior margin. Ovipositor and wings as in

E. prolificus. Length 20 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Acaguizotla and Rincon in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Ten specimens.

8 (z). Hrax carinatus.

? Eraz carinatus, Bellardi, Saggio etc. 11. p. 36, t. 2.£. 9°,

Hab. Mexico}, Acaguizotla and Rincon in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Fifteen specimens. These insects agree with Bellardi’s description, except as

2¢2

ond oad

324 SUPPLEMENT.

regards the abdomen, which has the fifth, sixth, and seventh segments wholly silvery-

pollinose, instead of the sixth alone. So far as I am aware, there is no known species

of EHrax with the sixth segment silvery and the seventh not, and I suspect that

Bellardi made some mistake about it. If, however, his description is correct, the

present insect must certainly be distinct. It is nearly related to E. prolificus, but

will be distinguished by the yellow (not white) hair of the head and thorax, and by the

first three abdominal segments not having a posterior cross-band.

A number of other specimens from Rincon differ only in having the fourth

abdominal segment and a part of the third silvery-white, and all the segments with

distinct white hair combed outwards. They approach the species No. 9 mentioned

by Osten Sacken (anted, p. 204), but have the hair of the abdomen evidently shorter

and less abundant, and that of the head yellow. Various females from Acaguizotla,

which undoubtedly belong to one or the other of the foregoing species, may be

distinguished from the same sex of E. prolificus by the yellow hair of the head and

thorax. 4, carinatus was placed by Osten Sacken amongst the unidentified forms at

the end of the genus (anted, p. 206).

12. Hrax sagax, sp. n.

d. Face yellowish-grey-pollinose, bare above and on the sides; on the gibbosity with white hair, inter- ~

spersed with black bristles, a row of the latter extending along the oral margin; the gibbosity arises

sharply and prominently a little above the middle of the face. Antenne black, the first two joints with

short black hair, the third joint scarcely so long as the first. Front narrowed above, with black hair

and bristles. Beard abundant, nearly white; bristles of the palpi black. Thorax strongly convex

behind, clothed with short black hair and black bristles; in colour brownish-black, with brown pollen,

the median stripe indistinctly divided. Scutellum with black hair and bristles. Pleurse brown-pollinose,

with black hair, Abdomen elongate, black, but little shining; second to fifth segments greyish-pollinose

on the sides, the pollen extending inwards on the posterior angles, but not meeting in the middle; sixth

segment silvery-white-pollinose (a minute black spot in the middle only); seventh segment silvery in

front aud on the sides, broadly black behind; hypopygium large, black, with black hair, which is bushy

below. Legs witb long hair on the four anterior femora and tibia, for the most part black ; the hair on

the hind femora shorter, black, that on the hind tibis long and white ; hind tibie on their inner side and

their metatarsi with short orange-yellow pile; in structure the hind tibie are rather slender on the

basal two-thirds, then dilated and distinctly angulated on the outer side. Wings brownish; the furcation

of the third vein occurs beyond the distal end of the discal cell, the anterior cross-vein situated near the

distal fourth ; costal vein distinctly thickened and curved outward on the distal part; a stump of a vein

in the anterior branch of the third vein. Legs black, the tibie (except their tip) deep red. Length,

without hypopygium, 24 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Santiago Iscuintla in Jalisco (Schumann).

One specimen. This species is closely allied to £. tagax, Will., from Arizona, but

differs in the colour of the hair of the front, antenne, and pleure, the darker tint of

the thorax and its pollen, the black posterior part of the seventh abdominal segment,

and the wholly black femora. I have compared it with the type of £. tagaz.

DIPTERA. 325

13. Hrax splendens, sp.n. (Tab. VI. fig. 5, ¢ .)

&. Face yellow on the sides; gibbosity covered with long, bushy, light yellow hair. scarcely different in

colour from the beard. Palpi with yellow hair. Upper part of the occiput and front, and the first two

joints of the antennee, with black hair and bristles. Thorax deep brownish-black, the mesonotal stripes

feebly differentiated ; hair on the posterior part of the mesonotum and on the scutellum black. Abdomen

deep black; first three segments with black hair; fourth, fifth, and sixth segments silvery-white, the

lateral margins brown, the white hair directed outwards; hypopygium of moderate size, with bushy

black hair below. Legs black, the femora greenish; the femora and tibiee with long hair on the

underside, that of the four posterior femora black, that of the front femora longor and for the most part

yellow ; hair of the tibis: in part black; four anterior tarsi with long yellow hair on the posterior side ;

hair of the front cox bushy and yellow. Wings tinged with brownish ; furcation of third vein a little

distanve beyond the anterior cross-vein, the branch with a long stump; costa not appreciably expanded.

Length 25 millim.

Hab. Mexico, San Blas in Jalisco (Schumann).

One specimen. The front and hind tibie and metatarsi have short, abundant,

golden-yellow pile on the mner side.

14. Erax quadrimaculatus.

Erax quadrimaculatus, Bellardi, Saggio etc. u. p. 44, t. 2. f. 13°.

Hab. Mexico, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (Hl. H. Smith), Playa Vicente !, Cordova.

Two males and four females from Atoyac. This species will be recognized by its

large size, and by the sixth and seventh abdominal segments of the male having a

large triangular black spot in the silvery-white portions. The hind femora and tibiee

in the same sex have rather long light yellow hair. The female has a large silvery-

white spot on each side of the fifth segment. (See the next species.) . quadri-

maculatus and E. bimaculatus were not identified by Osten Sacken.

15. Erax bimaculatus.

Erax bimaculatus, Bellardi, Saggio etc. ii. p. 45, t. 2. f. 11°.

Hab. Mzxico 1, San Blas and Santiago Iscuintla in Jalisco (Schumann).

Two males and four females. ‘This species is so closely allied to the preceding that

Osten Sacken, after comparing the types, suspected that they were identical. ‘This,

however, is not the case. The males may be readily separated by the sixth and

seventh abdominal segments having only a little black streak, or being wholly

unicolorous; the hind femora and tibie, too, have much shorter hair on the

underside. The females are much more difficult to distinguish, but they may be

separated by the colour of the hair, which in both sexes is of a decidedly yellowish

tinge, while in £. quadrimaculatus it is almost pure white. That Bellardi described

the beard in E. quadrimaculatus as “ pallide flava” and in E. bimaculatus as “ flava”

makes it very probable that he did not have the female of HL. quadrimaculatus betore

him when he wrote the description of EZ. bimaculatus.

326

SUPPLEMENT.

16. Erax disjunctus, sp. n.

d. Front and face thickly covered with yellow pollen. Face moderately protuberant below, clothed with

black and light yellow bristles. Beard white; bristles of the upper part of the occiput black. Palpi

with black bristles. Thorax covered with brownish-yellow pollen; mesonotum with two broad,

indistinctly separated, opaque black stripes. Scutellum with black bristles on its margin; the black

hairs on its upper surface short and sparse. Abdomen opaque black; first, second, and third segments

each with two silvery-white spots on the posterior margin ; lateral margins of the second, third, fourth,

and fifth brownish-yellow ; sixth and seventh segments silvery-white, the former with a black spot in the

middle; hypopygium short and stout, dark red, without black hair above. Legs black; hair very short,

black on the femora, reddish on the front and hind tibia. Wings yellowish, brownish at the immediate

tip; furcation of the third vein opposite the base of the second posterior cell, without stump ; costa not

dilated. Length (without the forceps) 18 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith).

One specimen.

17. Erax pavidus, sp. n.

d. Front and face covered with brownish-yellow pollen, which is not very dense. Face strongly protuberant

below, covered, for the most part, with black hair, which is abundant, and only slightly intermixed with

light yellow on the lower part. Front with long black hair. Beard light yellow ; hair and bristles of

the upper part of the occiput black. Palpi with black hair and bristles. Mesonotum covered with

brownish-yellow pollen, leaving two, feebly separated, black stripes in the middle and two partially

confluent spots of the same colour on each side. The long black hair is sparse, except in the middle and

behind, Scutellum with black hair and bristles. Abdomen deep opaque black, with long, not abundant

hair, which is black on the first segment, both above and below, white on the sides of the second and

third segments, and on the undersides of all the segments, except the first; second and third segments _

on each side with a narrow silvery-white spot posteriorly ; sixth and seventh segments silvery-white, the

sixth with a narrow black stripe in the middle ; hypopygium large, black, with long black hair on the

underside. Legs: femora greenish-black, with long and abundant hair, especially on the front part,

for the most part black in colour; tibie reddish-yellow, their tip, and also the tarsi, deep black ; hair of

the tibie long, black and yellow. Wings light brownish, at the base more nearly hyaline; costa

expanded distally ; furcation of the third vein beyond the proximal end of the second posterior cell, with

a short stump. Length (without the hypopygium) 19 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Xucumanatlan in Guerrero 7000 feet (H. H. Smith).

One specimen.

18, Erax dolichogaster, sp. n. (Tab. VI. fig. 6, ¢.)

¢. Front and face covered with brownish-grey pollen. Face strongly protuberant below, covered with black

bristles, somewhat intermixed with yellow hairs. Palpi with black bristles. Beard nearly white.

Mesonotum yellowish-grey, with a median, geminate black stripe and two oval, subconfluent, black spots

on each side; hair not very long, black. Scutellum with white hairs above and black bristles on its

margin. Abdomen black, a little shining, with white hairs on the basal segments above and below;

rather slender, the fifth segment cylindrical ; lateral margins of all the segments grey-pollinose ; posterior

margin of the sixth segment narrowly in the middle, and the whole of the seventh, silvery-pollinose ;

hypopygium rather slender, with black hair. Legs black; hair on the underside of the four anterior

femora moderately long, white. Wings brownish distally ; costa dilated; furcation of the third vein

beyond the proximal end of the second posterior cell, with a stump. Length (without the hypopygium)

17 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Atoyac in Vera Cruz, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

DIPTERA. 327

PROCTACANTHUS (p. 206).

2. Proctacanthus craverii.

Proctacanthus craverit, Bellardi, Saggio etc. 11. p. 50°.

Hab. Mexico, environs of the city of Mexico (Craveri!), Guadalajara in Jalisco

(Schumann).

Three specimens from Jalisco. They seem to be identical with the species from

Sonora mentioned by Osten Sacken (in his general remarks on the Mexican members

of the genus) as being larger than P. craverit.

ECCRITOSIA (p. 207).

Eccritosia amphinome (p. 207).

Proctacanthus zamon, Townsend, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. (2) iv. p. 600 a

To the localities given, add :—NortTH AMERICA, San José del Cabo, Lower California !.

—Mexico, Guadalajara in Jalisco (Hoge).

A single specimen from Jalisco, which I have compared with Townsend's type.

ASILUS (p. 208).

I have included the following species in the genus Asé/us in its wide sense, since I

find it very difficult to collocate all of them in the various divisions proposed by Loew.

His groups, or at least the greater part of them, cannot be regarded as of more than

subgeneric value.

Table of the Species contained in the Supplementary Mexican Collections examined.

1. Scutellum with two bristles ; legs more or less yellow . . . . . . 2

Scutellum with four or more bristles; legs wholly black . . . . . 8.

Femora in part or wholly black. 2 6. 6 ee ee ee ee &

Antenne black . . . . . . ; . . . . melanocerus, sp. n.

4, Face scarcely at all concave on the upper part; abdomen distinctly banded. truquii, Rond.

Face with a prominent gibbosity, distinctly concave on the upper part . 5.

5. Wings conspicuously spotted . . 6 6 6 ee ee ee ts tenebrosus, sp. 0.

Wings clouded or hyaline . . . . . 6.

6. Hind femora slender ; face above scarcely wider than the length of ‘the

first antennal joint. . . . toe ee ee ew ee 6dolichomerus, sp. n.

Hind femora stout ; face broader above ee

7. Third joint of the antenne elongate, as usual, fully as long as the arista. alterus, sp. n.

Third joint of the antenne short, hardly more than one- half the length

of the arista ; the facial gibbosity reaching nearly to the base of the

antenne . cc ee et ke ee ee ee ee destes, sp. m.

328 SUPPLEMENT,

8. Sixth and seventh segments of the female abdomen forming part of

the shining black ovipositor ; fan-like row of bristles in front of the

halteres light yellow . . . 2. 2... . eee nigrocaudatus, sp. 0.

Sixth and seventh segments of the female abdomen like those preceding. 9.

9. Front femora with black hair, long and abundant. . . . . Ccapillatus, sp. n.

Front femora with white hair, shorter and less abundant; hind femora

3. Asilus (s. str.) tenebrosus, sp. n.

3 Q. Front brownish-yellow- or ochraceous-pollinose, blackish in the middle, with black bristles. Antenne

black, the second joint largely reddish; third joint a little longer than the first two together; style

slightly shorter than the third joint. Face pollinose, like the front, the very prominent gibbosity largely

bare ; bristles of the gibbosity abundant, black, those of the immediate oral margin often white. Beard

white ; bristly hairs of the palpi black; bristles of the upper part of the occiput black and fulvous.

Thorax with reddish-ochraceous pollen; mesonotum in the middle with a broad, coffee-brown stripe and

two spots on each side of the same colour, all more sericeous and lighter when viewed obliquely ; bristles

of the posterior part of the mesonotum black, those of the fan-like row in front of the halteres yellowish,

as are also the two on the margin of the scutellum. Abdomen opaque yellowish-ochraceous, more or less

sericeous, according to the light in which it is viewed ; bristles of a yellowish colour ; the moderate-sized

hypopygium of the male reddish; ovipositor shining black. Legs yellowish-red ; the femora on their

front part black, the tarsi deeper red and blackish. Wings yellowish-hyaline ; the distal part, from the

base of the second submarginal cell, the interior of the third, fourth, and fifth posterior cells, and the

outer part of the anal cell, brown ; veins along the middle in front brownish. Length 16-18 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Omilteme in Guerrero 8000 feet (H. H. Smith).

Two specimens, male and female, which I describe as typical. Two others from the

same locality, one of each sex, are of a browner colour, and have the markings of the

wings paler ; they are also smaller. Two more, male and female, from Omilteme, are

of the size of the last, but are lighter coloured than the types, with the black of the

legs less extensive and the markings of the wings mere brownish clouds. I believe

that they all belong to the same species.

4, Asilus (Heligmoneura) truquii.

Asilus (Mochtherus) truguii, Bellardi, Saggio ete. ii. p. 52'.

Asilus (Philonicus) teniatus, Bellardi, loc. cit. p. 55.

Neomochitherus plebeius, O. Sack. antea, p. 209 *.

Hab. Mexico 12, Northern Sonora (Morrison °), Chilpancingo and Tixtla near Amula

in Guerrero (H. H. Smith), Guadalajara, Jalisco (Schumann).

Twelve specimens. The amount of black on the legs is very variable, agreeing with

the several descriptions referred to above, without other differences. The black

bristles on the lower part of the face in the more melanotic specimens are numerous ;

in others they are wholly wanting. I have no doubt but that all these examples

belong to one species. A. truguii and A. teniatus were included by Osten Sacken in

his list of unidentified Mexican species (anted, p. 210).

DIPTERA. 329

5. Asilus (Heligmoneura) xanthocerus, sp. n.

3 2. Head nearly white throughout, with the bristles and hair also white. Antenne light yellow; third

joint short, not longer than the first, the arista more than twice as long. Gibbosity of the face slight,

confined to less than the lower half. Thorax opaque, light yellowish-white, with the pleure whiter ;

the black bristles of the mesonotum extend a little in front of the middle; the usual median stripe is

dark brown in front, but becomes evanescent behind, leaving two slender lines; the lateral spots are

feebly indicated. Scutellum with two bristles on its margin. Abdomen reddish-yellow, its shining

appearance only slightly obscured by the pollen; first two segments largely brownish; the third and

following segments have each a slender, oval, black, longitudinal spot in the middle; forceps of the male

and the small ovipositor shining black ; lateral bristles of small size, yellow. Legs wholly light yellow.

Wings hyaline, broadly clouded at the tip and narrowly behind; the proximal end of the second

submarginal cell is a trifle more distant than is that of the second posterior cell. Length 16-18 millim.

Hab. Mzxico, Dos Arroyos, Rio Papagaio, Venta de Zopilote, and Tierra Colorada

in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Twenty-five specimens.

6. Asilus (Heligmoneura) melanocerus, sp. n.

3. Front narrow above ; yellowish- and greyish-pollinose. Face narrow above, a little wider below,

moderately protuberant; densely yellowish-grey-pollinose ; mystax white, a few black bristles on the

upper part of the convexity. Antenne black ; third joint as long as the first two joints together, and one-

half longer than the style. Mesonotum greyish-yellow-pollinose, with the usual brown stripes, the middle

one geminate, the lateral ones in the form of elougate-oval spots; the bristles not reaching in front of the

middle, black. Scutellum with two strong black bristles on its margin. Pleure grey-pollinose.

Abdomen, viewed obliquely, opaque yellow ; viewed vertically, subshining black, except the hind margins

of the segments; bristles before the hind margins of the segments and on the sides yellow ; hypopygium

black, shining, not clubbed ; ovipositor, beginning with the cighth segment, shining black. Legs yellowish-

red or reddish-yellow, with black and yellow bristles; tarsi, and sometimes the tibiz, blackish at the

extremity ; hind femora rather slender and elongate. Wings yellowish-hyaline, broadly clouded at the

tip and along the posterior margin. Length 17 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Omilteme in Guerrero 8000 feet (7. H. Smith).

Eight specimens.

7. Asilus (Heligmoneura) dolichomerus, sp. (var. ?) n.

3 9. In all respects like A. melanocerus, except that the femora are wholly deep shining black. The tibie

are often blackish at the extremity. Length 15-16 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Omilteme, Sierra de las Aguas Escondidas, and Amula in Guerrero

6000 to 9500 feet (H. H. Smith).

Thirty-five specimens. The constant and striking difference in the colour of the

femora would seem to indicate a specific distinction, though I can discover no other

peculiarities.

g. Asilus (Neoitamus) nigrocaudatus, sp. n.

3 Q. Face and front light yellowish-grey ; bristles of the front, antenn, and convexity of the face black .

bristles of the oral border white. Antenne black ; third joint about as long as the first two together ;

arista a little longer than the third joint. Facial gibbosity strong aud abrupt. Thorax light yellowish,

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., December 1901. Qu

330 SUPPLEMENT.

the pleure greyish ; the usual markings of the mesonotum deep brown, the median stripe geminate, the

lateral ones extending acutely nearly to the scutellum. Scutellum with about six bristles on its border.

Bristles in front of the halteres hair-like and light yellow. Abdomen rather slender in the male; opaque

yellow, with light yellow hair and bristles; hypopygium of the male not large, shining black; second,

third, fourth, and fifth segments of the female with a triangular brown spot in the middle of each, the

sixth and seventh segments shining black, forming a part of the elongate ovipositor. Legs deep black ;

femora with light yellow hair and bristles. Wings hyaline, broadly clouded at the tip and along the

hind margin ; the second submarginal cell has its proximal end very nearly opposite that of the second

posterior cell. Length 14-16 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Omilteme and Xucumanatlan in Guerrero 7000 to 8000 feet

(H. H. Smith).

Hight specimens.

9. Asilus (Neoitamus) capillatus, sp. n.

dQ. Similar to A. niyrocaudatus. The colour of the front, face, beard, and lower portion of the mystax

yellower. The third joint of the antenne relatively a little longer. The thorax not so light-

coloured ; the mesonotal stripes broader and deeper coloured; the scutellum with a larger number of

bristles on its margin; the bristles in front of the halteres black. The abdomen less slender ; viewed

from above deep brown, with a light yellow hind margin to the segments, viewed more obliquely yellowish-

sericeous ; the hypopygium of the male larger; the sixth and seventh segments of the female coloured

like the preceding ones. Wings hyaline at the base, strongly clouded distally. All the femora, but

especially the front pair, with long and abundant black hair. Length 20-21 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Omilteme in Guerrero 8000 feet (H. H. Smith).

