Vol. XXviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 415 



arcuatus Fallen. The first two may be considered together 

 in a single group : These flies appear first about February 20 

 and may be found visiting the blossoms of almond and Myro- 

 balan plum for about three weeks. Thereafter they are very 

 scarce and do not occur beyond April. Osten Sacken reared 

 the former species from pupae found under oak bark and the 

 writer has reared alopc.v from pupae found in a similar loca- 

 tion. The flies move rapidly and are not easy to capture while 

 feeding, as they prefer to alight on the higher branches of 

 trees. They occur both in the valley floors and in the hills and 

 are typical early spring species. 



Cheilosia occidentalis, which is very similar in general ap- 

 pearance to the European Ch. rariabilis Panzer, appears to- 

 wards the end of February, reaches its maximum about March 

 25 and during April rapidly declines in numbers. After April 

 it is rarely to be found. This species is rare in the valleys but 

 abundant in the hills near water. The males are greatly at- 

 tracted to plum and other blossoms and the females are more 

 often seen resting on low herbage. Both sexes are easily 

 captured. The metamorphoses are not known, but presumably 

 occur in plant tissues. 



The Sphegina appears in flight about March 15, reaches its 

 maximum abundance about the end of March and then grad- 

 ually decreases in numbers through April, May and June. 

 Males are much more commonly observed than females, the 

 former greatly resembling some of the small ichneumonid 

 wasps as they hover and dart among flowers. They may be 

 taken in March about Tooth wort (Dentaria) and fruit trees, 

 and later about bridal wreath (Physocarpits capitatns 

 Pursh.). Females occur mostly on low vegetation near wa- 

 ter. Metamorphoses unknown. A common species in hilly lo- 

 calities, rare in valleys. 



S\r pints arcuaius reaches its greatest abundance earlier than 

 any other predaceous form. Adults appear occasionally in 

 January on willow catkins, Laiirustinus and Brass! ca, are to 

 be found in fair abundance on warm clays in February, and 

 are most numerous in the latter half of March. Thereafter 



