114 (ilLNKKA OF IIYMKNoriEKA. 



Family LARRIDyE. 



The following synopsis of the genera is by Mr. W. H. Pattoii. who 

 lia- made a study of the family, and puhlislird an interesting iia[>ci' 

 on the subject in the Proceedings of the Boston iSociety of Natund 

 History for ISSO. 



Table of Genera. 



Eyes eraarginate within ; second snbmarfjinal cell petiolate I'isoii Si)in. 



Eyes entire ; second snbnuirsinal cell not jietiolate. 

 Exterior margin of niandil)les scarcely eniarginate. 



First subraarginal cell shorter tlian the second and third combined, and di- 

 vided by a spurious nervure ; eyes of ^ meeting on the vcrtt-x: in- 

 termediate tibiiv with two sjjurs AMfata Latr. 



First submarginal cell longer than the second and third coniliincd, not di- 

 vided; eyes not meeting on the vertex ; mandil)lcs not diMitate within. 



Liris Fabr. 

 Exterior margin of mandibles with a broad, deep emargination near the base. 



Three distinct ocelli Liyroda Say. 



Posterior ocelli distorted or obsolete. 



Metathorax as long as mesothorax, truncate behind ; marginal cell truncate 



at tip. . Liarra Latr. 



Metathorax shorter than mesothorax, rounded behind; marginal cell nar- 

 row and rounded at tip; mandibles dentate within Tacliytcs Pan/.. 



Of tlie generti cliaracterized above, Pi.soii is re])resented by one 

 species from Georgia, and Astata by twelve, mostly found in the far 

 Western States, while to Liris has been referred a single species from 

 Colorado, whose characters do not altogether accord with those of 

 that genu.s. Lyrodn. which is distinguished from the remaining genera 

 by having three distinct ocelli, is re])resentcd by two species. ]Most 

 of the species referred to Larva, about twenty in uiiiuher, were origi- 

 nally described as belonging to Larrada, which, according to I'atton, 

 is not generically distinct. 



Of Tuchytes, sixteen species have been desciibcd. Referring to 

 the species of this genus, Mr. Patton says: "So ((iiick arc these in- 

 sects in their motions, and so watchful are they, that their ca])ture is 

 difficult ; however stealthily they are approached while resting on the 

 flowers, their green eyes are sure to face the intruder, anil the least 

 suspicious act sends them circling in the air, or off in an exceedingly 

 rapid flight." 



riic .-pecies of this faniilv are oiilinaiiK i'onnd in sandv situations, 

 where the females buri-ow, provisioning llieir ceils chiellv with ( )r- 

 thopterous insects. The species of 7'<ic/i//hs are said to Kc \(i\' par- 

 tial to the flowers of .\scle])ias. 