Six specimens. There are no bristles on the underside of the front femora. The

eighth abdominal segment in the male is scarcely visible above and not very broad

below.

10. Asilus (Machimus?) anonymus, sp. n.

3 2. Head clothed wholly with black bristles, except the narrow fringe along the oral margin; beard white.

Antenne black ; third joint elongate, twice the length of the arista. Front and face densely yellowish-

grey-pollinose; the moderately prominent gibbosity with abundant black bristles. Mesonotum with

light yellow pollen, the markings nearly black ; pleure grey-pollinose. Scutellum with about six bristles

on its margin. Abdomen deep brown, black when seen from behind, the segments with an opaque

yellow hind-margin. Ovipositor and hypopygium shining black. Legs deep black ; femora with whitish

hair, the hind pair rather slender and elongate. Wings nearly hyaline, with a conspicuous brown cloud

distally. Length 12-13 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Omilteme and Sierra de las Aguas Escondidas in Guerrero 8000 to

9500 feet (1. H. Smith).

Thirty-five specimens.

11. Asilus (Tolmerus) alterus, sp. n.

3 Q. Face and front densely yellowish-grey-pollinose; face below the antenne equal in width to the length

of the third antennal joint, rather strongly and abruptly gibbose on the lower half or more. Third joint

of the antenne as long as the other two together, the style a little shorter than the third joint. Mystax

rather abundant, white, the bristles in the middle above black; beard white. Thorax red, clothed with

DIPTERA. Sel

yellowish-grey pollen ; bristles of the mesonotum not reaching before the middle, black ; median stripe deep

coffee-brown, the oval, elongate, lateral spots less evident. Scutellum with two bristles. Abdomen nearly

opaque, brownish-yellow, without bristles before the hind margins of the segments; hypopygium of the

male deep reddish, not clubbed. Legs deep red; front and middle femora above, and the distal joints of

the tarsi, with black hair, elsewhere covered with thick-lying, short, white hair ; femora broadly black in

front ; tarsi blackish towards their extremity; hind tibiz on their outer side blackish; all the femora

rather stout, the front ones without bristles below. Wings tinged with brownish, the clouds at the

distal extremity and posteriorly inconspicuous. Length 15-16 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Omilteme in Guerrero 8000 feet (H. H. Smith).

Six specimens. The abdomen, seen obliquely, appears to have lighter-coloured

bands on the posterior part of the segments; there is a narrow blackish stripe along

the middle.

12. Asilus (subgen. 2) lestes, sp. n.

@. Vertex deeply excavated. Facial gibbosity moderately prominent, but reaching two-thirds of the distance

to the root of the antenne ; mystax white, with black bristles on the upper part of the convexity. Face

and front opaque, nearly white. Beard and occipital bristles white. Antenne black; third joint short-

oval, about as long as the first, and one-half the length of the slender arista. Thorax opaque white, the

mesonotum a little yellowish ; the usual markings brown. Scutellum with two bristles on its margin.

Abdomen uniformly opaque grey, with a small brownish spot on the middle of each segment. Legs

reddish-yellow ; the femora, except at the base and tip, shining black; tips of the tibie and the distal

joints of the tarsi blackish ; femora stout, the front ones with a few bristles below. Wings hyaline,

wholly without clouds at the tip and posterior part; proximal end of second submarginal cell more distal

than that of the second posterior cell. Length 10 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Chilpancingo in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Two specimens. The first segment of the ovipositor is elongate, with nearly parallel

sides ; the second segment is short and broad.

OMMATIUS (p. 210).

Ommatius peregrinus (p. 210).

To the locality given, add :—Mexico, Xucumanatlan in Guerrero 7000 feet (H. H.

Smith).

A single female specimen. ‘The hind femora are black along the underside, the

ring on the hind tibize is indistinct, and the colour of the face is apparently less golden

than in the Panama type. Nevertheless, from the great variability that seems to be

characteristic of the species of this genus, I think that the Mexican insect is identical

with that described by Osten Sacken.

2, Ommatius —— ?

Hab. Mexico, Amula, Omilteme, and Tepetlapa in Guerrero, Teapa in Tabasco

(H. H. Smith), Atoyac in Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith, Schumann), N. Yucatan

(Gaumer).

2u 2

332 SUPPLEMENT.

Twelve specimens. The costa of the wings is enlarged in the male. The base of

the femora and tibie is yellow to a variable extent.

3. Ommatius pilosulus.

Emphysomera pilosula, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1875, p. 243°.

Emphysomera bicolor, Bigot, loc. cit. p. 244’.

Hab. Mexico !*, Acapulco, Amula, and Xucumanatlan in Guerrero (H. H. Smith),

Santiago Iscuintla in Jalisco (Schumann).

Two males and nine females. I have little doubt of the correctness of the above

synonymy, notwithstanding very grave differences in Bigot’s descriptions. The third

Joint of the antenne is brown in both sexes and only about as long as the first. The

metanotum is opaque, yellowish on the sides. The abdomen is red or brownish-red

and varies not a little in the extent of the black markings; there is no white on the

first segment; the second segment is black in front and often has, as have all the rest,

a partial or entire black stripe in the middle. ‘The hind femora are more thickened

than usual, but are not at all club-shaped; they frequently have a blackish spot

on the outer side beyond the middle. This species must be allied to 0. peregrinus,

O. Sacken, who did not identify Bigot’s insects.

4, Ommatius parvus.

Ommatius pumilus, Bellardi, Saggio ete. ii. p. 59 (nec Macq. ?).

Ommatius parvus, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1875, p. 2477.

Hab. Mexico 2, Chilpancingo, Tepetlapa, Amula, and Savana Grande in Guerrero

(Hf. H. Smith), Temax in Northern Yucatan (Gauwmer), Cuautla!.

Fifty-two specimens. The costa of the male is very slightly thickened and there

are some wrinkles in the cells behind it. This species is apparently the same as that

described by Bellardi+: O. pumilus, Macq., has the tibia wholly black.

Nore.—The manuscript of the foregoing pages (pp. 217-332) was for the most part

written in the autumn of 1896, and completed in 1899. I have been unable, in the

revision of these pages, to carefully study all the literature which has since appeared

on these families of insects. I trust, however, that nothing of importance has been

overlooked.—S. W. W.

DIPTERA. 333

DOLICHOPODIDE * (p. 213).

DOLICHOPUS (p. 213).

8. Dolichopus bifractus.

Dolichopus bifractus, Loew, Mon. N. Am. Dipt. ii. p. 537.

Hab. Norra America, United States 1.—Muxico, Cuernavaca (H. H. Smith).

One female of this widely-spread and common N.-American species was found at

Cuernavaca by Mr. Smith. The third joint of the antenne is almost black, a

peculiarity I have not noticed in any other specimen, though it is often a little

infuscated.

Dolichopus myosota (p. 213).

To the locality given, add :—Norta America, Idaho.

This species was described from specimens from Northern Sonora. It is common in

the foot-hills of the Rocky Mountains in North Idaho, and probably occurs all through

the intervening country. I have not seen a Mexican example.

POLYMEDON.

Polymedon, Osten Sacken, Western Diptera, p. 317 (1877) ; Aldrich, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1896,

p. 318.

This genus is nearly related to Tachytrechus, but differs in the more uniform course

of the last section of the fourth vein, and more especially in the structure of the face

of the male, which extends like a silver ribbon below the level of the eyes. ‘Three

new species are represented in the present collection, and two were described in

the above-cited papers. ‘They fall into two series: one, including P. argentatus,

P. triangularis, and P. superbus, not differing in a striking manner from Tachytrechus ;

the other, including P. flabellifer and P. nimius, characterized, additionally, by an

enormous development of the tegular cilia and the first section of the costa in the

male sex.

Table of the Species known to met.

Femora yellow 2 2 1 ee ee ee ee BE

9, Antenne reddish on the underside . . . ..... .. + + [flabellifer, 0. S.]

Antenne wholly black. 2. . 2. ee ee ee ee ee ee eargentaius, sp. n.

* By Prof. J. M. Atpricu, of the University of Idaho.

+ In addition to the above-mentioned species, another, P. castus, has lately been described by Wheeler in

the ‘ Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences ’ (8rd ser. vol. ii. p.6 (1901)}. It is based on a single

female from Arizona, and appears to be closely related to P. nimius, from which it differs in having the

third joint of the antenna wholly black, which will readily distinguish the two species.

Ae C SPet

334 SUPPLEMENT.

3. Male with enormously developed costa . . . . . . 1... nimius, sp. n.

Male with scarcely enlarged costa. . . . 2. 2...

4. Lamelle of hypopygium small, triangular . . . 2... . triangularis, sp. n.

Lamellz of hypopygium larger, quadrangular . . . 2... [superbus, Ald. |

[1. Polymedon flabellifer.

Polymedon flabellifer, O. Sack. Western Diptera, p. 317°.

Hab. Norta America, San Francisco !, Idaho.

This species occurs in the neighbourhood of San Francisco, on rocks, in swift

streams. I collected specimens in a similar place at Juliaetta, Idaho, on September

loth, 1598. P. flabellifer must be regarded as the highest member of the known

series, since it has dropped the deformity of the middle tarsi, characteristic of the

males of all the other species, and has developed an ornamental silver stripe down the

dorsum of the thorax, involving the complete suppression of the acrostichal bristles.

Viewed from before, this stripe seems almost continuous with the silver of the face

and front, though less deep. These peculiarities, of course, occur only in the male.

A very easily recognized species. |

2. Polymedon argentatus, sp.n. (Tab. VI. fig. 7, wing of ¢ .)

d. Black, with a slight greenish reflection ; the tibie, tips of coxe and femora, and the halteres, yellow.

Face rather wide, gently bent above the middle, pure silver in its whole length, projecting below the level

of the eyes a little less than its own width; antenne of ordinary size and structure, wholly black; front

silvery, except the ocellar tubercle; orbital cilia white, except a few of the uppermost. Thorax dark

green, but little metallic ; on the sides, in a certain light, with a silvery reflection from the humerus to the

root of the wing; pleure black, with a faint white dust when viewed from before, Tegule yellowish,

the margin infuscated ; the cilia black, at the ends whitish. Abdomen blackish-green, on the sides with

a little white dust behind the incisures; hypopygium black, lightly dusted, moderate in size, the triangular

lamella sordid whitish near the base, black on the margin. Base of front and middle tarsi slightly

yellowish ; middle tarsi with a bend between the second and third joints, but without any great modifi-

cation of structure ; hind tibie a little infuscated at the tip; hind metatarsi shorter than the following

joint. Wings with a considerable and uniform infuscation ; the costa a little enlarged in its first section,

more so at the junction of the first vein, from there gradually tapering to the normal size, which is

attained over halfway to the second vein; fourth vein with a very gentle curvature.

Length 5 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Cuernavaca in Morelos (H. H. Smith).

One male.

3. Polymedon nimius, sp.n. (Tab. VI. figg. 8, 8a-c, ¢ *; 9, 2.)

A large, elongate, slender species ; the legs and antenne almost entirely yellow.

3. Face wholly silvery, spatulate, extending below the level of the eyes about twice its own width; antenne

rather slender, yellow, the upper edge and the tip of the third joint black ; orbital cilia white, except a few

of the upper ones. Dorsum of thorax dark metallic green, with an indistinct violet median stripe; pleure

* Incorrectly marked @ on the Plate.

DIPTERA. 335

greenish-black, with thin white pollen. Tegule large and thick, yellow, with brown tip, which bears a

very large and striking cluster of long reddish-brown cilia: these cilia show a tendency to stick together

and form a horn-like projection, as was remarked by Osten Sacken in describing P. flabellifer, and it is

not improbable that the cluster can be opened and closed by the insect in life. Abdomen green, the

posterior margin of the segments shining black, at the sides behind the incisures with some white pollen ;

hypopygium large, pedunculate; the lamelle brown, paler at the base, with two prolongations, the dorsal

of which is small, the other long, slender, with a few long fine hairs on either side. Fore coxe pale

yellow, middle and hind ones yellow, but infuscated on the outer side ; femora yellow, the hind knees

brownish ; tibie yellow, the fore ones tipped with brown ; tarsi slender, black, with half or more of the

first joint yellow; the middle tarsi bend sidewards between the second and third joints, which are

hollowed on the approximating sides, thus forming a grasping-organ (this can hardly serve any other

purpose than to hold the female); hind metatarsi shortened. Wings extremely long and narrow,

moderately and evenly infuscated ; costa with a very thick enlargement almost completely filling the

space before the first vein, this coming to « sudden end before the tip of the first vein; fourth vein with

a gentle curve beyond the cross-vein, thence almost straight to the end of its course, which is just

before the apex of the wing.

9. Face white or greyish-white, ending in a sharp point somewhat below the eyes. Cilia of the tegule of

ordinary size, black or faintly brownish. Wings wider, though but little shorter than in the male.

Length 5°5, of the wing 7 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Omilteme and Sierra de las Aguas Escondidas in Guerrero 7000-8000

feet (H. H. Smith).

Thirteen males and twelve females. Since the description was written, I have

captured specimens of this species at Hagerman, Idaho, U.S.A., about waterfalls.

4. Polymedon triangularis, sp. n.

3. Metallic green, somewhat dusted ; legs, including the fore coxe, yellow ; antenne, except the tip, also yellow,

Face silvery, rather narrow, projecting below the eyes more than its own greatest width; antenne of moderate

size, yellow, the tip of the third joint infuscated ; front silvery-dusted, the green ground-colour showing

through a little when viewed from in front; orbital cilia white, except a few directly above. ‘Thorax

and abdomen green, on the sides dusted somewhat with white; halteres and tegul yellow, the cilia of

the latter indistinctly brown in colour. Hypopygium stout, black ; the lamelle small, triangular, cut off

square at the apex, on the dorsal side with a rounded emargination, yellow in colour but with a black

distal border. Middle and hind coxe quite black, except at the tip and on the inner side ; first joint of

fore and middle tarsi pale, except at the tip; middle tarsi with a crook between the second and third

joints, the last part of the tarsus at this point seeming to bend sidewards to form a grasping-organ, as in

P. nimius, only not so strongly developed. Wings infuscated along the veins ; costa scarcely in the least

enlarged ; fourth vein very gently curved, ending considerably before the apex.

Length 5-2 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Cuernavaca in Morelos (HZ. H. Smith).

One male.

(5. Polymedon superbus.

Polymedon superbus, Aldrich, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1896, p. 318, t. 11. fig. 103, t. 12. figg. 118,

118, 119%.

Hab. ANTILLES, St. Vincent}.

This West-Indian species may be briefly referred to here. It differs from P. trian-

gularis in a few characters only; but these are, in part, of the most permanent an:

336 SUPPLEMENT.

decisive kind: the lamelle of the hypopygium are large, dark brown, almost square,

with but two or three long hairs on the outer side; the front has much less silver dust ;

the thorax is of a purer green, and the abdomen runs more to violet; the lateral crook

to the middle tarsi is much less pronounced, though perceptible. |

HERCOSTOMUS.

Hercostomus, Loew, Neue Beitr. v. p. 9 (1857).

1. Hercostomus flavipes, sp.n. (Lab. VI. fig. 17, wing of ¢.)

d. Face rather wide, covered with white dust ; antenne short, black, the basal oints reddish below, the third

large, with a point on the upper angle. Front dull green. Cilia of the inferior orbit white. Thorax

and abdomen moderately bright green, on the sides with whitish dust. Tegule and halteres yellow, the

former with black cilia. Hypopygium bulky, dark green on the main part; the lamelle rather small,

almost circular, with well-defined blackish border, the hairs inconspicuous. Legs yellow ; base of the

hind cox and half of the middle pair infuscated ; hind tarsi infuscated from the base, the middle pair

from the tip of the first joint, the front pair only slightly so at the tip. Wings subhyaline; costa not

thickened; fourth vein bent towards the third at the first third of the last section, thence gently converging

towards it.

Length 3 millim.

Hab. Muxico, Omilteme and Amula in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Four males; in some of them the reddish colour is more extended on the antenne,

so as to include part of the underside of the third joint.

Two females from Tabasco, which seem to belong here, differ in having the antenne

yellow, with the third joint infuscated, and the hind coxe wholly yellow.

PELASTONEURUS.

Pelastoneurus, Loew, Neue Beitr. viii. p. 36 (1861).

It is almost impossible to define the genera Pelastoneurus, Paraclius, and Sarcionus

by any constant differences ; they may, however, be separated pretty generally by the

following characters :— |

Pelastoneurus has a wide face in both sexes, the lower part convex; the arista is

plumose ; the last section of the fourth vein is usually convex when viewed from

behind. Paraclius has a bare or nearly bare arista; a face of varying width, but never

very wide nor convex below; the last section of the fourth vein is usually concave

When viewed from behind. Sarcionus has a very narrow face, usually only a tenth

the width of the head; the arista is plumose ; the last section of the fourth vein is

rather variable in form, in most cases intermediate in this respect between the two

other genera, @. g. not very convex or concave.

Since these distinctions are in some cases difficult of application, I have thought it

best to give a single combined Table of the species of all three genera that are known

from Mexico :—

11.

12.

DIPTERA.

.. Femora largely black .

Femora yellow or but little infuscated

. First part of costa greatly thickened in male, perceptibly

in female .

Costa not noticeably thickened

Fore femora yellow

Fore femora black . .

Tibiz of male wholly black .

Tibize of male largely yellow

. Wings with numerous brown spots

Wings not spotted, or with one or two spots on the veins .

Wings of male with a rounded apical brown spot

. Inner claw of male fore tarsus enlarged and bent backward

to form a small grasping-organ

Claw not specially modified .

Cilia of inferior orbit black .

Cilia of inferior orbit white .

. Middle and hind coxe yellow

Middle and hind cox mainly black

. Face of male with a brown stripe in the middle; sides

greyish-white

Face of male not so marked

Fore coxe infuscated beyond the middle.

Fore cox not or scarcely infuscated .

Dorsum with a distinct median stripe

Dorsum without stripe .

Upper part of face brilliant green .

Upper part of face not green

1. Pelastoneurus unguiculatus.

337

Paraclius albonotatus, Loew.

Paraclus femoratus, sp. n.

4.,

Pelastoneurus hamatus, sp. n.

Paraclius humeralis, sp. 0.

Pelastoneurus punctipennis, Say.

Pelastoneurus bigeminatus, sp. n.

Pelastoneurus unguiculatus, Aldr.

Sarcionus flavicoxa, sp. n.

Pelastoneurus lugubris, Loew.

Pelastoneurus cognatus, Loew.

10.

Pelastoneurus vagans, Loew.

ll.

Sarcionus lineatus, Aldr.

12.

Pelastoneurus argentiferus, Aldr.

Paraclius venustus, sp. 0.

Pecilobothrus unguiculatus, Aldrich, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1896, p. 310, t. 11. fig. 101, t. 12. fig. 116°.

Eleven specimens, including both sexes.

Hab. Mexico, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith).—Antinixs, St. Vincent °.

One of the most difficult species to locate

generically. The face is narrow for Pelastoneurus, but too wide for Pactloboethris,

while the plumose arista throws it out of Paraclius. po

2. Pelastoneurus lugubris.

Pelastoneurus lugubris, Loew, Neue Beitr. viii. p. 388'; Mon. N. A. Dipt. 11. p. 105°.

Hab. Nortu America, Trenton Falls, New York!*.—Mexico, Vera Cruz (Hf. #.

Smith).

Five specimens.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., December 1901.

338 SUPPLEMENT.

3. Pelastoneurus vagans.

Pelastoneurus vagans, Loew, Neue Beitr. vill. p. 89°; Mon. N. A. Dipt. ii. p. 1077.

Hab. Nortu America, United States 12.—Mexico, Orizaba (H. H. Smith).

One male. This is the most common species in the United States.

4, Pelastoneurus argentiferus.

Pelastoneurus argentiferus, Aldrich, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1896, p. 313".

Hab. Mexico, Chilpancingo, Vera Cruz, Medellin, Teapa, Frontera (H. H. Smith).—

ANTILLES, St. Vincent !.

