Miller. — Bionomic Observations on New Zealand Diptera. 235 



Fam. Ephydrinid^. 

 Ephydra aquaria. 



An aquatic tly abounding on the surface of pools and on the damp banks 

 of streams on the sea-shore. From my observations, they are to be found 

 from January to May (1909). The larvae live in saline pools on the sea- 

 shore, and have been described by Dr. Benham in the Trans. N.Z. Inst., 

 vol. xxxvii, p. 308. 



Domina metallica. 



A minute fly about 2 mm. in length. This species is not common, only 

 two specimens having been obtained, during August and September (1908). 



EXPLANATION OP PLATES * XXVIII AND XXIX. 



Plate XXVIII. * 

 Fig. 1. Odontomyiachloris. 

 Fig. 2. Sarcopkaga impatiens. 

 Fig. 3. Limnophora rapax. 



Plate XXIX. 

 Fig. 1. Si/rphzis novce-zealaiidioB. 

 Fig. 2. Abdomen of Syrphus ortas. 

 Fig. 3. Abdomen of Melanostoma fasciatum. 

 Fig. 4. Saropogon ftigien^. 

 Fig. 5. HdophHus trilineatus. 

 Fig. 6. Itamwi varius. 



Art. XXVII. — A New Species of Empis. 



By David Miller. 



[Read before the Otago I')istitute, 12th October, 1909.] 



This is the first of a series of papers dealing with new species of New 

 Zealand Diptera, as they accumulate in my collection. 



Fam. EMPIDID^. 

 Genus Empis, Linseus. 

 Hutton, Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. xxxiii, p. 30. 



Empis otakouensis,* sp. nov. 



Male and female. Head spherical (fig. 2), borne by a short neck ; eyes 

 bare, dichoptic ; ocelli present ; occiput with short bristles, elongated at 

 the ocelH to form two pairs of vertical and a single pair of post-vertical 

 bristles, directed forward ; fronto-orbital bristles short, extending to the 

 base of the antennae ; frons, vertex, and occiput dark brown, covered with 

 silvery-grey tomentum ; first and second joints {e, /) of antennae bristly, 

 not elongate, same colour as the frons, third joint (c) not bristly, elongated, 



* Tlie name "otakouensis" i.s derived from that of a Maori village knovvu as Otakou, 

 situated a short distance from Taiaroa Head, and not far from the locality where this 

 species was found. 



