Makshall. — On Neio Zealand Diptera. 305 



cell, its distance from the fourth longitudinal differs consider- 

 ably in different specimens. 



This is an extremely common and variable insect. Several 

 varieties seem to be well marked, and subsequent investigation 

 may show that they belong to different species. For the pre- 

 sent I have united them, as I am not yet satisfied that some 

 of them belong to different species. The insect may be taken 

 throughout the year, but is especially abundant during the 

 summer months. I have obtained specimens at Wanganui 

 and Lincoln, as well as at several intermediate localities. 



Mycctophila robusta, sp. nov. 



Length of antennae, 0-121 ; size of body, 0-198 x 0-054 ; 

 expanse of wing, 0-204 x 0090. 



Antennae slender ; joints of scapus not very stout, reddish- 

 yellow, the basal joint setiferous on the lower surface, the 

 upper joint all over the upper margin ; flagellum with basal 

 joint in length about four trnies its breadth, reddish-yellow, 

 others with length about three times their breadth, reddish- 

 yellow on the lower portion, dark-brown above, the yellow 

 portion smaller and the brown portion larger in each succeed- 

 ing joint as the apex is approached ; all joints covered with 

 short pubescence. Palpi reddish-yellow ; second and third 

 joints stout, covered with short black hairs ; fourth joint very 

 slender and rather longer, and not so densely covered with 

 black hairs. Front reddish-yellow, the anterior margin and 

 lateral margins fringed with stout black hairs. Thorax, scu- 

 tellum, metathorax, and pleurae reddish-yellow; thorax with 

 rather short black hairs. Scutellum with four long black 

 spines on posterior portion. Halteres short, reddish-yellow; 

 clubs pyriform, with black pubescence. Abdomen reddish- 

 yellow, darker on the upper surface, covered all over with 

 rather short black hairs. Legs stout ; cox» bright-yellow, 

 setiferous at the end ; femora rather dilated, yellow, covered 

 with short black hairs ; tibiae with longitudinal rows of short 

 black hairs, two rows of very long spines and a few shorter 

 ones ; tarsi yellow, with longitudinal rows of black hairs 

 and numerous black spines on the under-surface ; spurs very 

 long and stout. Wings with pronounced yellow tinge. Veins 

 yellow ; tip of costal uniting with tip of second longitudinal 

 almost at the apex of the wing ; fifth longitudinal not nearly 

 reaching apex of second posterior cell ; sixth longitudinal 

 longer. Black spots on the wing absent or less pronounced 

 than in the last species. 



The three last species are very closely aUied, and would 



perhaps be more properly classed as varieties of a single 



species. The chief distinction between them is their size, 



but this cannot be considered a specific character if specimens 



20 



