THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 155 



Syrplius rectus O. S. 



This species which has long been confused with 5. ribcsii is undoubtedly 



distinct, but specimens occur which can only be distinguished with certainty 

 from that species by an examination of the genitalia, unless the characters I 

 have indicated, viz. practically unicolorous venter, will apply to all specimens 

 from various localities as it does to all I have examined. Another very good 

 character for separating the two species lies in the more broadly yellow sides of 

 the second abdominal segment in rectus. The more sparse tiny black bristles on 

 the end of the hind femora, the distinct bluish metallic reflection of the thorax, 

 as well as the more sparse pubescence of the scutdllum are also important char- 

 acters, but difficult to use except by a specialist. In most specimens of S. ribesii 

 the venter bears the bands described, while in most specimens of rectus there 

 are seldom even isolated spots in the male, and never in the female. I cannot sat- 

 isfy myself that the spots on the venter of S. rectus males are really ventral spots, 

 as they appear on the sides of the ventral segments and apparently are the darker 

 bands of the dorsum seen through the venter, while in ribcsii there are always 

 spots in the middle of the segments. The hind femora of the female always bear 

 a blackish post median band as in ribesii vittafrons, but in the typical ribcsii the 

 bands are never more than brownish. The face is wholly yellow and there is 

 no spot below the eyes. 



This is the most common species of the genus in Ontario. I have counted 

 thirty-seven specimens on a single bloom of Elder, and during early July of 

 last year a large field of Elder bushes had the blooms literally covered with 

 specimens. In fact this was the only species present. While Syrphus ribesii has 

 been frequently recorded and figured from Ontario, it seems that the majority 

 of 'records refer to this present species. Hunter took twenty-five specimens at 

 the Manitoba Agricultural College, Winnipeg, on August 17th and 21st. but I 

 have only seen one specimen from Teulon (near Lake Winnipeg). 



Syrphus transversalis, new species. 



Sides of the abdomen strongly reflexed downwards beyond the second 

 segment ; otherwise moderately like S. rectus. 



Length, 8 to 9 mm. Female. Face yellow, with white pile. Front black, 

 black pilose, clothed with yellowish pollen in front of the ocelli, except for a 

 large triangular, shining black area in the middle. Pile of the posterior orbits 

 yellow ; eyes bare. Antennae yellow, tips of the first two segments and the 

 upper quarter and end of the third segment, brown or black. 



Thorax shining greenish -'black, with yellowish pile. Scutellum yellow, 

 with black pile. 



Abdomen opaque black ; a pair of broadly separated triangular yellow 

 spots on the middle of the second segment, their inner ends rounded, the outer 

 ends extending narrowly forward along the sides to the base of the segment. 

 Third segment with an entire, basal, straight, moderately broad yellow band, 

 which reaches the margins in practically its full width. Band on fourth segment 

 similar, but slightly narrower. Broad apex of fourth segment, and tips of 

 following segments, yellowish. Pile on basal quarter and on the yellow bands, 

 yellowish, elsewhere short, sub-appressed, black. 



Legs yellow ; hind femora with a broad blackish ring beyond the middle ; a 



