326 



OxYCERA CENTRALIS Loew 



Oxycera centralis Loew, Berl. Ent. Zeitschr., Vol. 7, 1863, p. 8. 



This species is somewhat similar to approximate!, differing in hav- 

 ing the antennae black, the pleurae immaculate, and the legs, especially 

 the femora, with black markings. 



Originally described from Red River of the North, and not sub- 

 sequently recorded as far as I am aware. 



Oxycera approximata, n. sp. 



Male. — Glossy black, with lemon-yellow markings. Head black, 

 sides of frons with a silvery line which is connected with one on sides 

 of face, the latter becoming abruptly narrowed on its lower third ; 

 mouth parts yellow; posterior eye-orbits silvery; antennae orange, 

 apical joint (6th) and arista brown. Thorax with 2 yellow vittae 

 near lateral margin which extend from humeral spot to suture and 

 slightlv beyond, and are occasionally connected with a large irregular 

 spot on posterior lateral angles of disc ; another yellow line, connected 

 with the sublateral one by the humeral spot, extends along the upper 

 margin of pleurae to wing-base, where it becomes conspicuously 

 broader; below the expanded posterior portion of the lateral line is 

 a large yellow spot, and slightly caudad of the latter and situated high- 

 er on the side is a smaller one ; scutellum black, margin narrowly yel- 

 low, thorns yellow, blackened at apices. Base of abdomen with a yel- 

 low spot which extends laterad anteriorly in the form of a slender 

 line ; third segment with a pair of approximate spots on anterior half 

 and an oblong spot on postero-lateral angle ; fourth segment with an 

 oblong spot on postero-lateral angle which is smaller than that on the 

 preceding segment; fifth segment with the posterior margin rather 

 broadly yellow; lateral spots usually carried more or less distinctly 

 cdong the extreme lateral margins of segments; venter black. Legs 

 yellow ; coxae black. Wings clear, veins yellowish. Halteres lemon- 

 vellow. 



Eyes contiguous; antennae rather short, not longer than arista. 

 Thorax with short brownish discal hairs; scutellar thorns of normal 

 size. Abdomen with rather sparse short pale hairs. Legs normal in 

 structure. Cross vein furcate, the fork forming almost a right angle ; 

 the 4 veins leaving discal cell indistinct. 



Female. — Differs from the male in having the 2 approximated 

 spots on third abdominal segment smaller and separated, and in the 

 color and structure of the head as follows: frons one third the width 



