FOSSOEES HKMBIXID^E. 115 



Family BEMBECID2E. 



This family is characterized chiefly by the distinctly exserted lab- 

 rum, which ill some genera is long and rostriform, and contains some 

 of the largest and finest species of the Order. The genera belonging 

 to the Stizini have been admirably treated in a paper by Mr. Patton 

 (Bull. V. U. tS. Geo. Surv. 1879), in which the characters are given 

 in detail. 



The following table will assist in separating the genera : 



Table of Genera. 



Intcriiiediiite tihiic armed with two spurs at apex; subniedian cell of posterior 

 wiugs extending far beyond the median cell on the externo-niedial 

 nervure ; labrum exserted, shorter than the clypeus ; ocelli perfect. 



— Stizini 2. 



Intermediate tihiie armed with but one spur at apex ; siibmedian cell of posterior 

 wings not extending beyond the median cell on the externo-medial 

 nervure; labrum exserted, longer than the clypeus; ocelli more or 



less imperfect. — Bembecini 3. 



2.— Marginal cell lanceolate, extending beyond the tip of the third submarginal 

 cell; the submarginal nervure beneath the second submarginal cell 

 flexed to meet the first recurrent nervure, the latter inserted nearly 

 in a line with a portion of the submarginal nervure beyond ; spurs 



of hind tibite 9 much enlarged. — Spheeii ^»l>lie('iiif!« Dalilli. 



Marginal cell ovate-lanceolate, not extending as far as the third sul)marginal 

 cell; submarginal nervure not flexed to meet the first recurrent 

 nervure, the latter convex at apex and inserted at an angle. — Stizi. 

 Large; legs robust, intermediate tarsi not longer than their tibia;, joints 

 2-4 .short, not longer than broad, spurs of their tibiie short, pulvillus 

 large ; submedian cell of posterior wings extending no more than 

 its own breadth beyond the median cell on the externo-medial 



nervure iVIegastizu^ Patton. 



.Medium ; legs more slender, intermediate tarsi much longer than their 

 tibiae. 

 Submedian cell of posterior wings extending no more than its breadth 

 beyond the median cell on the externo-medial nervure: ]iulvil!us 

 large ; joints 2-4 of intermediate tarsi short, not longer than broad : 

 two apical joints of % antennae armed with a sjiinc bcinaiii. 



ISeiiihi'ciiiuM Costa. 



Submedian cell of posterior wings extending much more than its own 



breadth lieyond the median cell on the externo-medial nervure: 



pulvillus small; joints 2-4 of intermediate tarsi elongate; % an- 



tennsE unarmed KtizilN Latr. 



3. — Maxillary palpi short, generally concealed. 



.Vnterior wings without a sinus between tlie marginal and third submar- 

 ginal colls, the latter rounded at ti]) and scarcely narrowed towards 

 the marginal, which is obtusely truncate at tip ; iiiiuu- side of second 

 submarginal cell bent inwanllv beneath Uoillbex I'abr. 