Numerous specimens.

5. Pelastoneurus hamatus, sp.». (Tab. VI. figg. 12, wing, 12a, end of front

tarsus, ¢ .)

d. Face wide, the concavity below the antenne shining green, the convexity covered with golden pollen ;

palpi silvery ; antennve black, first joint whitish below at the tip and with two whitish spine-like

prolongations—one shorter on the underside, and one longer, rather noticeable on the inner side. Front

green, not very shining ; cilia of lower orbit pale yellow, rather bushy. Thorax above blachish-green,

moderately shining; the triangular white spot in the suture large, the black behind it not of unusual

size; pleure blackish, with very thin grey dust, changing to yellowish on the upper half; halteres and

tegule yellow, the latter with black hairs. Abdomen not compressed, uniform dark green in colour, the

sides with small white-dusted spots; sixth segment: wholly white-dusted ; hypopygium stout, black, with

brownish dust, not pedunculated, the lamelle short, broad, black, with quite dense hairs along the border,

and more delicate ones on the outer surface. Legs black, the knees and trochanters narrowly dark

yellow ; fore tarsus shorter than the tibia, its last four joints (fig. 12a) of about equal length, the inner

claw greatly enlarged and bent back to form a grasping-organ (it bears a striking resemblance to the

fish-hook protruding from a trout-fly, but is stouter proportionately). Wings moderately infuscated,

rather narrow ; costa not thickened ; last section of fourth vein bent at its middle, thence nearly straight,

ending farther before the tip of the wing than in any other species of the genus known to me.

2. Upper part of the face dull, yellow-dusted; antenne as in the male; apical third of fore femora, and half

of the others, dark yellow; tibie, except the extreme base and tip, of the same colour.

Length 5-5°6 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Mexico city (H. H. Sinith).

One male and two females. The arista has a shorter plumosity than in many species.

6. Pelastoneurus bigeminatus, sp. n. (Tab. VI. fig. 13, wing of ¢.)

3g. Face wide, protruding below, covered with dull yellow dust, which becomes greyer along the sides below ;

palpi prominent ; mouth very large; antenne small, yellow, third joint short, slightly brown at the tip ;

arista with very long hairs. Front opaque, covered with brownish-yellow dust. Cilia of the inferior orbit

white. Thorax brown, but little shining, with black dots out of which the large bristles arise ; the

usual black stripe above and before the root of the wing entirely divided into two; the sutural groove

with yellow dust (instead of the bright white dust that is common in this genus); pleuree black, with grey

dust ; halteres and tegule yellow, the latter with black bristles. Abdomen dull green, a little shining,

on the sides with patches of rather indistinct white dust; hypopygium of medium length, more slender

than usual, black, the lamelle elongate, brown, the apical angle prolonged into a hairy filament. Middle

and hind coxe black on the basal part, the tarsi infuscated towards the tip; legs otherwise yellow.

Wings moderately infuscated, with a distinct. round brown spot in the apex, resting against the margin

before the end of the third vein, but widely separated from it behind the end of the fourth; costa not

thickened ; cross-vein distant about its own length from the margin.

DIPTERA. 399

. Face a little wider; wing with only a faint shadow of the apical spot.

Length 4°8 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith).

Numerous males and females.

7. Pelastoneurus punctipennis. (P. variegatus, Tab. VI. fig. 14, wing of ¢ .)

Medeterus punctipennis, Say, Journ. Acad. Phil. vi. p. 292‘; Complete Writings, il. p. 362°.

Face of medium width, the sides parallel, or a little divergent below; suture well-marked; ground-colour

entirely obscured by brown dust, which changes to whitish at the lower corners ; palpi long and pointed,

with whitish dust ; proboscis very large and massive. Front opaque brown, darker in the middle. Antenne

black, rather large, the arista with short plumosity. Cilia of inferior orbit black. Thorax opaque brown,

with interrupted grey lines along the rows of inner dorsal bristles, and an interrupted median grey line,

all three being more distinct near the scutellam ; pleure black, with thin grey dust; halteres and tegule

yellow, the latter with black hairs. Abdomen dull greyish-green, the incisures not prominently marked

with bands; hypopygium small, short, black, with yellowish tip, the lamelle small, pointed, yellow.

Legs yellow, all the tarsi blackened from the extreme base, the tibiw, however, not black at the tip ;

middle and hind coxe black at the base; insertions of the tibial bristles marked by diffused brown spots.

Wings uniformly infuscated, with about twenty scattered roundish brown spots; these are so distributed

as not to form distinct bands (see figure); last section of the fourth vein only gently bent towards the

third, gradually converging to the end, which is before the tip of the wing.

Length 4:1 millim.

Hab. Mexico! ?, Orizaba (fH. H. Smith).

Five males.

8. Pelastoneurus cognatus,

Pelastoneurus cognatus, Loew, Mon. N. Am. Dipt. ii. p. 109 (¢)’.

. Face rather narrow, with a distinct yellowish-brown stripe in the middle, the sides greyish-white ; antenna

yellow, small, third joint a litte infuscated at the tip, arista with remarkably long plumosity. Front with

the ground-colour obscured by brownish-yellow dust, arranged somewhat in streaks. Cilia of lower orbit

white. Palpi black, with white dust. Thorax of a bronze colour, at the anterior end with the beginning

of a median line, and a blackish spot on the inner side of each humerus; the velvety-black spot before

the root of the wing, while not divided, has a deep indentation on the upperside, and the anterior half

extends toward the middle of the dorsum; the white spot in the sutural groove is small and rounded,

seated in the bottom of the groove (this is one of the best marks to distinguish the species in both sexes) ;

the large bristles of the dorsum arise from small blackish dots ; knob of halteres with a very slight intus-

cation; tegule yellow, with black cilia. Abdomen blackish-bronze, with small patches of white dust on

the sides of the segments. Hypopygium of medium size, black, with grey dust, the lamellw small, black,

with small hairs (there seem to be a pair of small inner lamella, of piceous colour); on the upper (ventral)

side of it the slender black organ usually considered to be the penis is much thicker than in related forms,

and has three or four hairs at its tip. Legs yellow; middle and hind coxe black nearly to the tips ; tarsi

put little infuscated ; fore coxee not infuscated. Wings greyish, with a faint cloud on the cross-vein, and

another, even fainter, on the middle of the last section of the fourth vein, this section having a gradual

and even curvature.

Easily distinguished from the corresponding sex of the other species of the genus by the small round

glittering white dot in the sutural groove, &c.

Length 3-3°8 millim.

Hab. Norru America, Connecticut !—Mexico, Vera Cruz (H. fH. Smith).

Three males and four females from Vera Cruz; I also have a female, 4°8 millim. in

length, from Connecticut, collected by Dr. Williston. The male is now described for

the first time.

24 2

340 | SUPPLEMENT,

PARACLIUS.

Paraclius, Loew, Mon. N. Am. Dipt. ii. p. 100 (1862) (nec Paracleius, Bigot).

1. Paraclius albonotatus.

Paraclius albonotatus, Loew, Mon. N. A. Dipt. ii. p. 102°.

Hab. Nort America, New Orleans !—Muxico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

One female. The thickening of the costa is distinct.

2. Paraclius femoratus, sp. n.

d. Face rather narrow (in shrivelled specimens appearing very narrow), white; antenne wholly black, of

medium size, the third joint rounded ; arista with distinct pubescence ; cilia of lower orbit dirty whitish.

Thorax rather bright blue-green above, with the usual white spot in the groove before the wing, and a

large opaque black mark behind it. Halteres and tegule yellow, the latter with black cilia. Abdomen

concolorous with the thorax, with narrow black bands on the incisures: hypopygium small, brownish-

black, hairy near the base, the lamelle small, oval, yellow, faintly darker at the tip, with long yellow

hairs on the margin. Fore coxe yellow, the base slightly infuscated; middle and hind cox black, the

apical third or half yellow ; fore femora yellow, the middle ones with the apical third, the hind ones with

the apical half, black. Hind tibize black at the tip, and the whole hind tarsi black ; the other tarsi pale at

the base. Wings moderately and evenly infuscated ; bend of the fourth vein a Little beyond the middle,

almost at a right angle, but rounded, curved so as to be almost parallel with the third for some distance

at the apex ; costa not enlarged.

Q. Face, legs, and wings showing the same characteristics as the male.

Length 2°6 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Vera Cruz, Teapa, Frontera (Hl. H. Smith).

Two males and six females.

8. Paraclius humeralis, sp.n. (Tab. VI. fig. 10, profile of abdomen of ¢.)

d. Face narrow, white; front white; antenne small, black, the arista only a little pubescent ; cilia of orbit

white to above the middle. Thorax bright blue-green, the large white spot in the sutural groove

extending forward in a curve over the humerus, the black spot behind the white one large; tegule and

halteres yellow, cilia of former black, as usual. Abdomen concolorous with the thorax, but with narrow

black bands on the incisures, and some white dust in the green at the sides; hypopygium short, thick, the

lamell@ very small, brownish-yellow. Legs black, the trochanters, the tibia (except the tips of the hind

ones), and the base of the fore and middle tarsi, yellow, the fore tibiz distinctly paler than the others.

Fore tarsi as long as their tibize, the last four joints of equal length. Wings infuscated along the veins ;

costa with just a suspicion of an enlargement; last section of the fourth vein nearly forming a right angle

at its middle, the tip almost exactly parallel with the third for some distance.

Length 4°3 millim.

Hab, Muxico, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (1. H. Smith).

Two males, one female; the latter is headless and otherwise damaged, but it does

not seem to offer any noticeable differences.

4, Paraclius venustus, sp. n. (Tab. VI. fig. 11, wing of 3.)

3. Face narrow, silvery-white; front deep green; antenne red, third joint slightly infuscated; arista

considerably pubescent ; cilia of inferior orbit white. Thorax rather dark blue, whitish-dusted in front ;

pleure green, with thin white dust; halteres and tegule yellow, cilia of the latter black. Abdomen with

a round spot of white dust on the sides of each segment; hypopygium small, dark green, with moderately

large, ovate, yellow lamelle, which are brown on the upper and anterior edges. Coxe yellow, the middle

DIPTERA. 341

ones brown on the outer side; femora and tibia pale yellow, the tarsi only slightly brownish. Wings

almost hyaline, the fourth vein bent halfway between the cross-vein and the apex.

Length 2—2°7 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Sinith).

Numerous specimens. The antenne in some specimens have a marked point on the

third joint, which is enlarged; others scarcely show this. In some males the hairs on

the last abdominal segment are noticeably large.

SARCIONUS*, gen. nov.

This genus greatly resembles Pelastoneurus, but differs decidedly in the structure

of the face, which in the male is only one-tenth, in the female one-fifth or one-sixth, of

the entire width of the head. In the male it is a little wider in the upper and lower

parts, narrowest at or about the middle. The antenne have the same structure as in

Pelastoneurus, the arista being plumose. ‘This character separates the genus from

Paraclius, with which, however, its relationship is less close. In these three genera,

I attach less importance to the shape of the last section of the third vein than to the

characters of the head. Some species are readily separated generically by the wing-

structure, but others are not. Type, S. déneatus (Aldrich).

1. Sarcionus lineatus.

Pelastoneurus lineatus, Aldrich, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1896, p. 312°.

Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Taba:co (H. H. Smith).—ANtTILLES, St. Vincent 1.

Two females.

2. Sarcionus flavicoxa, sp. n. (Pecilobothrus flavicoxa, Tab. VI. figg. 15, wing,

15a, head. ¢.)

g. Face narrowed below the middle, on account of an area of enlarged facets in the eye on this level, at

this place less than one-tenth the width of the head, its colour uniform greyish-white. Mouth small.

Palpi inconspicuous, yellowish. Antenne rather dark yellow; third joint brownish-yellow, large, arista

with short plumosity. Front short, on account of the high insertion of the antenne, whitish-dusted. Cilia

of inferior orbit black. Thorax dark green, not very bright, the blackish spots in front of the wings

seeming in certain lights to continue round the front of it; the white spots in the sutural groove

large, but not silvery; pleure entirely brownish-yellow, including the hind border; halteres and

tegule yellow, cilia of the latter black. Abdomen dull green, the incisures narrowly and faintly brownish ;

venter with a brown tinge; hypopygium rather large, brown, the lamellz of the same colour, long and

pointed, the tips darker, the margins with black hairs. Legs yellow, the middle and hind coxe scarcely

infuscated at the base; the middle tarsi slightly infuscated, the fore and hind ones yellow to the end.

Wings yellowish, slightly widened ; curve of the fourth vein just beyond the middle of the last segment,

quite gradual, still with a considerable concavity behind ; costa not thickened.

Q. Face about twice as wide as in the male; pleure blackish, the sutures brown; tarsi somewhat more

infuscated.

Length 3:9 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

* From capxioy, a flaw in an emerald, in reference to the narrow silvery face between the green eyes.

542 SUPPLEMENT.

One male, one female; the male somewhat immature. There is a notable shortening

of the fore tarsus in this species, whichis a good character: in the male its length is

five-sixths, in the female only three-fifths, that of the tibia; this is very remarkable

for a female. On the Plate this insect is referred to the genus Pacilobothrus, an error

immediately discovered as soon as I was able to see European specimens of the latter.

PHYLARCHUS, gen. nov.*

Face broad, narrowest at the points of insertion of the palpi, concave above and convex below, like that of

Pelastoneurus. Antenne small; first joint hairy above, ending in a delicate oblique prolongation on the

inner side below ; second joint of moderate size, not prolonged on the inner side of the third in a thumb-

like manner, but only with a rounding outline ; third joint rounded, of medium size, with short plumose

arista. Palpi small, pointed. Thorax destitute of acrostichal bristles, hinder part not concave or

flattened ; scutellum with one pair of stout bristles and several delicate pale hairs on the edge. Abdomen

rather short, not compressed, with five visible segments. Legs with comparatively few bristles, the

femora all bearing some rather prominent hairs on the underside beyond the middle; hind metatarsus

only a little shorter than the following joint; hind coxe with one bristle and a hair on the outer side.

Venation as figured (fig. 16): fourth vein straight in its last section ; third vein converging very slightly,

almost parallel ; posterior cross-vein distant its own length from the margin on the fifth vein; first vein

’ reaching only a little over one-third of the length of the wing.

Related to Diostracus. The characters are taken from the female only, the male not

being represented in the collection before me.

1. Phylarchus tripartitus, sp. n. (Tab. VI. fig. 16, wing of 2.)

Q. Face and front pure brown down the middle, with a narrow white stripe on each side, which becomes

bluish above: it extends down over the bulging occiput, becoming gradually wider, so as to bring the

brown collar to a point above the neck. Antenne red, the upper edge black ; arista black, short, plumose,

inserted near the base. Cilia of inferior orbit black. Palpi covered with white dust. Thorax bluish-white

or glaucous above, with a sharply-defined median brown stripe, occupying all the space between the dorsal

bristles, or about one-third of the width; the outer edges of this brown stripe become purplish, and the

same colour shows on the sides of the front near the vertex; from the humerus to the root of the wing

there is a darker brown stripe, on the upper edge of which are three round black dots of considerable

size; pleure black, covered with glaucous dust, which extends down over the coxe. Tegula yellow, their

cilia black ; halteres yellow, the large knob black. Abdomen rather dark greenish-bronze, on the sides

with patches of glaucous dust. Legs yellow, the extreme base of the fore coxe infuscated; all the tibia

very slightly infuscated, and the extreme tips of the hind femora narrowly blackened ; tarsi infuscated

from the base. Wings infuscated ; veins black and rather heavy.

Length 3 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith).

Two females.

SYNTORMON.

Syntormon, Loew, Neue Beitr. v. p. 35 (1857); Wheeler, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. (3) ii. p. 36 (1899).

1. Syntormon quadratus, sp. n. (Tab. VI. figg. 18, wing, 18a, antenna, g .)

g. Face and front black, with thin brownish dust, the former wide, but narrowing a little towards the mouth.

Antenne wholly black, the first joint strikingly elongated, swollen towards the tip, about the length of

the remaining two, entirely bare ; second joint of the usual form, projecting forward on the inner side of

* gvdapxos, the head of a tribe.

LC DIPTERA. 343

the third for only a moderate distance; third joint large, almost square, the arista inserted at the upper

apical corner, the latter about the length of the antenna, stout, blunt at the tip. Cilia of the inferior orbit

whitish ; the fine hairs of the lower part of the eyes strikingly long. From the mouth there extend severul

minute slender filaments of peculiar appearance, but I am unable to see what they represent. ‘Thorax

and abdomen greenish-black, the small hairs of the latter mostly brownish-black ; bristles of the thorax

strong, the acrostichal bristles in two rows. Tegule yellow, with black cilia; halteres brownish-yellow.

Abdomen with six visible segments ; hypopygium embedded, only the tips of some blackish organs visible.

Fee Legs, including the tarsi, uniformly brownish-black, the knees narrowly yellowish ; fore cox with a

greenish reflection; hind metatarsi shortened (otherwise the tarsi present no tangible peculiarities).

Wings as shown in the figure (fig. 18): wide at the tip, with the second and third veins very divergent,

and the third and fourth slightly so; pale yellowish in colour.

male; palpi and proboscis of usual form, dark brown. Thorax scarcely shining, with olivaceous dust.

Wings lacking the peculiarities of the male.

Length 3 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Mexico city (H. H. Smith).

Two males, two females.

PARASYNTORMON.

Parasyntormon, Wheeler, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. (8) 11. p. 41 (1899).

1. Parasyntormon wheeleri, sp. n. (lab. VI. fig. 19, antenna from inner

side, d.)

3. Face long, narrow, a little wider above, black, covered with brown dust, which is somewhat paler below ;

palpi and proboscis brown. Antenne wholly black, at least twice the length of the head; first joiut

bare; second joint prolonged on the inside of the third nearly to its middle; third joint very long,

somewhat oblong, with the upper apical angle drawn out into a slender point a little longer than the

main part of the organ, the whole joint hairy ; arista apical, about one-fifth as long as the joint. Front

greenish-black, not very shining. Cilia of inferior orbit pale. Thorax dark green above, with un

indistinct trace of a coppery line in the middle, and one along the inner dorsal bristles on each side ;

acrostichal bristles large, in a single row; scutcllum with a single large pair of bristles; pleura dark

green, with grey dust. Tegule yellow, with black cilia; halteres yellow. Abdomen dull bronze-green,

the second and third segments with an indistinct antero-lateral yellow spot on each side; venter

narrowly yellow. Hypopygium standing out prominently behind the sixth segment, blackish-bronze in

colour, rounded; there are two pairs of very small organs protruding forward, the hinder ones yellowish,

rather filiform, with minute hairs, the others brownish, bare, expanded and truncate at the tip. Legs

yellow, all the cox infuscated on the basal two-thirds, the hind femora in some specimens slightly

infuscated above on the apical half. Fore tarsus of very distinctive form : first joint of moderate length,

slightly enlarged at the tip, bearing on the underside near the base a row of four black bristles of

increasing length ; second joint one-half the length of the first, swollen on the underside ; third joint a

little shorter, with a curved bristle on the underside at the base; the remaining joints of ordinary

structure. All the cox with coarse black bristles at the tip. Wings subhyaline ; third and fourth veins

exactly parallel, the latter ending in the tip of the wing.

Q. Antenne with the third joint comparatively short, the arista long, bent down near its point of origin ;

second joint extending very perceptibly over the third on the inuer side.

Length 2:2 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Mexico city (HZ. H. Smith).

Four males and two females. Named in honour of Professor Wm. M. Wheeler, who

has worked out this group in the United States.

344 SUPPLEMENT.

SYMPYCNUS.

Sympycnus, Loew, Neue Beitr. v, p. 42 (1857).

