J 96 AUSTRALIAN- FLIES OF THE FAMILY ASILIDAE. 



Asilus aniilco, Walker, List Dipt. Brit. Mus. ii., 1849, p. 458; vii., suppl. 3, 



1855, p. 737. 

 Machimus antilco, Ricardo, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (S), xi., 1913, p. 423. 

 Itamus planiceps, Schiiier, Reise Novara, Dipt., 1868, p. 189. 

 Neoitamus planiceps, Ricardo, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist.. (8), xi., 1913. p. 434; 

 White, Proc. Roy. Soc. Tas., 1913, p. 275. 



Synonymy. — Asilus armatus Macquart is described from Tasmania, but 

 Walker gives Australia and Tasmania for Macquart's species. A. setifemorata 

 Macquart is from Adelaide. A. antilco Walker is from Port Stephens. N. 

 planiceps Schinei' is from Sydney. lu the collection under revision there are 

 specimens from Sydney and Tasmania which cannot be separated from each other 

 or from the various descriptions. 



In describing /. planiceps, Schiner states that his species does not agree with 

 the descriptions of Macquart's A. setifemorata and A. rufotarsis; Schiner's de- 

 scription, however, appears to agree with A. setifemorata in spite of his state- 

 ment to the contrary. 



The reference to A. rufotarsis Macquart is not traceable; A. rufometalarsis 

 Macquart is not described as ha\'ing spines on the anterior femora, and therefore 

 A. rufotarsis evidently is not a misprint for that name. 



In describing the male genitalia, Schiner states that the posterior border is 

 serrated; as this does not conform to the illustration of the male genitalia given 

 here, it is necessary to point out that when the two obtuse points, one at the 

 apex of each branch of the upper forceps, are seen laterally, one above the 

 other, the posterior border of the genitalia has a bi-toothed serration. 



A. armata Macquart is described with, and the drawing shows, four ventral 

 spines on the anterior femora. There can be little doubt but that the Tasmanian 

 specimens in the collection belong to this species, and specimens from Sydney are 

 identical, making I. planiceps Schiner an undoubted synonym. 



A. setifemorata Macquart and A. antilco Walker, from their descriptions, are 

 referable here. 



Description, (i The tubercle of the face is large; the moustache is mostly 

 black, but there are about six white bristles in the centre. There is a row of 

 black bristles behind the eyes. 



The dorsal thoracic bristles are disposed each side of the median line as fol- 

 lows : — two presutural ; two superalar ; one postalar, but sometimes a second, 

 very thin, postalar bristle is also present ; about six dorsoceutral ; all these bristles 

 black . 



There are two black scutellar bristles. Tiie metapleural bristles are black 

 or white, and the hypopleural bristles are white and not very prominent. 



The abdominal bristles are mostly white. The upper forceps of the malo 

 genitalia are simple, and without a process; they broaden apically, and the pos- 

 terior margin is obliquely .Tugled or rounded. 



The anterior femora have four conspicuous, thick, black, ventral spines; the 

 intermediate and posterior femora have their respective spine systems sometimes 

 complete, but the rows generally have a reduced number of spines. 



The wings have a normal venation ; the intermediate crossvein is situated at 

 nearly two-thirds the length of the discal cell, and the second posterior cell is 

 long and slightly constricted subapically. 



2. The female is similar to the male, but the moustache and abdominal 

 spines are very variable in colour. The ovipositor is very long and ril)bon-l!ke. 



