178 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, '02 



bright red spot appears at the inner angle. The bars on both the super- 

 ior and inferior wings are interrupted by the nervules, which are black. 

 The undersides of the superiors uniform dark iridescent blue, covering 

 the entire wing, except the apex and the exterior margin, which is black. 

 Inferiors iridescent purple almost to the margins. A row of arrow 

 shaped metallic green spots extends from the apex to almost the inner 

 angle. The red spot seen on the upper side is larger and much more 

 intensified. Thorax and abdomen black above, abdomen red beneath. 

 Expanse, one and five-eighths inch. 



This species is nearest to N. diva Stgr., but differs from it 

 entirely. 



Habitat. Chauchamayo, Peru. Named in honor of Wm. J. 

 Gerhard, Chicago, 111. 



Notes on the Acroceridae.* 

 BY A. LEONARD MELANDER. 



Because of their brilliant color, anomalous structure and 

 rare occurrence, the flies of the family Acroceridse have gener- 

 ally been considered the rare? avcs of the insect world. As 

 but few collections in this country contain over a half dozen 

 species, and scarcely any more individuals, the advent of a 

 new form is heralded with interest. The following notes are 

 made from specimens in the collections of Dr. Wheeler and 

 myself. 



1. Oncodes costatus Loew. 



This seems to be the only representative of the family that 

 occurs at all commonly in the northern States. It is readily 

 recognized by the broad pale yellow bands extending across 

 the fuscous abdomen. Specimens from Wisconsin and Ontario 

 are in the collection. 



2. Oiicodes sp. indeterm. 



An apparently undescribed species of Oncodes occurs in Penn- 

 sylvania. This form, which was taken by Mr. H. G. Klages, 

 differs from the preceding in the wholly yellow color of the 

 body. 



3. Oncodes eugonatus Loew. 



A specimen from Austin, Texas, taken in grass-sweepings, 



* Contrib. from the Zool. Lab., Univ. of Texas, No. 31. 