1. Sympycnus angustipennis, sp. n. (Tab. VI. fig. 20, wing of ¢.)

g. Face extremely narrow below, white-dusted ; front purple in the middle. Antenne brownish-yellow, rather

elongate, slender ; the third joint rounded, with almost basal arista. Cilia of inferior orbit white. Dorsum

of thorax bluish-green, not distinctly marked with lines, but with scattered whitish dust. Scutellum of

the same colour. Pleurz bluish-green, with grey dust, the hind margin, a humeral spot, and a few faint

traces elsewhere, yellow. THalteres and tegule yellow, the latter with yellowish cilia. Abdomen dark

bronze, the venter and the sides near the base yellow; hypopygium protruding moderately behind, with a

distinct pair of pale yellow appendages. Legs, including the coxe, yellow ; the middle and hind coxe each

with a blackish bristle on the outer side; tarsi but little infuscated. Pulvilli not enlarged. Middle

metatarsus as long as all the following joints. Wings subhyaline, so narrow that the outline behind is

almost symmetrical with that in front ; fourth vein ending at the apex.

2. Face quite wide; the purple front very conspicuous ; wings considerably wider behind near the base.

Length 2°1 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Orizaba (H. H. Smith).

One male and one female.

2. Sympycnus varipes, sp. n.

g. Face slender, narrower below, covered with brownish dust ; front of the same colour, not shining. Antenne

black, short ; third joint hairy, pointed, the arista arising near the base. Cilia of the inferior orbit white.

Dorsum of thorax opaque grey, with the bristles arising from brown spots and with a brown line down the

middle, where there is a scattered row of large acrostichal bristles. Scutellum bright blue above, somewhat

dusted around the margin. Pleurs opaque, grey, greenish below. Halteres and tegulew yellow; cilia of

the latter of a rather neutral brownish colour. Abdomen bronze-green, the anterior part of each segment

purplish-bronze above ; hypopygium rounded, projecting behind, but not showing any appendages in the

only specimen seen. Fore legs, including the coxe, yellow: the last tarsal joint black ; this joint is enlarged,

and the pulvilli also. Middle coxe black, except at the tip, with white hairs in front; middle legs

otherwise yellow, except the last joint of the tarsi, which is black, and the tips of the remaining tarsal

joints, which are slightly infuscated. Hind coxe black, except at the tip, with one long blackish bristle

on the outer side; hind femora faintly infuscated above near the tip ; extreme tip of the hind tibie and the

whole of the hind tarsi infuscated ; first and second joints of hind tarsus of nearly equal length. Wings

subhyaline, moderately narrowed at the base; fourth vein ending at the tip.

Length 2°6 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Omilteme in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

One male.

3, Sympycnus coxalis, sp.n. (Tab. VI. fig. 21, profile, ¢.)

3. Face and front black, thinly dusted with grey. Antenne yellow (the third joint missing in the type), with-

- out any infuscation, short. Palpi brown. (Cilia of the inferior orbit entirely concealed in the described

specimen by the collapsing of the head.) Thorax and abdomen greyish-green, not very shining ; pleura

similarly coloured ; the hairs on the abdomen, especially near the tip, brown. Hypopygium thick, very

unsymmetrical, of a brown colour, closely applied to the abdomen, so that no appendages protrude.

There is a distinct notch in the ventral outline where the hypopygium begins, which is preceded by some

long brown hairs. The first two segments of the venter, as well as the hind margin of the pleura and a

humeral spot, are brown. Legs yellow, the base of the middle tibie infuscated. Fore coxe wholly

yellow, with three or four extremely long blackish bristles, not all being at the tip; fore tarsi not

DIPTERA. 345

infuscated, the last joint on the inner side below with three or four minute, but stout, black bristles ;

the inner claw bends back towards these, so as to form the beginning or rudiment of a grasping-organ,

which is less fully developed than in S. falco and S. similis. Middle coxe with a row of five stout, blunt,

black bristles on the front side (a close inspection under the compound microscrope indicates that these

are really located on a horn- or scale-like projection from the basal part of the coxa, which extends

parallel with the body of the segment). Middle and hind tarsi slightly infuscated. Middle and hind

femora each with a distinct row of stout hairs below, largest on the latter. Wings subhyaline, quite

short; the fourth vein ending almost immediately behind the apex.

Length 1:7 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

One male. This species, with S. falco and S. similis, should constitute a separate

genus. They all agree in having a short compact form, entirely unlike that belonging

to Sympycnus. The thick, short, and very unsymmetrical hypopygium is also different.

S. coxalis is readily separated from the other two species mentioned by its yellow

ntenne.

DIAPHORUS.

Diaphorus, Meigen, Syst. Beschr. iv. p. 32 (1824).

Lyroneurus, Loew, Wien. ent. Monatschr. i. 37 (1857).

1. Diaphorus simplex.

Lyroneurus simplex, Aldrich, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1896, p. 333, t. 12. fig. 117°.

Hab. Mexico, Orizaba, Mexico city, Atoyac, Teapa (H. H. Smith).—ANTILLES,

St. Vincent 1.

Numerous specimens. I find that the female of this species cannot be distinguished

from the same sex of D. spectabilis, and the genus Lyroneurus is therefore, in my

opinion, untenable.

2. Diaphorus spectabilis.

Diaphorus spectabilis, Loew, Neue Beitr. viii. p. 57'; Mou. N. A. Dipt. i. p. 162°.

Diaphorus approximatus, Aldrich, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1896, p. 321°.

Hab. Norra America, United States! 2.—Mzxico, Cuernavaca, Sierra de las

Aguas Escondidas, Orizaba, Vera Cruz, Atoyac, Medellin, Teapa (H. H. Smith).—

ANTILLES, St. Vincent ?.

A large number of specimens. In this species there appears to be an occasional

variation in the degree of contiguity of the eyes of the male: Loew! described them

as “ meeting upon the front to a large extent.” In the St. Vincent examples the eyes,

normally, are not quite contiguous, and I described the species under a new name ; but

I ascertained afterwards that this was also the case in the specimens inhabiting the

United States. Amongst the Mexican insects before me, one male has the eyes

narrowly, and another has them rather widely, separated, although in the latter there is

_ BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., December 1901. 2y

346 SUPPLEMENT.

a perceptible approximation. They have the front white, like the face, and the fore

coxe yellow at the tip for some distance.

In still another male, from Mexico city, which probably belongs to a distinct species,

the eyes are decidedly contiguous, the tibie and tarsi are blackish, leaving only the

fore and middle knees yellow, the femora have much longer hairs, and the pulvilli of

the fore feet are extremely large, with a distinct brownish cast.

3. Diaphorus deceptivus, sp. n.

g. Face blackish, rather opaque, in the best-preserved specimens with a slight white pruinosity; antenne

small, entirely black, arista almost exactly apical; eyes narrowly contiguous on the face; cilia of lateral

and inferior orbits white. Thorax globose, bright green above, the pleure blackish, with thin grey dust ;

halteres yellow; tegule infuscated, their cilia blackish, but in certain lights yellowish. Abdomen dark

golden-green, with brown hairs on the sides and venter; the usual apical bristles scarcely perceptible ;

hypopygium very small. Legs yellow, the middle and hind coxe infuscated for about half their length,

and the fore coxe sometimes a little infuscated at the base; hairs all appearing yellow when viewed

against a dark background; tarsi but little infuscated; fore pulvilli rather large, the hind ones the

smallest. Wings yellowish, the veins brownish-yellow ; venation as usual.

¢. Face cinereous; front of the same colour, green in the middle; cilia of the tegule in some lights quite

white.

Length 2-7 to 3 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Omilteme in Guerrero, Medellin in Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith).

Three males and five females. The hairs of the legs would be called black if

examined against a white background. The colour of the tegular cilia is peculiarly

obscure and misleading. D. deceptivus seems to be related to D. sudsejunctus, Loew,

of the West Indies; but differs in having the front of the male obliterated by the

contiguity of the eyes, the cilia of the tegule darker, and the posterior tarsi more

infuscated. These characters seem evanescent, and cannot be regarded as fully

establishing the validity of the present species. Loew’s description in this case is

brief, and less satisfactory than would be expected of him.

4, Diaphorus nigrescens, sp. n.

d. Face, front, palpi, and antennz opaque black; front moderately narrow with parallel sides; untenne

small, third joint especially so, arista almost exactly apical. Cilia of the inferior orbit yellowish. Thorax

opaque blackish, the dorsum a little shining behind, the scutellum moderately bright green. Halteres

yellow. Cilia of tegule black. Abdomen blackish-green, the dorsum shining; apical bristles distinct ;

hypopygium rather prominent for this genus, still not exserted. Legs opaque blackish, the fore ones

brownish, and all the knees very narrowly yellow; pulvilli white, moderately enlarged. Wings uniformly

infuscated, not very dark, the veins at the base browa rather than black. Venation normal ; fourth vein

ending exactly in the tip. Length 3-1 millim.

Q. Rather larger; wings larger, broader, and darker; face and front wider ; legs more uniformly black.

Length 4:1 millim.

_ Hab. Muxico, Chilpancingo, Omilteme, and Sierra de las Aguas Escondidas in

Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

One male and three females. Except for the larger size and the separated eyes of

male, this species greatly resembles D. opacus, Loew.

[eh]

poe

DIPTERA.

5. Diaphorus ——?

Hab. Mexico, Teapa and Medellin (H. H. Smith).

A single pair. Allied to D. satrapa, Wheeler, in having the base of the abdomen

yellow. I refrain from describing the species, as I am not certain that it differs from

the following.

6. Diaphorus ——?

Hab. Mexico, Teapa (H. H. Smith).

One pair, both specimens badly broken. ‘The wing of the male has the third vein

peculiarly sinuate, a character upon which the genus Lyroneurus, Loew, is based. See

my remarks under D. simples, antea, p. 345.

CHRYSOTUS.

Chrysotus, Meigen, Syst. Beschr. iv. p. 40 (1824).

1. Chrysotus teapanus, sp. n.

A small, dark species, resembling C. niger, Aldrich, but with paler legs and more metallic dorsum.

¢. Eyes contiguous for half the length of the face; palpi blackish; antenne black, small, the third joint in

some specimens slightly prolonged, but usually short, the arista pubescent ; front dark green, but little

metallic; cilia of inferior orbis apparently black, except perhaps one or two near the mouth (I have not

been able to see them well, on account of the head in nearly all the specimens being a little flattened baek

against the thorax). Dorsum of the thorax bright green, pleure greenish-black ; halteres yellow ; tegule

brownish, the cilia varying from brown to yellow, according to the light. Abdomen somewhat more

golden green than the thorax, blackish beneath, the dorsum with rather numerous black hairs. Coxe

and femora brownish-black, the tibie and tarsi yellow (apparently rather variable in colour). Wings

greyish ; venation not presenting any marked peculiarities.

Face of uniform width, whitish-dusted ; legs a little paler than in the male.

Length 1:4 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

Seven males and three females.

2. Chrysotus discolor.

Chrysotus discolor, Loew, Neue Beitr. viii. p. 65'; Mon. N. A. Dipt. 1. p. 182 *,

Hab. Norra America, Middle States12.—Mexico, Chilpancingo and Omilteme

in Guerrero, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

Seven specimens, including both sexes, agreeing perfectly with the description. It

ought to be mentioned, in addition, that the bristles of the body are pale, varying from

whitish to brownish. ‘The violet abdomen of the male is the most striking character,

and seems perfectly constant.

2y 2

348 SUPPLEMENT.

3. Chrysotus excisus. |

Chrysotus excisus, Aldrich, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1896, p. 325°.

Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).—Antiuies, St. Vincent !.

One male and one female.

4. Chrysotus picticornis.

Chrysotus picticornis, Loew, Mon. N. A. Dipt. ii. p. 184’; Wheeler, Psyche, 1890, p. 358’;

Aldrich, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1896, p. 329°.

Hab. Norta America, Illinois!?.—Mexico, Atoyac, Frontera, Teapa (H. H.

Smith).—AnTILLES, St. Vincent 3.

Three specimens. A common species in the Southern United States.

5. Chrysotus vividus.

Chrysotus vividus, Loew, Mon. N. A. Dipt. ii. p. 178°.

Hab. Norta America, Illinois 1.—Mexico, Xucumanatlan and Omilteme in

Guerrero, Cuernavaca in Morelos, Atoyac and Medellin in Vera Cruz, Teapa in

Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

Numerous specimens. The identification is open to some doubt, in view of the fact —

that Loew describes the cilia of the tegule as black, while in these Mexican insects

they are of a variable brownish colour, in some examples almost white, and in a few

of the females almost black. Otherwise the description applies very well. I do not

possess a specimen of the species from the United States.

6. Chrysotus 2

Hab. Mexico, Chilpancingo in Guerrero (H. H. Sinith).

A single female, closely related to C. hirsutus, Aldrich.

7. Chrysotus 2

Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

One male, resembling C. vividus, Loew, but with pale tegular cilia, and the face

decidedly narrowed in‘the middle. The group is so difficult that I refrain from

describing the Teapa insect as a separate species.

DIPTERA. 349

EUTARSUS.

Eutarsus, Loew, Neue Beitr. v. p. 45 (1857).

1. Eutarsus loewi, sp. n.

@. Face long, very narrow, covered with white dust; palpi and proboscis small, yellow; antenne yellow,

towards the tip slightly infuscated, all the joints small, first bare above, arista subapical; front short,

covered with white dust; cilia of inferior orbit much folded-in (in the described specimen), but apparently

yellowish-brown in colour. Thorax short, round when seen from above, bright green in the middle and

posterior part, including the scutellum; fore part brown, as also a narrow portion above the wing ;

pleure, metanotum, and under-edge of the scutellum yellowish-brown. Halteres yellow, the knob

infuscated ; tegule yellow, their cilia black. Abdomen dark brown, towards the tip blackish, without

metallic lustre ; first three segments with a paler yellow band across each ; venter yellow-brown behind ;

hypopygium small, sessile, the visible organs minute, brownish. Legs, including the coxe, yellow, the

hind tibie slightly infuscated throughout, the hind tarsi blackened, the metatarsi shortened ; fore pulvilli

enlarged. Wings pale brownish-yellow ; first vein long, third and fourth veins parallel and rather distant

in the last part of their course.

Length 3°3 millim.

Hab. Muxico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

One male.

THRYPTICUS.

Thripticus, Gerstaecker, Stett. ent. Zeit. 1866, p. 43.

Aphantotimus, Wheeler, Psyche, 1890, p. 375.

Xanthotricha, Aldrich, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1896, p. 339.

1. Thrypticus fraterculus.

Aphantotimus fraterculus, Wheeler, Psyche, 1890, p. 376°.

Hab. Norra America, Wisconsin }.—Mexico, Mexico city (H. H. Smith).

One male and one female.

2. Thrypticus cupuliferus.

Xanthotricha cupulifera, Aldrich, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1896, p. 339, t. 11. figg. 106, 106 a’.

Hab. Mexico, Orizaba (H. H. Smith).—Antitues, St. Vincent ’.

A single female.

3. Thrypticus pusillus, sp. n.

3. Face wide, violet in colour, without dust ; front similarly coloured; antenne blackish or dark brown, very

short, the long terminal arista pubescent, brown ; cilia of the inferior orbit pale; palpi yellowish.

Dorsum of the thorax purple, the sides bright green, the posterior part green above, concave ; bristles

prownish-yellow. Halteres light yellow ; tegule of the same colour, with pale yellow cilia. Abdomen

brownish-green, not very bright, with numerous closely placed brown hairs ; hypopygium dark brown, of

moderate length, large in the middle and rather pointed, the lamella large, pointed, pale yellow ; out of

the inner and upper (morphologically ventral) part of the hypopygium arise a pair of yellow lance-like

organs, curved at the base, and reaching about as far as the tips of the lamellae. Legs, including the

350 SUPPLEMENT.

coxe, pale yellow, hind tarsi only very slightly infuscated at the tip; hind metatarsi shorter than the

following joint, on the underside with one or two oblique rows of comb-like spinules (not perceptible

except under a high power); hind coxe with one erect bristle on the outer side. Wings hyaline, broad ;

the second and third veins far apart at their tips.

Length 1 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

A single male. A female, from Medellin, near Vera Cruz, differs in the following

particulars: it is larger, the bristles are paler, and the minute brown ovipositor

protrudes in a triangular form, this portion being reddish-brown in colour, with

perceptible dentations on the edges; the purple face, front, and thoracic dorsum are

asin the male. Length 1°5 millim.

A second male, from Medellin, has the thorax wholly golden-green, the antenne

acorn-coloured, and the abdomen bright green; I doubt if it belongs to the same

species.

The members of this genus, on account of the extreme delicacy and softness of the

integument, are probably subject to even more variation in the hues of blue, green,

and violet than other Dolichopodide. For the purposes of classification it is very

essential that they should be observed while fresh, and in large numbers. To judge

from the material before me, it seems probable that Thrypticus is fairly rich in species.

4, Thrypticus (2) 2

Hab. Mexico, Omilteme (H. H. Smith).

A male and two females from Omilteme seem to belong near Thrypticus. The

hypopygium is more compact and bulky than in that genus, the arista is distinctly

dorsal, and there are no acrostichal bristles, except a few in one female, which may on

that account belong to a different species, though otherwise indistinguishable.

PSILOPUS (p. 214). .

The American species of Psilopus have received no general treatment, except from

Loew, and his work was confined to North-American forms, chiefly, indeed, to those of

the United States, as he had but little material from other parts. The great number

of descriptions of the earlier writers has been an obstacle to any advancement in the

study of the genus, since very few of these refer to characters that are really distinctive.

The course I have followed, which appeared to be the only one possible, has been to

examine all the old descriptions, arrange the specimens at hand, construct a Table of

alt recognized North, Central, and South-American species, and describe as new all

those that could not be identified. The Table includes forty-seven species, all of which

are known to me, except P. pilosus, Loew. The male of P. basilaris remains

unidentified, but the female is readily recognizable, unlike many of the genus. In

DIPTERA. 351

addition to the above, about six different forms of females have been seen, which I am

unable to assign a place.

The total number of Mexican species recognized by me in the collection under

examination is twenty-nine, of which twenty-three are described as new.

It will be understood that they all have black cilia to the tegule, and four large

bristles on the scutellum.

For P. dimidiatus, see the genus Gnamptopsilopus, infra, pp. 364, 365.

The species described by Bigot (Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1890) are scarcely recognizable,

and they are not included in the Table; one only of them (Pstlopodinus astequinus,

lc. p. 290, and Bulletin, 1888, p. xxx) is from Mexico, The other unidentified

Mexican forms are mentioned by Osten Sacken, anted, p. 214.

Table of the American Species of Psilopus known to me, based on male specimens.

1. Femora black . . 2 1 1. ee ee ee ee ee

Femora yellow . » oe ee ew ew 8D

2. Wings with dark markings . 3.

Wings without dark markings . 22.

3. Fore tarsi with a dense black fringe on the sides of the ath and 5th

joints ; middle tarsi with the 2nd and 3rd joints less broadly fringed

(Mex.). 2... ee ee ee ee ee ee eee bifimbriatus, sp. nr.

Fore tarsi of different structure . 4.

4. Fore tibie black 2. 2. 1. 6 ee ee ee eee ee ee

Fore tibiz pale, at most somewhat brownish . . 2 . . . eee YD.

5. Face with abundant, delicate, pale hairs (U.\S.) . . . . . . « « [patibulatus, Say.]

Face destitute of pale hairs . Le ee 6.

6. Second joint of antennze with numerous long bristles . . . . . + 7%.

Second joint of antenne with few and short bristles. . . . . . . 8.

7. Last four joints of fore tarsus short, subequal (W. U.S.) . . . [pilicornis, Aldr. |

Last four joints of fore tarsus decreasing in length (W. U.S., Mex. ) . melampus, Loew.

8. The brown cross-bands broadly connected on the fourth vein, leaving a

round hyaline spot in the first posterior cell (Brazil) . . . . [guttula, Wiedem. |

Cross-bands not connected behind; 5th joint of fore tarsus slightly

compressed, with a silvery reflection on the inner side (Mex.) . . prestans, sp. n.

9. All the tarsi wholly black [guttula, Wiedem. |

Fore tarsi wholly pale; middle ones black, with a narrow silver fringe

above on the last two joints (Mex., Brazil). . . . . . . . . diffusus, Wiedem.

Fore and middle tarsi but little infuscated ; 4th joimt of latter pure

white, not enlarged (Antilles, Mex., Brazil) . . . . . . . . belludus, Aldr.

Fore tarsi infuscated, except part of the firstjomt . . . . . . . 10.

10. Knob of halteres infuscated . 2. 1...) . ee ee OD

Knob of halteres yellow. 2. 2. 2. 1 1 ew ee ee ee ee 1

11. Wings with only a faint cloud, before the third vem (Mex.) . . . . ctliipes, sp. n.

Wings with two cross-bands, or at least the hind cross-vein infuscated. 12.

352 SUPPLEMENT.

12.

13.

14.

15.

Middle and hind tibie entirely black

At least the middle tibie largely yellow. . oe

Middle metatarsi ciliated above (Cuba). . . . .. .

Middle metatarsi not ciliated above (Mex.)

Middle metatarsi ciliated (Mex., Brazil) . . . ...

Middle metatarsi not ciliated .

3rd and 4th joints of hind tarsi subequal, a ‘little swollen (Mex.) )

~ These joints of normal structure (Cuba, Jamaica, Brazil) .

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

Apical third of fore coxa, with trochanter and base of femur, yellow

(Mex.) . . . . os .

Not more than the extreme apex of the fore coxa ‘yellow .

Middle tibia with a row of small bristles on the front of the inner side,

extending the whole length (Mex.) . . .

Middle tibia with a row of stout bristles on the outer side, middle

metatarsus ciliated (Mex., Brazil)

Middle tibia with the usual bristles only

Last two joints of hind tarsus flattened .

Last two joints of hind tarsus not flattened .

Cross-bands broad, including half the wing (Brazil) .

Cross-bands narrow, scarcely a fourth of the wing darkened (Mex.)

Middle tarsi entirely infuscated (Mex.). . . . . . .

Middle tarsi broadly yellow at the base. . . ee ew

Hypopygium minute, appendages inconspicuous (Mex., Brazil) .

' Hypopygium large, the appendages large, flattened, black (Mex.)

Face with abundant slender hairs.

Face bare .

Face with dark hairs (Mex., “Brazil) .

Face with pale hairs .

First joint of the middle tarsi beset with crooked bristles .

First joint of the middle tarsi without bristles

Tip of the abdomen with a tuft of strikingly long hairs WU. S. ; Antilles,

Mex., S. Am.)

Tip of the abdomen with only moderate hairs W. 8. )

Middle tibia with a strikingly long apical spur (U.S.) .

Middle tibia without such spur (U.S.) 2

Arista at least two-thirds the length of the entire body .

Arista much shorter soe ee soe woe .

Arista ending in a small disc, fore metatarsus without long cilia above

(Mex.) oe ee .

Arista plain, fore metatarsus with a long cilia above .

Appendages of hypopygium pale, middle metatarsus also ciliated W. 8.,

Mex.) . .

Appendages of hypopygium blackish, ‘middle metatarsus plain Ww. s. ).

13.

14.

[ pilosus, Loew. ]

inornatus, sp. 0.

triseriatus, sp. 0.

15.

atricauda, sp. n.

[jucundus, Loew. ]

coxalis, sp. 0.

17.

genualis, sp. n.

triseriatus, sp. 0.

18.

19.

20.

(gracilis, Aldr.]

depressus, sp. n.

purpuratus, sp. n.

2l.

similis, sp. n.

atrolamellatus, sp. n.

23.

27.

barbatus, sp. n.

24.

25.

26.

caudatus, Wiedem.

[scobinator, Loew. ]

[calcaratus, Loew.]

[tnermis, Loew.]

28.

30.

nobilissimus, sp. 0.

29.

comatus, Loew.

[erinitus, Aldr.]

DIPTERA. 353

30. Thoracic dorsum covered with thin white dust, front densely silvery-

pollinose (Mex.) 2. 2. 2. 1 1 6 6 ee we ew ee we wee rgentatus, Sp. 0.

Thorax and front mostly shining . . ~ 6 « . Ol.

31. Costa with a row of erect cilia. 2. 2. 2. . 1. 6 we ee ew ee OR,

Costa without cilia . . . 2. 2 6 e+ 6 woe ee we 88.

_ 82. Second joint of the fore tarsus shorter than any of the following joints

(U.S)... 2. ;% . . an . . . « « [eiliatus, Loew.]

Second joint of the fore t tarsus longer than any of the following joints

(Mex.) . . . hirtipes, sp. n.

33. Middle metatarsi with erect cilia above (Mex,) ciliipes, sp. n.

Middle metatarsi not so ciliated . . . . ee ew we wwe BS

34. Middle tibie yellow, colour of body purple (Mex. yo. we ee. purpureus, sp. 1.

Middle tibie yellow, colour of body green (Mex.) . . . . . . . forcipatus, sp. n.

Middle tibie black (U.S., W.I.) chrysoprasius, Walk.

35. Wings with dark markings. . 2. 2. 2. 1 1 1 ee ee ee (886.

Wings wholly hyaline . 2. 2 1 we ee ee ee ee ee AE

36. Antenne yellow (Brazil, Mex.) woe ew ww ewe ee). basilaris, Wiedem.

Antenne black. . 2. . 1. we. rs Y

37. The hyaline space between the cross- bands extending forward to the

second vein . . . woe ew ww ee 88,

Hyaline space not reaching beyond the third veln . . 40.

38. First joint of fore tarsus white at tip, the following joints black, ‘the

39. Fore coxe black (Mex.) .

Fore coxe yellow (Mex.) tee ee ee

40, Cilia of tegule pale on lower half, third vein curved forward at the

tip (Brazil)

. pennifer, sp. n.

flavicoxa, sp. ni.

woe eee ee eee eee . Ltmperator, Aldr. |

Cilia of tegule black . 2. 2. 2 1 ww eee » oe ew eA

41. 2nd and 8rd joints of fore tarsi short, swollen, bristly (Mex. ) . Cclavipes, sp. n.

Fore tarsi plain or only bristly . . 2... 1. ew we ee 48,

42. Fore coxe green (U.S.) . 2. 1 1 1 ee ee ee ee ee.) OCfviridicoxa, Aldr. |

Fore coxe pale. . 2. 2. 2 1 ee ew ee ee . . 48.

43. Middle metatarsus with a row of erect cilia on the fore side U. s, ). . [seaber, Loew. |

Middle metatarsus plain (U.S.) oe ee we ew wwe) [8tpho, Say.]

44, Face with numerous pale hairs (U\S.) . . . . . . . . . « «) [ flavipes, Aldr.]

Face bare . . . woe oe ew ew A,

45. Middle metatarsi ereatly elongated, ciliated (Antilles) . 2. ee 6 Ltnsularis, Aldr. |

Middle metatarsi plain, short (Mex.) tonsus, sp. 0.

1. Psilopus bifimbriatus, sp. n.

g. Face metallic blue, the lower half with white dust ; front deeply excavated, rather narrow, at the margin

of the eye on each side with conspicuous white hairs ; antenne small, black, second joint with few and

small bristles, arista small; lower part of the orbit with long white hair. The front and vertex have a

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., December 1901. 22

a a

354 SUPPLEMENT.

very delicate pale pruinosity, scarcely affecting the metallic reflection. Thorax metallic, bright, on the

pleure in a certain light showing some pure white pollen; cilia of tegule dark, halteres pure yellow.

Abdomen dark green, the anterior margin of each segment black; this black band becomes wider on

each succeeding segment, until in the last two itis more extensive than the green; hypopygium black,

large and up-curved, with small sordid appendages tipped with black. Fore coxs, except at the tip,

green, with white dust and hair, and near the tip with two black bristles; the other. coxw blackish.

Femora dark metallic green, with yellow apices. Fore tibie entirely brownish-black ; middle tibie

yellow ; hind ones yellow at the tip, but infuscated on the basel half or more. Fore tarsi black; the first

joint long, the third longer than the second, fourth and fifth joints with a dense black fringe on both

sides; middle tarsus with the first joint more than twice as long as the others together, and quite

distinctly white at the apex; the second and third joints equal in length, black, with a black fringe

above and below, shorter than in the fore tarsi; fourth and fifth joints short, black. Hind tarsi entirely

brownish-black, rather Jong. Wings infuscated along the costa from the base to the apex, the basal third

or fourth less deeply so, the two cross-bands almost connected in some cases on the fourth vein.

Length 7-8 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (17. H. Smith).

Three males.

2. Psilopus melampus.

Psilopus melampus, Loew, Berl. ent. Zeitschr. vi. p. 215'; Mon. N. A. Dipt. ii. p. 2537.

Hab. Nortu Amurica?, Las Cruces (Townsend), Santa Fé, New Mexico (Cockerell).

—Mexico’, Omilteme, Chilpancingo, and Xucumanatlan in Guerrero, Mexico city

(H. H. Smith), Jalisco (Schumann), Orizaba (H. H. Smith & F. D. G.), Guanajuato

and Orizaba (Townsend).

Loew suspected, and with reason, that Say meant this species when he referred to

P. patibulatus as occurring in Mexico. [See Loew, Mon. N. A. Dipt. ii. p. 256, and

Say, Complete Writings, ii. p. 361.],

P. melampus was included by Osten Sacken amongst the unidentified species of the

genus, anted, p. 214.

8. Psilopus prestans, sp. n.

g. Wholly black and green; feet black. Wings with dark cross-bands. Face bright blue, from above with a

white reflection, rather narrow, concave in the middle; antenne small, with a few little hairs on the

second joint only, arista short; front violet, deeply excavated, with very few and minute pale hairs on

the sides ; proboscis yellow. Thorax bright metallic green or blue, on the sides thinly dusted, so that, as

viewed in some directions, the green is distinct ; halteres rather dark yellow. Abdomen bright green or

blue, with narrow black bands on the incisures, the last two segments wholly shining jet-black, with

perhaps a trace of violet, the colour markedly contrasting with that of the preceding segments; bristles

moderately stout, depressed; hypopygium small, black, with two conspicuously large black filaments

behind. Legs wholly black, the coxz and femora with a slight bluish reflection. Fore tarsi with the

first joint equal in length to the tibia, the following joints shorter in succession, the fifth nearly as long

as the fourth, a little compressed, and silvered on the inner side (this joint is so small that the ornamen-

tation is not striking). Middle and hind tarsi rather stout, especially the third to the fifth joints. Fore

coxe with numerous pale hairs and three black bristles. Wings with the usual cross-bands, the interval

DIPTERA. 30)

narrow, ending at the third vein, the brown coloration filling out most of the apex of the wing; basal

half of the wing a little infuscated on the front part.

Length 6-6°5 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

Two males.

4. Psilopus diffusus.

Psilopus diffusus, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. ii. p. 221°; Loew, Mon. N. A. Dipt. ii. p. 285°.

Hab. Mexico, Teapa and Frontera in Tabasco, Medellin near Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith).

—BRAZIL ?.

Wiedemann! originally gave “ Savannah ” as the locality for this species: according

to Loew (/oc. cit.), this was changed on the type-specimen, in Wiedemann’s own writing,

to Rio Janeiro. Loew gives a complete description from other Brazilian, specimens.

The species is abundantly represented in the present collection. The width of the

black bands of the abdomen is variable, but often much more than indicated by Loew.

The greatest discrepancy is in the length of the fore tarsi, which are fully double that

of the fore tibiee in the male, and over once and a half in the female.

5. Psilopus bellulus.

Psilopus bellulus, Aldrich, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1896, p. 343 ‘,

Hab. Mexico, Cuernavaca in Morelos, Frontera and Teapa in Tabasco, Medellin near

Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith).—Brazi.; AnvILLEs, St. Vincent °.

The Mexican and South-American specimens show some differences from the type,

and I at first regarded them as a distinct species. The fore and middle tarsi are much

paler, almost white, and the fourth joint of the latter, not being especially distinguished

by its whiteness, has on the upper surface a few silvery hairs, making a rather showy

fringe. This variation in a secondary sexual character is most unusual and interesting,

indicating in this form a plasticity rarely met with in the family. The bands of the

wing are frequently faint, but are perceptible in all but very immature specimens.

Found in abundance by Mr. Smith in S.E. Mexico, and Dr. Williston has given me

specimens of it from Brazil.

6. Psilopus ciliipes, sp.n. (Tab. VI. fig. 22, interm. tibia and tarsus, ¢ .)

A dark species. Wings almost entirely hyaline; feet black, the fore tibia and base of fore tarsi yellow.

g. Face wide, transversely impressed, with but little whitish pollen ; antenne black, second joint with long

and dense hair; front wide, with a considerable amount of pale hair on the sides. Thorax dark green,

the sides but thinly pollinose ; halteres distinctly infuscated. Abdomen with broad black bands and

moderate bristles ; hypopygium very small, black, the lamelle minute, dark brown. Fore tarsi one-third

longer than the tibie, deeply infuscated for half their length; middle tibie on the front side with a

222,

356 SUPPLEMENT,

uniform row of about fourteen rather large bristles, and, in addition to these, with several other bristles,

especially on the outer side near the base. Middle tarsi slightly yellowish at the base, otherwise black ;

on the upperside of the first and second joints is a row of fine erect cilia, gradually decreasing in length,

sometimes not very easily seen on the second joint. Hind tibie bearing on the outer side a row of stout

bristles, similar to those on the middle tibise, but larger, and on the inner side also a rather bushy series,

which are conspicuously large at the base only. Wings hyaline, a little clouded before the third vein,

the fork making a right angle with the fourth vein and only gently bent, of the same shape as in

P. caudatus.

. Halteres and middle tibie yellow, wings hyaline.

Length 4:1—4°6 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Acapulco, ‘Tierra Colorada, Medellin, Vera Cruz, Cuernavaca (H. A.

Smith), N. Yucatan (Gaumer),.

The female of this species is readily distinguished from that of P. caudatus by the

absence of hairs on the face. ;

7. Psilopus inornatus, sp. n.

A rather small dark species. Wings with cross-bands; fore tibie yellowish-brown.

d. Face and front dark bluish-green, the former scarcely dusted, the latter with some extremely delicate pale

hair; antenne small, black, the second joint with long and abundant black hair. Thorax bluish-green,

pleure scarcely at all dusted ; halteres blackish. Abdomen deep blue, with broad black cross-bands and

rather strong bristles; hypopygium small, black, with two short, cylindrical, black appendages, bearing

somewhat numerous and stout black hairs. Legs black ; femora on the underside with rather longer and

stouter bristles than usual, which in some lights appear dark in colour; fore tibie and a very little of the

base of their tarsi yellowish-brown ; all the tibiz and tarsi unusually destitute of hairs and bristles, the

middle and hind tibise, however, with a few small bristles; hind tarsi just perceptibly stouter in the

middle than at the base. Wings with well-marked brown cross-bands, almost united on the fourth vein ;

apical fork with a slightly rounded right angle in the middle.

Length 4—5:2 millim.

Hab. Muxico, Tepetlapa in Guerrero, Cuernavaca in Morelos (H. H. Smith).

8. Psilopus triseriatus, sp. n.

Wings with dark markings ; femora black ; tibie yellow, the hind ones a little darker; hind tarsi blackish,

flattened near the tip.

3. Face bright green, but little dusted ; front of the same colour, with only a few pale hairs at the sides ;

antenne short, black, second joint with a few rather long bristles; the pale hair of. the inferior orbit

quite conspicuous. Thorax bright blue-green, the pleure but little dusted ; halteres infuscated; but not

very dark. Abdomen varying from green to blue, the last segment usually violet, the incisures each with

a narrow black band; hypopygium small, black, with a pair of minute brownish-yellow appendages.

Coxe and femora black ; tibia yellow, the hind ones brownish, especially near the base ; fore tibise with

a scattered row of bristles on the outer side, otherwise bare ; middle tibiz: with a row of about nine stout

bristles on the front side, and two or three small ones behind near the base ; hind tibiz with numerous

almost bristle-like hairs on the inner side. Fore tarsi one and a half times the length of the fore tibiae, the

basal half or more of the first joint yellow, the following segments brown. Middle tarsi of similar length ;

first joint as long as the tibia, bearing on its front side a dense row of erect cilia, longer than the thickness

of the joint: on the underside is a similar but smaller row, mixed with little stiff bristles, and on the

upperside a third row, not erect, and diminishing in size beyond the middle. Hind tarsi black, at the

DIPTERA. 357

base only a little paler, the last three joints of about equal length, glabrous, flattened. Wings subhyaline,

with the usual cross-bands, which are connected on the fourth vein in all the specimens before me.

Length 4:2-5 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Cuernavaca in Morelos, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).—BraziL, Rio

Janeiro.

Five males from Mexico and a male from Brazil, the latter given me by Prof. Williston.

9. Psilopus atricauda, sp. n.

3. Face blue, very thinly dusted, narrow on the lower half and in a certain light more distinctly pollinose ;

antennee small, black, the extreme base below yellow and arising from a yellow area that is slightly visible

below them, the second joint with only very few and short hairs ; front deeply excavated, blue or violet,

with a few small hairs. Thorax intense green, the scutellar region blue; pleura from above in a certain

light silvery-pollinose, in most directions, however, appearing nearly bare. Tegule deeply infuscated ;

halteres brown, the stem lighter. Abdomen with broad black bands, which take in half or more of the

last two segments ; hypopygium black, minute, with two slender, curved, yellow appendages, which have

somewhat the shape of a parenthesis. Bristles of the body nowhere of striking size and length. Coxe

and femora black ; tibie yellow, all blackened at the extreme base, and the hind ones a little at the tip;

fore tibie short, bearing a few small bristles in a row on the outer side; middle tibie without any

noticeable bristles, except one or two very small ones near the base; hind tibie with rows of small

bristles on the inner side, the outer side comparatively bare. Fore and middle tarsi elongate, slender,

plain, infuscated from about the middle of the long first joint. Hind tarsi yellowish at the base, the first

two joints very hairy, the next two a little swollen, black, subshining above, the last joint of similar

structure, but shorter; there is a distinct concavity on the underside of the last three joints. Wings with

more prominent cross-bands than usual, taking in all the apical half except the interval, which widens

behind ; on the basal half the space before the third vein is yellow ; the first cross-band narrowly reaches

the hind margin at the tip of the fifth vein.

Length 6-6°5 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco, Fortin in Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith).

Five males.

10. Psilopus coxalis, sp. n.

g. Face blue, rather narrow, densely white-pollinose ; antenne very small, with minute bristles only ; front

pollinose on the lower part and sides, with very few pale hairs. Thorax green, with thin dust, on the

sides bright white-pollinose. Tegule pale at the base, one or two of the uppermost cilia pale ; halteres

entirely yellow. Abdomen bright bluish-green, with rather narrow black bands; there are whitish hairs

on the sides as far as the fifth segment; hypopygium small, black, with small, dark, incised, hairy

appendages. Fore coxe green, covered with glistening white pollen and white hair, the tip for nearly

one-third the length pale yellow. Fore femora with the apical third and a narrow basal portion yellow ;

the hairs underneath the pale apex black. Fore tibie with a few small bristles on the outer or hinder

side. Fore tarsi with the first joint long, infuscated and a little enlarged at the tip ; second joint short,

thickened, with a pad-like structure on the underside; third joint short, bent on the second ; fourth joint

longer, also bent on the preceding, with a row of fine short bristles underneath ; fifth joint normal; all

the segments beyond the first are black. (Middle legs wanting.) Hind femora black, yellow at the

tip; hind tibie only moderately hairy, at the extreme apex infuscated ; hind tarsi black (last three

joints missing). Wings hyaline, with the usual two .cross-bands ; the space before the third vein on

the basal half is yellow, and there is a distinct spot before the small cross-vein ; the cross-bands are

358 SUPPLEMENT.

more widely separated than usual, but connected as far back as the third vein; the tip is largely

hyaline.

Length 7:2 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Misantla (F. D. G.).

One male.

11. Psilopus genualis, sp. n.

d. Face blue, when viewed from above white-pollinose, in a certain light faintly rosaceous; antenne small,

black, second joint with small bristles; front bluish-violet. Thorax green, thinly pruinose, the. sides

pure silvery-pollinose when viewed in the most favourable light, otherwise showing but little pollen..

Tegule black, halteres yellow. (Abdomen of the only specimen seen broken off at the second segment.)

Coxe and femora black, the tips of the fore and middle femora yellow. Tibie, including the hind ones,

pure yellow ; fore tibize with five or six slender erect bristles on the hinder side; middle tibise with a

close row of rather small bristles on the fore side, two or three scattered ones on the outer side, and an

irregular row of small ones behind; hind tibie with no noticeable bristles. Fore tarsi almost twice the

length of the tibis, infuscated from the tip of the first joint, bearing a few small bristles on the outer

side of the first joint near the apex, and quite a number of smaller ones on the second joint, extending

its whole length; (middle tarsi broken off); hind tarsi entirely black, of ordinary structure. Wings

subhyaline, the two cross-bands broadly connected in front, abbreviated behind; a considerable hyaline

space at the tip.

Length (estimated) 5°5 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Chilpancingo in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

A single male.

12. Psilopus purpuratus, sp. n.

¢. Face purple, rather opaque, with minute whitish dust, retreating on the upper half, then with a

transverse impression, and a narrow lower part that stands out at an angle, and extends far below the

corners of the eyes; front broad, delicate purple in colour, not very shining, with a few small white hairs

on the sides ; antenne of moderate size, third joint large, second with a few small bristles, of which the

largest are above. Thorax green, with a delicate pruinosity over its entire surface; the pleuree

beautifully silvery when viewed from above in the right light, otherwise appearing scarcely at all

pollinose. Halteres pale clear yellow. Abdomen bluish-green, white-pruinose, the last two segments

pure deep violet ; the short pile very noticeable (although the bristles are not especially large) and pale

on the sides near the base and on the first two-fifths of the venter ; hypopygium small, black, with two

small, blackish, hairy, forked appendages. Coxw and femora bluish-green, tips of the fore and middle

femora yellow ; tibiz yellow, the hind ones gradually infuscated in their apical third or wholly infuscated ;

fore tarsi faintly infuscated from the base, middle and hind ones black. The fore tibiee with several

long bristles on the hinder side near the base ; the middle tibise with a number of scattered bristles, but

no very distinct row, except on the front side; the hind tibia with a few widely separated small bristles

on the outer side, and dense hair on the inner side. Fore tarsus double the length of its tibia, the first

joint as long as the tibia, with three or four bristles scattered along its outer side, the second joint: with

some closely placed small bristles on the same side ; middle tarsus also twice as long as the tibia, plain ;

hind tarsus tapering, plain. Wings, including the apex, hyaline; fore margin yellowish ; the usual

cross-bands narrow, connected in front to the third vein ; apical fork bent rather deeply into the first

posterior cell.

Length 6 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Cuernavaca in Morelos, Tepetlapa and Chilpancingo in Guerrero

(H. H. Smith).

DIPTERA. 309

13. Psilopus atrolamellatus, sp. n.

3. Face pure green, white-pollinose when viewed from above; antenne black, of moderate size, bristles of

second joint long, especially below, but not numerous; front bluish, with the usual few small pale hairs

on the sides. Thorax green, pruinose with white, giving it a satiny reflection; the bristles of the

dorsum large and uniform in size; pleure with a silvery reflection in one light only. Halteres pure

yellow, stem darker. Abdomen green, with blaek cross-bands of moderate width, and coarse black hair

and bristles; hypopygium shining black, the lamelle of the same colour, large and flat, with an excavation

at the tip, and short curling dark hair on the inner side. Coxe and femora black, the tips of the fore

and middle femora yellow. ‘Tibiw yellow, the hind ones but little infuscated at the tip; all of them

hairy and with scattered bristles, but no rows that are conspicuous. Fore tarsus one and a half times as

long as the tibia, infuscated from the tip of the first joint, and with a couple of bristles on the outer side

of the latter ; middle tibize of the same colour, but relatively shorter, and with some small obscure hairs

on the underside of the first joint; hind tarsi blackish-brown, hairy. Wings with large cross-bands,

filling out the apex, except behind, and narrowly connected on the fourth vein; the apical fork makes

nearly a right angle at its origin and again at the bend.

Length 4°7 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

Ten males.

14. Psilopus similis, sp. n.

3. Extremely like P. atrolamellatus, but differing as follows:—Hypopygium minute, the appendages in the

form of two very small finger-like brownish organs ; fore tibie with two or three rather long fine bristles

on the outer side; middle tibie with shorter bristles; all the tarsi a little paler; apex of the wing quite

broadly hyaline.

Length 4:2-4-5 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Venta de Zopilote in Guerrero, Cuernavaca in Morelos, Medellin

near Vera Cruz, Teapa and Frontera in Tabasco (H. H. Smith), Orizaba (H. H. Smith

& F. D. G.), N. Yucatan (Gaumer).— Braz, Rio Janeiro (Williston).

The Brazilian specimens have a little more brown in the tip of the wing, as in

P. atrolamellatus.

15. Psilopus depressus, sp. n.

gd. Structure the same as that of P. similis, except in the following particulars :—The fore trochanters are

very pale yellow, and hence rather conspicuous ; and the hind tarsi are flattened in the last two joints and

the tip of the third, black, shining, concave below.

Hab. Mexico, Teapa and Frontera in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

Five males. There are five females, taken at Teapa and Amula, that belong to one

or more of the three preceding species, but I cannot identify them, the differences

between the males being so slight.

16. Psilopus barbatus, sp. n.

3. Face bright green, white-pollinose on the lower halt, and bearing on this part numerous long black hairs ;

antenn black, second joint with a few moderately long bristles below; tront bright green. Thorax of

the same colour, the sides with indistinct greyish dust. Tegulw pale, with black cilia; halteres yellow.

360 SUPPLEMENT.

Abdomen green at the base, the black bands increasing in width so that the tip is nearly all black; the

hair on the segments long and black, and at the tip forming a straight tuft projecting backward and

downward, asin P. caudatus, the ends of these hairs being somewhat crimped. Hypopygium small,

imbedded ; the appendages are, however, prominent, curved, black organs, two in number, each with a

tuft of black hair at the tip; there are two smaller inner organs, also black. Coxe and femora bright

green ; hind tibise and tarsi black ; fore and middle tibie and the tips of the femora yellow; fore tibie

and tarsi plain; middle tibie with a long thin spine on the inner side at the tip; middle metatarsi

black, with short bent bristles, as in P. caudatus. Wings hyaline, venation as in the Species mentioned.

The female is readily distinguished by the dark hair on the face.

Length 4:5 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Amula, Xucumanatlan, and Chilpancingo in Guerroro (H. H. Smith).

—Brazit, Rio Janeiro.

This species is further distinguished from P. caudatus by the fact that the female

has the femora and fore coxe green, like the male. The Brazilian specimen was given

to me by Prof. Williston.

17. .Psilopus caudatus.

Psilopus caudatus, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. ii. p. 224°.

Psilopus caudatulus, Loew, Neue Beitr. viii. p. 93°; Mon. N. A. Dipt. ii. p. 271°.

Hab. Nortu America?®, New England to California !.—Mexico, Cuernavaca, Medellin,

Atoyac, Vera Cruz, Frontera, Teapa (H. H. Smith).—Sovutn America to Brazil.

Numerous specimens. Loew seems to have laboured under some mistake, as he

says of P. caudatus: “ By its larger size, it seems to be different from the species

known to me.” Wiedemann mentions a length of 2-24 lines, Loew ‘15 inch ; there

is no great difference. The largest specimens in this collection measure 19 inch, just

the size of Wiedemann’s. It is an exceedingly common and widespread species,

ranging north to New England and south to Brazil or farther.

18. Psilopus nobilissimus, sp. n. (Tab. VI. fig. 23, 3.)

dg. Face very broad, especially above, not much pollinose in any light, with a deep transverse impression

below the middle and a bulging prominence above this, extending into the lower part of the front;

antenne entirely black, small, second joint with a few moderately stout bristles only ; arista subapical,

extremely stout at the base, about the length of the entire body, ending in a small, ovate, pointed

lamella. Front very bright green, wide, with numerous pale hairs. Thorax and abdomen bright blue or

green, with long bristles ; pleure in the proper light with white pollen. Tegule with long black cilia ;

halteres yellow, the stem more or less infuscated. Abdomen without black incisures ; the bristles

remarkably long. Hypopygium with the slender base purple, the middle black, the two joints of the

body of it with long, slender, wavy bristles extending downward; the lamellz large, narrow, crooked,

pale yellow. Coxe and femora black, the fore and middle knees yellow; tibia yellow, the hind ones

very slightly infuscated at the tip; fore tibia on the outer side with a row of about seven bristles of

increasing length, the last remarkably long and rather distant from the tip; middle tibie with a few

scattered small bristles, of which two or three on the outer side are of increasing size towards the tip ;

fore tarsi whitish, bare, the last joint a little infuscated, with a few flattened silvery hairs above; middle

tarsi slender, infuscated from the middle of the third joint, the last two joints, however, somewhat

whitish, and on their upper surface thickly fringed with short silvery pile; hind tarsi short, plain, black.

~ { ; ‘ wt 7 P Pes

a Es hog ; i> it no . ae a a Te’,

5 ’ « re: XN aed ed eon +" Pe Bee BE ° : mes,

DIPTERA. 361

Wings hyaline, with a slight infuscation before the third vein; first vein reaching fully to the middle of

the wing; hind cross-vein oblique, not quite parallel with the margin.

9. Arista only about half the length of that of the male, without disk; the fore and middle tibia each with

a row of long bristles, which become stouter outwards.

Length 4-5-5 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Chilpancingo and Tepetlapa in Guerrero, Cuernavaca in Morelos,

Atoyac in Vera Cruz, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith), N. Yucatan (Gaumer).

The female of this species is very like P. comatus, but may be distinguished from it

by the absence of the small bristles on the upperside of the first joint of the fore tarsi.

19. Psilopus comatus.

Psilopus comatus, Loew, Neue Beitr. viii. p. 89'; Mon. N. A. Dipt. 11. p. 262’.

Hab. Norta America, Middle States 12.—Murxico, Atoyac in Vera Cruz (Schumann),

San Lorenzo, Cordova (Mf. Trujillo), Tepetlapa in Guerrero (H. H. Smith), N. Yucatan

(Gaumer).

20. Psilopus argentatus, sp. n.

é. Face viewed from in front deep green, otherwise silvery-pollinose; antenne small, black, second joint

with a few moderately stout bristles ; front not excavated, except very moderately at the vertex, wholly

silvery, the deep blue ground-colour showing but faintly. Thorax entirely covered with thin silvery

pollen, on the dorsum, however, the violet ground-colour shows in some directions. Halteres yellow, the

stem infuscated. Abdomen violet, with thin and broken white pollen; hypopygium small, black, the

appendages narrow, crooked, obscurely brown. Legs wholly black, tarsi plain; fore tibiee with a partial

row of three or four bristles on the front side; hind tibia with much hair on the inner side, and a few

bristles on the outer side. Wings subhyaline, the fork making an acute angle with the fourth vein, and

a rounded right angle at its bend.

Length 3°3 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Tierra Colorada in Guerrero, Teapa in ‘Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

A single female has the legs coloured as in the male, the face moderately pollinose,

and the front shining.

21. Psilopus hirtipes, sp. n.

¢. Face metallic, wide above, the lower part slightly white-pollinose ; antenne rather large, the second joint

with long, bushy, black bristles ; front broad, bright green. ‘Thorax green, pleure scarcely at all pollinose.

Halteres infuscated; cilia of tegule large. Abdomen rather dull green, the incisures with narrow black

bands; the bristles very numerous and large ; hypopygium small, blackish, with small appendages of the

same colour. Middle and hind cox, as well as the last joints of the hind tarsi, black, the remainder of

the legs wholly brown and immature in appearance; all the tibise with noticeably coarse hairs; fore

tibia and metatarsus equal in length, each with a thin row of long erect bristles on the hinder side, the

following joints plain. Middle tarsus about one and a third times the length of the tibia, with a few

minute scattered hairs under the first joint. Hind tibia with irregular long bristles on the outer side ;

hind tarsus with the second, third, and fourth joints a little compressed. Wings longer than in most

species of the same size, hyaline ; costa ciliated to the end of the second vein ; costal cell not especially

widened.

2. Bristles of the antenne much fewer and shorter; legs paler brown and less hairy, while the tibie, at

least the middle ones, show prominent bristles; wings shorter and broader.

Length 3-5-3°6 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Omilteme in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., December 1901. 3a

262 SUPPLEMENT.

The four specimens all have a very immature appearance, and would certainly

measure 4°6 to 5 millim. if Jess shrivelled.

22. Psilopus purpureus, sp. n.

3. Head, thorax, and abdomen purple; coxe, femora, and hind tibie black. Face wide, with a deep

transverse impression, lightly yellowish pollinose; vertex very deeply excavated, clothed with fine

yellowish hair. Pleure green, not much dusted. Halteres blackish. Abdomen with numerous pale

hairs on the dorsum near the base and on the venter; hypopygium of moderate size, black, the lamelle

_ rather large, pale yellow. Fore tibia with a row of bristles on the outer side; fore tarsi moderately

infuscated beyond the first joint ; middle tibie with only two or three bristles on the outer side, their

tarsi blackened beyond the middle; hind tarsi with a row of long bristles on the outer side, and a shorter

denser row on the inner side. Wings hyaline; first vein reaching to the middle ; hind cross-vein rather

oblique ; costa not ciliated.

and the halteres white.

Length 4—4°5 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Medellin near Vera Cruz, ‘Tierra Colorada in Guerrero, Frontera and

Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

23. Psilopus forcipatus, sp. n.

3d. Face wide, bright bluish-green, with a deep transverse impression, almost destitute of white dust; antennie

black, hairs of the second joint few, but rather long, arista less than half the length of the body; front

bright metallic, with abundant fine whitish pile on the sides. Thorax and abdomen deep bluish-green,

both, as well as the vertex, with noticeably long bristles; pleurze with thin white pollen, which in a

certain direction is quite conspicuous. Tegule with long and coarse cilia; halteresinfuscated. Abdomen

with some white pile on the sides of the first four segments; at the tip are two extremely long wavy

bristles, and several shorter ones; hypopygium large, black, the appendages brown, and in the form of

two large, stout, curved forceps-like organs. Coxe, trochanters, and femora black; fore and middle

tibie yellow, hind ones brown; fore and middle tarsi infuscated from the end of the first joint, hind tarsi

black; fore tibia with a row of rapidly lengthening bristles on the anterior side, not reaching the tip;

fore tarsus twice the length of the tibia, plain; middle femora with some long black bristles on the under-

side of the apical half (the middle tibia have been somewhat denuded in the described specimens, but

there appears to be only one bristle of noticeable size, which is placed beyond the middle on the outer

side); middle tarsus almost one and a half times the length of the tibia, its fifth joint with some noticeable

small white hairs above. Wings hyaline, the apical half with a very diffused infuscation, which is densest

before the third vein; cross-vein moderately oblique.

Length 5 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

Two males. ‘lhis species is somewhat related to P. comaius, but differs in many

respects.

24. Psilopus basilaris.

Psilopus basilaris, Wiedem. Aussereur. zweifl. Ins. ii. p. 215°.

Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).—Braziu}.

Four females. ‘The original specimen seems to have been of the same sex. The

yellow antenne, pale tegular cilia, yellow pleure, including the ends of the transverse

suture, and the yellow bands of the abdomen render it a very easy species to identify.

Wiedemann’s description ! is very satisfactory: the colours are truly *‘ herrlich.”

DIPTERA. 363

25. Psilopus interceptus, sp. n.

3. Face blue, elongate, with white pollen: antenne black, small, second joint with a few small bristles only ;

front pollinose below, with white hairs on the sides. Thorax green, very lightly pruinose with white,

the pleure in a certain light white-pollinose; halteres infuscated. Abdomen rather narrow at the base,

green, with black bands on the incisures; hypopygium black, with round black lamellae and some small

filamentary organs. Coxe and trochanters, including the front ones, black; femora and tibie yellow,

the latter with few bristles; fore metatarsus one and a half times the length of its tibia, distinctly

whitish at the tip, the following four joints two-fifths the length of the preceding, black, the fourth

fringed above with black, the fifth with a shorter fringe of white; middle tarsi infuscated from the base,

hind ones wholly black. Wings yellow in front at the base; the cross-bands separated by a hyaline

space that runs forward to the second vein; tip wholly infuscated, except behind.

Length 7 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

One male.

26. Psilopus pennifer, sp. n.

¢. Face and front blue, deeply pollinose with white, a few pale hairs in a recumbent position at the corners

of the vertex; antenne small, black, second joint with very few small bristles. Thorax. brilliant blue,

verging into violet, the pleurs in the proper light bright white-pollinose. Halteres blackish. Abdomen

bright blue or green, with black bands including nearly half the width of tbe segments; hypopygium

rather large, black, with rounded blackish lamell, and two long feather-like appendages, which are

also blackish and covered with brown hairs. Coxe and trochanters black; femora and tibie yellow, the

hind femora at the tip and the hind tibie at the base, however, infuscated for a fourth of their length ;

fore tibia with two minute bristles only, which are on the outer side; fore metatarsus longer than the

tibia, with a few minute hairs on the underside, the tarsus infuscated from the tip of this joint; middle

tibia with a few small bristles only, the tarsus like the front one, but relatively shorter ; hind tibia rather

hairy, and provided with one noticeable bristle on the outer side near the base. Wings with the usual

two cross-bands, which are expanded both ways, so as to include almost the whole tip of the wing, and

also to make a costal stripe beginning before the end of the first vein; the intervening hyaline stripe

extends forward to the second vein.

Q. Very like the male, but with the hind knees a little less infuscated.

Length 5°2 millim.

Hab. Mexico, ‘Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

27. Psilopus flavicoxa, sp. n.

Differs from P. pennifer in the following particulars only :—Fore cox and trochanters yellow; hind knees a

little Jess, but still perceptibly, infuscated ; halteres yellow or but slightly brownish ; hypopygium with

narrow yellow lamells, and no feather-like processes.

Hab. Mexico, Atoyac in Vera Cruz, Teapa in ‘Tabasco (Hf. L/. Sinuth).

Two males

28. Psilopus clavipes, sp. n.

3. Face and front metuallic, overlaid in certain directions with white pollen, which is thinner on the latter ;

antenne small, black, with small and few bristles. Thorax bright green, pleuree whitc-pollinose.

Halteres pure yellow. Abdomen bright green, the last segment deep purple, the incisures with narrow

black bands; hypopygium of moderate size, black, with rather large, black, hairy appendages. Middle

and hind cox and their trochanters, and the hind tarsi, black. Fore coxe a little infuscated at the

base; fore tibia with a row of stiff bristles on the outer or hinder side. Fore tarsus with the first joint

almost as long as the tibia, blackened at the tip, with an irregular row of bristles on the outer side and

3a 2

SUPPLEMENT.

some little spine-like hairs near the apex; second and third joints short, black, bent on each other ;

fourth joint black, of moderate length, with a row of small spines below; fifth joint small, black.

Middle and hind tibie with few and small bristles. Wings with the usual two blackish cross-bands, the

basal half yellow before the third vein, the apex considerably hyaline; fork of the fourth vein with an

acute but rounded angle at its bend.

Length 7 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Tierra Colorada in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

One male.

29. Psilopus tonsus, sp. n.

Face pure green, depressed across the middle, with white pollen; antenne black, the second joint with

one or two rather long bristles only on the underside; front bright green, with some pale hair on the

sides. Thorax bright green, the sides not very heavily pollinose; halteres pure yellow. Abdomen with

black bands, which are wider towards the tip; hypopygium closely drawn up (and hence difficult to

describe), but apparenily of moderate size, with some protruding, jagged, black organs. Middle and hind

coxe, and the hind trochanters, black ; hind femora infuscated at the tip, especially above; tarsi simple

in structure, without rows of bristles or other special characters.

Wings subhyaline; venation as in

P. caudatus.

Length 4 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Frontera in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

One male.

GNAMPTOPSILOPUS.

Gnamptopsilopus, Aldrich, Kans. Univ. Quart. ii. p. 48 (1893).

“I

10.

ll.

Table of the known Species, based on males only.

. Antenne entirely black .

At least the basal joints yellow

. Femora yellow .

Femora black

. Fore coxe with black br istles a at the tip (Mex. )

Fore coxe with pale bristles at the tip

. Base of the hind cox and hind margin of the thorax pale WU. S. )

The same parts dark (U.S.)

. Wings without black markings (Mex.) .

Wings black, except the apex and hind margin (Mex.) .

. Dorsum of thorax yellow, with a green or blue stripe

Dorsum of thorax wholly metallic

. Pleure yellow; middle tibiz and metatarsi with erect cilia (w. L )

Pleure with an indistinct dark spot; tarsi plain (W.I.)

Thoracic dorsum opaque, dusted ; abdomen not pale at the base (U.S.).

Thoracic dorsum shining ; abdomen usually pale at the base .

Middle coxe infuscated on the outer side at least to the middle .

Middle coxe wholly 01 almost wholly yellow .

Costa ciliated, with an irregular projection forward near the tip (U.S.).

Costa without such projection .

Middle femora shortened, dark at the base, the tiie elongate WU. s. ).

Middle femora normal, pale

infumatus, sp. n.

[costalis, Aldr. |

[ scintillans, Loew. ]

ciliipennis, sp. n.

dimidiatus, Loew.

[ flavidus, Aldr.]

[dorsalis, Loew. |

[ pallens, Loew. |

10.

13.

[ psittacinus, Loew. |

ql.

[ filipes, Loew. |

12.

DIPTERA. | 365

_ 12. Abdomen pale at the base above (U.S.; Cuba) . . . . . . . .~ [variegatus, Loew. |

Abdomen not pale at the base above (Cuba) . . . . . . . ~. +. ([castus, Loew.]

13. Fore femora with slender erect bristles below (U.\S.) 2. . . 2. . [tener, Loew.]}

Fore femora without such bristles . . . . . . .... . .

14, Hind margin of the pleure yellow . . . . . . . . 1... OMS:

Hind margin of the pleure green (Mex.) . . . 2. 2... . « mexicanus, sp. 0.

15. Abdomen above with a basal yellow band, the remainder green U. S.) . [unifasciatus, Say.]

Abdomen with several bands, including the greater part of the first four

segments (U.'S.) 2. 2... . wee ee we ewe) «frotundiceps, Aldr.|

Note.—Gnamptopsilopus flavicornis, Ald., from St. Vincent, W.I., known only from the female, is not included.

1. Gnamptopsilopus dimidiatus.

Psilopus dimidiatus, Loew, Berl. ent. Zeitschr. vi. p. 216'; Mon. N. A. Dipt. p. 2467.

Hab. Mexico! ?, Cuernavaca in Morelos (H. 4. Smith).

Two males, one in bad condition. These seem to have paler femora and darker

tibie than indicated by Loew’s description; the hyaline space at the tip of the wing

hardly occupies one-fourth of the entire wing. In spite of the black cilia of the tegule

the species belongs to the present genus, as there are only two large bristles on the

scutellum, and the third vein of the wing is strongly bicurvate at the tip.

G. dimidiatus was included by Osten Sacken amongst the unidentified species of

Psilopus, antea, p. 214.

2. Gnamptopsilopus infumatus, sp. n.

3. Face and front bright green, the former in a certain light white-pollinose. Antenne black. Thorax and

abdomen bright green ; pleure in an oblique light with considerable white pollen; cilia of tegule brown

or blackish; halteres pure yellow; hypopygium globular, blackish, with small, hairy, brownish-black

appendages. All the femora and tibiw, aud the fore coxe, are yellow, the last long, with three black

bristles at the tip; middle and hind coxe black, the trochanters brownish. Wings large and broad, with

a broad, but ill-defined, brownish band extending from the costa to the hinder end of the cross-vein, the

latter forming its outer boundary; on the apical side of this band the wing is hyaline, the basal side,

however, is slightly infuscated ; the costa is ciliated to a little beyond the end of the second vein ; the third

vein is almost exactly parallel with the margin, except at the tip; the cross-vein is long, with the

convexity outward.

In the female the cilia of the costa are scarcely at all perceptible, the brown mark is absent from the wing,

and the cilia of the tegule are paler, in some lights yellowish ; but the black bristles of the fore coxe are

present.

Length 3-4°3 millim., the smaller being the female.

Hab. Mexico, Amula and Chilpancingo in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Three males and one female.

3. Gnamptopsilopus mexicanus, sp. n.

3. Face so densely white-pollinose that the ground-coloar is almost hidden; the upper part is very wide.

Antenne yellowish, the apex infuscated. Front white-pollinose, the violet ground-colour but faintly

showing through. Thorax pure green, sparsely dusted with white along the front; pleure with sparse

366 SUPPLEMENT.

white dust, still in a certain light almost silvery ; cilia of the tegule pale; halteres yellow. Abdomen

green, with three pairs of lateral yellow triangles and some indistinct yellow markings on the dorsum of

the first two segments ; hypopygium small, greenish, rather embedded, with two minute yellow filaments

protruding. Legs, including the coxe, yellow, without bristles or special structures; the tarsi but little

infuscated, except the hind ones, which are blackened from the beginning of the second joint. Wings

hyaline, the costa not ciliated, the third vein bicurvate, the hind cross-vein with a slight double curvature.

Length 4°4 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Medellin near Vera Cruz, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

Two males.

4. Gnamptopsilopus ciliipennis, sp. n. (Tab. VI. fig. 24, wing of 3.)

dé. Face blue, rapidly widening above, with sparse white pollen. Antenne black, without any bristles of

noticeable size. Front broad, blue or purple, destitute of pale hairs. Thorax bright bluish-green, the

sides with sparse white pollen; cilia of tegule blackish; halteres yellow, the basal part of the stem

infuscated ; scutellum with a large inner and a very small outer pair of bristles. Abdomen somewhat

elongate, with rather long bristles before the incisures ; hypopygium small, almost globular, blackish, the

basal part metallic green below, the appendages minute, hairy, and blackish. All the coxe, trochanters,

and femora black; the femora have very few and small pale hairs below; tibie destitute of bristles,

yellow, the hind ones moderately infuscated for the greater part of their length, especially on the outer

side; tarsi elongate, moderately infuscated from near the base, the hind ones more distinctly so. Wings

subhyaline, with a brownish tinge along the costal half; costa ciliated with fine, somewhat erect, hairs to

the end of the second vein or beyond it; first vein ending before the middle of the wing; third vein

very distinctly bicurvate near the tip; first posterior cell very wide; hind cross-vein long and curved,

with the convexity towards the margin.

Length 4:1 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Omilteme in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

One male. The females, from the same locality, and taken on the same date, differ

from the description in having the fore coxe and all the trochanters and femora

yellow; the fore coxe with pale hairs only at the tip; the wings with a row of minute

slanting hairs only, from the tip of the first vein to that of the second.

EMPIDA*.

Subfam. EMPINA.

EMPIS (p. 214).

Synopsis of the Central-American forms.

[The species described by Osten Sacken (anted, pp. 215, 216), as well as some of those of Loew, Wiedemann,

and Bellardi, are unknown to us, and the characters are therefore taken from the descriptions. |

1. Metallic green-blue or black species ; sixth vein evanescent ; legs pecu-

liarly ornamented. (LampPrempis, subgen. nov.) 2.

Not such species Loe ee 6.

2. Legs yellow; no pollinose stripes on the mesonotum 3.

Legs black or dark brown 4.

* By Prof. W.M. WHeexer and A. L. Metanper, of the University of Texas.

DIPTERA. 367

3. Front legs altogether yellow and without fringes ($9) . . . « « daphorina, O. 8.

Wings subhyaline or infuscated . . . . Loe . . 5.

5. Hind femora on the inner inferior side with two slender finger-like

processes... Co ee ee ee eee we 4 Chichimeca, sp. 0.

Wings marked with black Loe es owe ae ee vbolacea, Loew.

Wings subhyaline, with a yellowish tinge e(3 : ye. ee ee ee benigna, O.S.

6. Thorax rufous, shining, sixth vein evanescent . . - + + + + ; rubida, sp. 0.

Thorax wholly opaque black . - - - ee ee ee te es 7.

7. Wings with fuscous markings ; legs honey-yellow . . - - - + - spiloptera, Wiedem.

Wings more uniform; legs darker coloured . . » . + + + + ; 8.

Tarsi uniform in colour. . 2. 6 ee ee ee ee ee LO,

9. Femora reddish-yellow - 2 2 6) oe 6 oe oe oe oe et ts annulipes, sp. 0.

Femora black . . . 0-0. ee ee ee ee ee ee ee aatrifemur, sp. 2.

10. Tibia at most fuscous . . . ee ee ee ee ee ee 0

Tibie black... 0. 0. ee ee ee ee ee TR,

11. Anterior branch of third vein perpendicular to costa, straight . . . azteca, sp. 0.

Wings lighter at base (@) - - 6 6 ee ee ee ee ts bicolor, Bell.

Legs with bunches of hair... ee ee ee te et montezuma, sp. n.

Abdomen black . . . . 2 + ee es ee el ee te + totipennis, Bell.

16. Legs and thorax strongly pilose(g). - - + + + + ee tote bicolor, Bell.

4, Empis cyanea.

Empis cyanea, Bellardi, Saggio etc. i1. p. 98°.

Hab. Mexico}, Amula in Guerrero 6000 feet (H. H. Smith).

Asingle female specimen. The third antennal joint is considerably shorter than the

two preceding joints together; it is pointed and terminates in a slender style, which is

as long as the joint itself. The front metatarsi are elongated and flattened, and, like

the distal end of the tibie, provided with a fringe of scale-like hairs. The hind tarsi

are nearly black; the metatarsi flattened, but not fringed. ‘The mesonotum has no

trace of stripes. The hind femora and tibia are fringed on both sides with scale-like

hairs. Z. cyanea was placed by Osten Sacken (antea, p. 216) amongst the unidentified

Mexican species.

368 SUPPLEMENT.

5. Empis chichimeca, sp. n.

3. Shining metallic green. Face and occiput black, dusted with white. Eyes contiguous on the front.

Proboscis nearly as long as the head. Antenne black ; third joint shorter than the first and second

joints taken together, very nearly of the length of the first joint ; style very short. Mesonotum shining

metallic blue-green, with three deep blue stripes anteriorly, and beset with erect and rather dense

brownish-black hairs. Abdomen metallic green, with black hair. Hypopygium small, black, with only

the base of the filament exposed. Pleure shining black, metallic blue-green anteriorly, dusted with white

posteriorly. Legs black, covered with black hairs; knees, fore and middle tibiz, and all the tarsi yellow.

Fore metatarsi thickened, nearly as long as remaining tarsal joints taken together. Middle legs plain.

Hind femora on the inner inferior side with two slender finger-like processes, with an emargination

between them ; hind tibiw on the inner side with a stout scoop-shaped process, truncated and flattened at

the extremity ; hind metatarsi incrassate, somewhat concave on the plantar surface, and bearing on the

outer side a prominent pointed projection tipped with two small black spines. Wings tinged with brown,

yellowish anteriorly ; veins yellow ; stigma fuscous, slender and inconspicuous ; anterior branch of third

vein short, rectangular. .

9. Colour, especially of the abdomen, more metallic blue. Face shining metallic blue. Middle femora

below, hind femora above and below, and the four posterior tibie on their inner and outer sides with

thick-set rows of black scale-like hairs. Middle and hind tibiae grooved on the outer side. Fore meta-

tarsi incrassate, as in the male; hind metatarsi less thickened, and the legs wholly without the peculiar

processes of the male. Stigma of the wings obsolete.

Length 4-5 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Amula in Guerrero 6000 feet (H. H. Smith).

Two males and seven females. This species may be distinguished from E. benigna,

O. S., by the processes of the hind legs of the male; and from £. cyanea, Bell., by the

colour of the front legs, the structure of the fringes, and the smaller or obsolete stigma.

6. Empis suavis.

Empis suavis, Loew, Cent. viii. no. 56°.

Hab. Mexico, Chilpancingo in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

A single female specimen, easily referable to this species, save for the fact that the

first section of the fourth vein is in no sense obsolete; the mesonotum is chalybeous

throughout in certain lights, metallic green in others; the front metatarsi are but

slightly incrassate. E. swavis was not identified by O. Sacken (anted, p. 216).

7. Empis rubida, sp. n.

. Front and face shining black. Antenne reddish-yellow ; third joint slender on the distal part, the style

slender, aristiform. Proboscis yellow, not longer than the vertical diameter of the head. Mesonotum

shining yellowish-red, strongly convex, bare; pleuree yellower. Abdomen brownish-yellow. Legs light

yellow, not dilated or ciliated ; tip of all the metatarsi and of the remaining tarsal joints, and the tip of

the hind femora and tibis, blackish. Wings cinereous-hyaline, with yellowish veins ; stigma elongate,

brown ; anterior branch of the third vein nearly rectangular and gently arcuated. Halteres yellow.

Length 4 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Chilpancingo in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

One specimen.

p. 2

“iP

DIPTERA. 369

8. KEmpis montezuma, sp. n.

g. Black, opaque, cinerascent. Eyes contiguous on the vertex. Proboscis one and a half times the length

of the head. Antenne dark fuscous, first joint short, with a few bristles near the apex (third joint

wanting). Thorax black, cinerascent, with indications of a median and two side-stripes showing black

through the coating, sparsely hairy on the disc, densely and strongly so on the humeri and about the

scutellum. Pleurse and pectus concolorous with the mesonotum. Abdomen velvety-black, fuscous on the

venter at the base. Halteres black. Hypopygium small, black; lamella incrassate, deeply emarginate

above, with loose dark hairs and small apical teeth ; median style densely finely plumose ; penis exposed,

reddish. Legs black, the femora and the base of the tibia with a reddish tinge ; furnished with spines,

hairs, and pile; the pile long, and denser on the middle femora beneath near the base, the middle tibice

beneath near the tip, the posterior tibise on the outer edge, the first and second tarsal joints, and the

hind metatarsi outwardly ; middle femora and tibie arched; front metatarsi equal in length to the next

two joints (in E. bicolor the metatarsi are longer). Wings uniformly dark fuliginous; neuration as in

E, bicolor.

Length 6°25 millim., of the wing 5 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Santiago in Jalisco (Schumann).

A single male specimen.

9, Empis azteca, sp. n.

9. Black. Head thickly greyish-pollinose, the ocellar spot in some reflections showing black. Face shining

black below, grey-pollinose beneath the antenne. Antenne black, longer than the head ; third joint

gently tapering, as long as the first; style minute. Proboscis and labella reddish-yellow, black at the

base, altogether about as long as the thorax. Thorax opaque grey, variable in colour in different retlec-

tions; pile erect, black; margin of the scutellum with a row of long hairs. Legs yellow, with black

hairs; femora, except the tip, black; last joint of all the tarsi brown or black. Wings uniformly

yellowish-brown ; anterior branch of the third vein very short, rectangular , fourth vein arched back,

distant from the third at the tip; penultimate section of the fifth vein unusually short, not twice the

length of the anterior cross-vein ; discal cell small. Halteres black, with yellow peduncles. Abdomen

thickly grey-pollinose, the second and third segments wholly shining black. Front metatarsi dilated,

and darker than the second to the fourth tarsal joints.

Length 6 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Amula in Guerrero 6000 feet (H. H. Smith).

One specimen. The small discal cell and shining segments of the abdomen will

render this species recognizable.

10. Empis annulipes, sp. n.

9. Black. Front and face dusted with white. Antenne black; the second joint largely or wholly reddish-

yellow, about: half as long as the first; third joint tapering, about twice the length of the first two joints

together; style very diminutive. Proboscis reddish, about as long as the thorax. Thorax rather thickly

grey-dusted, the dust modifying the ground-colour ; mesonotum with four slender darker stripes ; pile

and bristles black, the former abundant, erect; humeral and post-alar callosities reddish. Scutellum

with six bristles. Abdomen black, greyish-dusted, colour very variable in different reflections. Legs

reddish-yellow ; front and hind tibie on the distal portion, middle tibia at the tip, front metatarsi

(except the immediate base), and the tips of all the other tarsal joints dark brown or black; front

metatarsi elongate and thickened ; all the tibie with rather dense hairs on the outer side, but not ciliate.

Wings uniformly light yellowish-brown ; discal cell long. Halteres black, with yellow peduncles.

Length 8-9 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Amula in Guerrero 6000 feet (//. H. Smith).

Six specimens.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., December 1901.

ees

370 SUPPLEMENT,

11. Empis atrifemur, sp. n.

Hab. Mexico, Xucumanatlan in Guerrero 7000 feet (27. H. Smith).

A single female from the above-mentioned locality represents a species closely allied

to, but distinct from, L. annulipes. It differs as follows:—Antenne shorter; second

joint but little shorter than the first ; first and second joints light yellow, the first

somewhat darker; style more slender. Proboscis piceous. The stripes of the meso-

notum apparently wanting. Femora black, the anterior ones brownish towards the

tip. Front metatarsi shorter and more incrassated. The hairs on the legs longer and

denser, especially on the posterior pair. |

12. Empis bicolor.

Eimpis bicolor, Bell. Saggio, etc. ii. p. 98°.

Hab. Mexico, Amula in Guerreru (H. H. Smith), Cuautla!.

Two males and eight females. The males have the wings clear. <A species not

identified by Osten Sacken (anted, p. 216).

13. Empis xochitl, sp. n.

Q. Robust ; dull, opaque black throughout, the only lighter portions being the piceous proboscis, the base of

the halteres, and the subhyaline wings. Front of uniform moderate width. First antennal joint short,

second shorter, third slightly longer than the other two together; arista forming a continuation of the

third joint, stout. Proboscis twice as long as the eye-height. Margin of first abdominal segment fringed

with bristles, which are stronger laterally. Legs not ciliated, though the longer hairs are serially

arranged on the underside of the femora and on the inner and outer sides of the tibiw; front metatarsi

slightly compressed. Wings almost hyaline ; no stigmal spot; anterior branch of the third vein obliquely

disposed ; anal vein attaining the margin.

Length 4°5 millim., of the wing 4 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Chilpancingo in Guerrero 4600 feet (ZZ H. Smith).

14. Empis dolorosa, sp. n.

3. Black. Eyes closely contiguous, with an acute angular emargination on each side of the face above. Face

shining black. Antenne black, about as long as the head; second joint more than half the length of the

first; third joint longer than the first two together, narrowed on the distal half or more ; style slender,

about half as long as the joint. Proboscis black, as long as the head and thorax together. Mesonotum

very slightly dusted with white, shining; hair and bristles not abundant, black. Pleure whitish-

pollinose. Four anterior femora and the middle tibiw and tarsi luteous-yellow ; front tibise and tarsi and

the hind legs darker brown or blackish; metatarsi not dilated; legs provided with rather sparse hairs.

Wings somewhat broad, varying from brownish to hyaline, with an elongated inconspicuous brown stigma ;

discal cell short; the penultimate section of the fifth vein much shorter than the ultimate section ;

furcation of the third vein acute; fourth vein abbreviated, not reaching the margin. Abdomen scarcely

shining. Hypopygium small; filament yellow, thick, with its tip concealed.

Length 5 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Amula in Guerrero 6000-8000 feet (H. H. Smith).

r .

I'wo specimens.

DIPTERA. oTl

RHAMPHOMYIA.

Rhamphomyia, Meigen, Syst. Beschr. ili. p. 42 (1822).

1. Rhamphomyia cyanogaster, sp. n.

3. Black, silvery-dusted. Abdomen metallic blue. Eyes separated, narrowly on the lower part of the

face, facets nearly uniform. (Antenne imperfect.) Trophi piceous at the base and yellow distally,

one and a quarter times the height of the head. Thorax black, closely covered with silvery tomentum,

therefore when viewed from the front presenting a white appearance ; this tomentum encroaches on the

first, two segments of the abdomen and on the coxa, and is slightly noticeable, but greyer, on the venter

and hypopygium. No thoracie pile. Halteres swollen, black. Abdomen depressed, shining metallic

blue, greenish towards the tip, with scattered, fine, black bristles and a terminal fringe of closer-set ones.

Hypopygium small, terminal, consisting of two dorsal and two longer lateral robust metallic pieces and

the hidden yellow filament. Legs rather short and strong, piceous, with brownish irregularly-placed

hairs, Wings completely hyaline; veins brownish ; discal cell complete; costa a little thickened beyond

the first vein.

Length 2°75 millim., of the wing 3 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Omilteme in Guerrero 8000 feet (7. H. Smith).

One male.

2. Rhamphomyia furcifer, sp. n.

Black. Antenne black, stout, shorter than the head ; first joint short, third equal to two and a half times

the length of the second; arista short, stout. Face dull black. Thorax dull black, except where the

coating is rubbed, when the surface is of a shining metallic blue ; prominent in front, in length equal to

the abdomen, not pilose. Halteres black. Abdomen shining. Legs rather stout, almost black.

3. Third antennal joint stouter at the base. Eyes moderately separated. Proboscis piceous, equal in length

to the eye-height. Abdomen robust, cylindrical, metallic blue. Hypopygium small, terminal; filament

thick, black, all but the tip exposed. Posterior tibie with a tubercle at the middle of the posterior

surface, above which is an obliquely forked process, the outer tooth of this being strong; beyond the

tubercle the posterior surface is clothed with a brush of brownish hairs. Wings opalescent-white ;

nervures, except the costa and the first longitudinal vein, very weak ; third vein light brown.

Q. Eyes widely separated. Proboscis black, in length equalling one and a half times the eye-height.

Abdomen depressed, black, not metallic, except slightly so in certain lights, pointed at the tip, and with

two long, apical, black styles. Wings cinereous-hyaline, all the veins stronger, though not all well-

marked.

Length 2 millim., of the wing 2°25 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Omilteme in Guerrero 7000 to 8000 feet (H. H. Smith).

3. Rhamphomyia tolteca, sp. n.

3. Head and thorax opaque greyish-black. Head and face dusted with greyish. Eyes narrowly contiguous ;

facets distinctly larger on the upper part of the eye. Antenne black ; first and second joints subequal,

rounded, third twice as long as the other two together ; arista shorter than the second antennal joint,

well-marked. Proboscis equal in length to the height of the head, black. Palpi dull fuscous. Dorsum

of thorax and scutellum, pleure, and coxa, except the tips, black, cinerascent, with a brownish tinge:

mesonotum with indications of median, lateral, and humeral broad faintly greenish vitte, the humerai

ones interrupted; thorax without pile. Halteres pale yellow. Abdomen twice the length of the head

and thorax, with a greenish tinge, grey-pollinose, with fine, scattered, yellow hairs, besides the fine dark

bristles; hypopygium ascending, apically yellow, filament exposed. Legs slender; hind pair long,

fuscous, almost piccous, especially towards the base ; tibie, especially the posterior pair, with short

362

872

SUPPLEMENT.

bristles serially arranged, two rows on the inner and one on the outer edges; front and middle tarsi

slender, tarsal joints gradually decreasing in length, fourth and fifth joints subequal ; hind metatarsi

strongly compressed, equal to the three following joints together.

brown, no stigmal spot, discal cell complete, fourth vein well-developed.

Length 3°5 millim., length of wing 4 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Sierra de las Aguas Escondidas in Guerrero 9500 feet (H. H. Sinith).

A single specimen.

Subfam. HY BOTIN A.

HYBOS.

Hybos, Meigen, in Illiger’s Mag. ii. p. 269 (1803).

Euhybus, Coquillett, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. xviii. p. 437 (1896).

12.

13.

. Wings, at least in part, hyaline.

. Wings completely hyaline.

Wings rounded, costa with strong spines .

Costa straight, without spines Loe

Femora more slender .

. Legs wholly yellow .

Legs in part dark brown to black

. Halteres yellow. Tarsi black

Halteres infuscated. Tarsi yellow in part .

. Stigmal spot well-developed .

Stigmal spot obsolete (¢riplex, Walk.) .

Tibiz black .

Wings fuliginous on basal half .

. Body submetallic

Body shining black .

. Discal cell, at least in basal part, “smoky .

Discal cell wholly hyaline .

. Abdomen purplish

Abdomen shining black

. Posterior tibize and femora black

Knees lighter .

. Wings dark on basal half and greyish ¢ on rest .

Wings brown on basal half, paler at tip and posterior margin .

Pile of mesonotum anteriorly greyish .

Pile brownish to black . - ee

Posterior tibize and femora black. ‘Smaller species

Posterior tibiee and femora brown. More robust species

Wings large, almost hyaline, veins

spinicosta, sp. 0.

dimidiatus, Bell.*

4.,

typicus, sp. D.

mellipes, sp. 0.

triplex, var. loewt (Loew,

Wien. ent. Monatschr. v. p. 36).

triplex, var. tabascensis, n

12.

triplex, var. purpureus, Walk.

10.

triplex, var. triplex, Walk.

11.

triplex, var. subjectus, Walk.

triplex, var. duplex, Walk. —

triplex, var. smithi, n.

13.

triplex, var. yucatanus, 1

triplex, var. bakeri, n

* Enumerated, but not identified, by Osten Sacken in the earlier part of this work.

DIPTERA. ole

1. Hybos typicus, sp. ».

3 2. Black-cinereous, slender. Face dusted with silvery-grey. Antenne black, short ; third joint oval, not

longer than the first; arista slender, equal in length to the eye-height. Eyes contiguous below the

antenne. Proboscis black, but little shorter than the height of the head. Mesonotum prominent, black,

shining through the coating of brown dust; pleure cinereous-black. Halteres yellow. Abdomen

slender, piceous, with loose whitish hairs, slightly pubescent, especially towards the apex. Genital

apparatus small, not giving the abdomen a club-shape, with two projecting filaments; somewhat similar

externally in the two sexes. Legs slender, piceous, shining, with scattered pubescence; knees lighter ;

front tarsi long, metatarsus equal in length to the tibia; middle tibia with two long slender bristles on

the external side (one at the basal fourth and one at the centre), and with three on the inner side (at the

middle, outer fourth, and tip); hind femora reaching to about the tip of the abdomen, moderately

thickened, not evidently serrate beneath, but with a series of about six darker hairs, besides the

pubescence ; hind tarsi not toothed beneath. The males have the front tibize on the posterior side, and

the metatarsi on both sides, ciliated with long hairs. Pulvilli small. Wings hyaline, subquadrate,

obtusely rounded at the apex, anal angle not strong; veins yellowish; third vein terminating beyond the

middle, parallel with the fourth; stigmal spot not well-developed, not filling out the apex of the marginal

cell; discal cell broad ; anal vein not evident. The fine hairs around the margin of the wing are not so

closely placed as usual.

Length 4°5 millim., of the wing 4°5 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Omilteme and Sierra de las Aguas Escondidas in Guerrero 8000 to

9500 feet (H. H. Smith).

Two males and three females.

2. Hybos mellipes, sp. n.

arista shorter than the eye-height. Eyes contiguous below the antenne, leaving a small subantennal

triangular space shining black. Mesonotum shining black, moderately strongly pilose. Pleura black,

shining, not cinerascent. Pedicel of halteres black (knobs wanting). Abdomen shining black, robust,

compressed at the base and depressed apically, not unusually hairy; ovipositor with short bristles.

Legs, except the tarsi, shining black, strongly hairy; posterior femora incrassate, reaching the tip of

the abdomen, not strongly spinulose beneath ; first two joints of the tarsi yellowish, the remainder

blackened. The hairs of the legs are longer laterally, so as to give the legs, especially the tarsi, a ciliated

appearance when viewed from the front. Wings narrow, wholly hyaline, except for the fuscous stigma,

which completely fills the outer third of the marginal cell ; veins strong ; discal cell narrow.

Length 4 millim., of the wing 4 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Omilteme in Guerrero 8000 feet (H. H. Smith).

3. Hybos triplex.

Hybos triplex, Walk. List Dipt. Brit. Mus. iii. p. 486 (1849) ’.

Hybos purpureus, Walk. loc. cit. p. 486°.

Hybos duplex, Walk. loc. cit. p. 486°.

Hybos subjectus, Walk. loc. cit. p. 487°.

Hab. Norta America !~4.—Mexico, Vera Cruz, Teapa (7. H. Smith), Yucatan

(Gaumer).

Four specimens taken in different parts of Mexico differ among themselves and from

examples of ZH. triplex from the United States. ‘These differences are so slight that

374 SUPPLEMENT.

in this exceedingly variable insect the specimens are given as types of mere varieties.

The four species described by Walker in his List of Dipterous Insects in the collection

of the British Museum (H. purpureus, H. duplex, H. triplex, H. subjectus), and upon

which Mr. D. W. Coquillett based his genus Huhybos, are but forms of one only. An

examination of a large series of specimens from the United States shows forms

intermediate between all of Walker’s types. The Mexican varieties of H. triplex are

characterized in the preceding Table of Species; they are from the following

localities :—

Var. tabascensis, $, Teapa, Tabasco (H. H. Smith).—Length 4°5 millim.

Var. smithi, 3, near Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith).—Length 4°25 millim.

Var. yucatanus, 2, Yucatan (Gaumer).—Length 3 millim.

Var. bakeri, 3, “ Mexico” (Baker).—Length 3°25 millim. —

4. Hybos spinicosta, sp. n.

3. Similar to H. typicus in the minor details, the description of which will answer for this, with the following

exceptions :—Face narrower, dusted with silvery-white. Legs wholly pitchy-black ; the tibial and tarsal

bristles are shorter and more numerous, though they occupy the same relative positions. The posterior

legs and the abdomen are covered with much shorter hairs. Abdomen not shining, dusted. The

hypopygium is terminal and more enlarged. The wings are somewhat infuscated, broader, with peculiar

venation ; costa bent at the tip of the first vein, so that the anterior edge of the wing is bowed outwardly,

beset with spiny hooks from the junction of the auxiliary vein, these hooks gradually becoming straight

about the middle of the wing and passing insensibly into the usual fringe of hairs; stigmal spot very

broad ; second vein strongly curved in an ogee to accommodate itself to the deep stigma, ending much

nearer to the tip of the first vein than usual; third vein straight, subparallel with the costa in the

outer part of its length; discal cell narrow, the cross-vein at its apex perpendicular to the penultimate

section of the fifth vein. The halteres are broken, though from the stumps remaining they seem to have

been dark.

Length 4°5 millim., length of wing 4 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Sierra de las Aguas Escondidas in Guerrero 95U0 feet (77. H. Sintth).

A single male.

SYNECHES.

Syneches, Walker, Insecta Saund., Dipt. p. 165 (1852).

1. Syneches quadrangularis, sp. n.

3. Fuscous. Mouth-parts yellowish. Mesonotum fuscous, with faint indications of the usual lighter vitte,

slightly tomentose. Halteres concolorous with the thorax, pedicel lighter. Abdomen dark brown.

Hypopygium small. Legs, including the coxe, yellow ; the hind pair with the apices of the femora, tibia,

and tarsi brown. Wings hyaline, with a single, well-limited, quadrate, dark brown stigmal spot at the

apex of the first vein; marginal cell not widened at the stigma; third vein not rigidly straight; veins

brown.

Length 2°5 millim.

Hab. Mrxico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

Two male specimens.

DIPTERA. 37

Subfam. TACHY DROMIIN 4.

PLATYPALPUS.

Platypalpus, Macquart, Dipt. du Nord France, 1827, p. 92.

1. Platypalpus trivialis.

Platypalpus trivialis, Loew, Cent. v. no. 76°.

Hab. Norta America, Maine }.—Mexico, Omilteme in Guerrero 6000 to 8000 feet

(H. H. Smith).

Four females from Guerrero are referable to this species, but they differ from

northern specimens in their larger size (length 3 millim., wing 5 millim.), longer, pure

yellow legs, not darker at the tips of the tarsal joints, and lighter venter. One of them

has the sides of the notum and the pleure reddish.

TACHYDROMIA.

Tachydromia, Meigen, in Illiger’s Mag. ii. p. 269 (1803).

1. Tachydromia schwarazi.

Tachydromia schwarzii, Coquillett, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. xviii. p. 440 (1896) °.

Hab. Norva America, Utah 1.—Mexico, Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

Three specimens from Guerrero appear to belong to this species. The slight

differences of lighter-coloured legs and broader submarginal cell are not of sufficient

value for the erection of a new specific name.

PHONEUTISCA.

Phoneutisca, Loew, Berl. ent. Zeitschr. yii. p. 19 (1863).

1. Phoneutisca simplicior, sp. n.

¢. Black, shining; legs yellow. Antenne short, black ; third joint shorter than the second; style four

times as long as the antenne. Eyes contiguous on the face. Vertex broad, black, with purple tinge.

Palpi whitish. Proboscis black, short, equal in length to one-third of the eye-height. Thorax shining

black, with faint purplish reflections; pleure slightly pruinose. Halteres pale yellow. Abdomen

depressed, black, with a bronze tinge. Legs, including the coxe, yellow; anterior femora incrassate ;

tarsi darker on the last joint. Wings cinereous-hyaline, unspotted; veins strong, fuscous, third and

fourth straight, slightly divergent.

Length 1-5 millim., of the wing 15 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Chilpancingo in Guerrero 4600 feet (H. H. Smith).

376 SUPPLEMENT.

| DRAPETIS.

Drapetis, Meigen, Syst. Beschr. iii. p. 91 (1822).

1. Drapetis femoralis, sp. n.

9. Shining black ; legs largely yellowish; wings lightly grey. Front and proboscis black. Antenne and

palpi fuscous; arista three times length of the antenna. Front broad. Eyes contiguous below the

antenne. Thorax and abdomen shining black, sparsely hairy; stylets not shining. Halteres whitish.

Legs yellowish-brown, anterior femora stoutest, four anterior femora darker above, hind femora darker

on the distal half; tarsi darker, especially the hind metatarsi, which are equal in length to the remainder

of the tarsus; hind tibia with a short terminal spur. Wings greyish, veins strong, dark brown; first

posterior cell narrowed at the tip ; second basal cell moderately short.

Length 2 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Vera Cruz and Tabasco (H. H. Smith).

Two specimens.

2. Drapetis flavida.

Drapetis flavidus, Willist. Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1896, p. 308, t. 11. ff. 86, 86 a'.

Hab. Mexico, Orizaba, and Medellin near Vera Cruz (H. H. Smith & F. D. G.),

Yucatan (Gaumer).—ANTILLES, St. Vincent }.

The two specimens from Vera Cruz differ but slightly from the type of this species ;

the five others from Yucatan are smaller and of a dusky yellow colour.

These forms, together with the West-Indian one, resemble each other very closely

and though perhaps phylogenetically different should at present be included under the

same name.

Subfam. HEMERODROMIIN A.

SCIODROMIA.

Sciodromia, Haliday, in Westwood’s Introd. to the Mod. Classif. of Insects, ii. p. 182 (1840).

1. Sciodromia mexicana, sp. n.

9. Head black, thorax red, abdomen fuscous, legs yellow. Eyes widely separated on the front, narrowly on

the face, rather small. Face silvery, front greyish. Antenne short, first two joints yellow; the third

joint pointed, the terminal seta less than twice the length of the antenna. Proboscis very short, yellow.

Thorax reddish, pollinose, with black macrochete, and with two abbreviated black vittee in front.

Halteres yellowish. Antenne cylindrical, blunt. Legs lengthened, slender, except the thickened

anterior femora; posterior tibia with a slight widening at the extreme tip; anterior coxe elongate,

yellow, remaining coxe reddish. Wings greyish-hyaline, narrow, somewhat pointed; veins fuscous.

Length 2 millim.

Hab. Mexico, Sierra de las Aguas Escondidas in Guerrero (H. H. Smith).

DIPTERA.

List of Species recorded from Mexico or Central America since 1887, not

enumerated in the Supplement.

MYCETOPIILIDE.

Plesiastina mexicana, Giglio-Tos, Boll. Mus. Torino, no. 84, p. 143 (1890)

(Ditomyia) ; Mik, Wien. ent. Zeit. 1894, p. 26.—Mexico.

zonata, Giglio-Tos, loc. cit. p. 142 (Ditomyia) ; Mik, loc. cit. p. 26.—Mexico.

Sciara striata, Riibsaamen, Berl. ent. Zeit. 1894, p. 37.—Mexico.

PsYCHODID.

Psychoda punctatella, Townsend, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (6) xx. p. 19 (1897).—

Mexico.

STRATIOMYIDH.

Acanthina (2) bellardii, Giglio-Tos, Boll. Mus. Torino, vi. no. 102, p. 2 (1891).—

Mexico.

Clitellaria stigma, Giglio-Tos, loc. cit. p. 2,.—Mexico.

Cyphomya ochracea, Giglio-Tos, loc. cit. p. 2.—Mexico.

Euparyphus carbonarius, Giglio-Tos, loc. cit. p. 2.—Mexico.

Heteracanthia mexicana, Giglio-Tos, loc. cit. p. 1.—Mexico.

Merosargus coriaceus, Giglio-Tos, loc. cit. p. 4. —Mexico.

dissimilis, Giglio-Tos, loc. cit. p. 8.—Mexico.

—— hyalopterus, Giglio-Tos, loc. cit. p. 3.—Mexico.

orizabe, Giglio-Tos, loc. cit. p. 3.—Mexico.

Microchrysa nova, Giglio-Tos, loc. cit. p. 2.—Mexico.

Ptecticus trivittatus, Giglio-Tos, loc. cit. p. 3.—Mexico.

Chrysonotus eneiventris, Giglio-Tos, Mem. Acc. Torino, xlii. p. 121 (1893).—

Mexico.

Odontomyia mexicana, Johnson, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. xxii. p. 271 (1899).—

Mexico.

Sargus sp., Townsend, Ann. & Mag, Nat. Hist. (6) xix. p. 18 (1897).—Mexico.

TABANID.E.

Atylotus obesus, Bigot, Mém. Soc. Zool. Fr. v. p. 660 (1892).—Mexico.

erythreeus, Bigot, loc. cit. p. 661.—Mexico.

— fuscicrura, Bigot, loc. cit. p. 662.—Mexico.

erythrocephalus, Bigot, loc. cit. p. 668.— Panama.

Dichelacera pachypalpus, Bigot, loc. cit. p. 631.—Mexico.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Dipt., December 1901. 36

hh IVa 0. Lot

378

SUPPLEMENT.

Stibasoma pachycephalum, Bigot, loc. cit. p. 636.—Mexico.

Tabanus sexvittatus, Bigot, loc. cit. p. 682.—Mexico.

pruinosus, Bigot, loc. cit. p. 68 3.—Mexico.

mexicanus, Linn., var. limonus, Townsend, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (6) xx.

p. 21.—Mexico, Vera Cruz.

campecheanus, Townsend, Canad. Ent. xxix. p. 197 (1897). — Mexico,

Campeche.

yucatanus, Townsend, loc. cit. p. 198.—Yucatan.

BoMBYLIIDA.

Anthrax eurkinatus, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1892, p. 355.—Mexico.

Bombylius albopenicillatus, Bigot, loc. cit. p. 363.—Mexico.

LEPTIDA.

Arthrostylum fascipennis, Willist. Kansas Quart. iv. p. 109 (1895).—Mexico.

THEREVID.£.

~ Ozodiceronyma (sic) mexicana, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1889, p. 321.—Mexico.

END OF VOL. I,

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