108 STUDIES IN AMERICAN EPHYDRIDAE (dIPTERA) 



14. Parafacials broader than one half of third antennal jomt 15 



Parafacials narrower, parallehng orbits 16 



15. Lateral flexor series on fore femora of numerous bristles in series com- 



plete to apex appendiculata p. 114. 



Lateral series of fewer bristles, series generally interrupted before 

 apex texana p. 113. 



16. Face dull, dark, sometimes nearly black meridionalis p. 119. 



Face sericeous, light in color ciliata p. 111. 



Paralimna (Phaiosterna) decipiens Loew PL IX, fig. 5. 



1878. Paralimna decipiens Loew, Zeit. f. Ges. Naturf., 1878, 195. 

 ?1893. Drosophila excita Giglio-Tos. Bol. Mus. Zool. Anat. Comp. R. Univ. 

 Torino, VIII, 158. 



It is possible that this species is not specifically distinct from 

 the next. As treated here the species is typically opaque, with 

 at most the abdomen somewhat shining, with bands generally 

 well developed. The thorax may be more or less shining due to 

 abrasion. 



Description. — Black with yellow halteres. Opaque, head and thorax dark 

 brown, yellow brown or olivaceous pruinose. Abdomen sub-opaque, oliva- 

 ceous, with or without brown basal segmental bands, or, brown with or without 

 traces of olivaceous apices to segments. Mesoiiotum generally with two or 

 three dark vittae between dorso-centrals, being most distinct anterioi'ly. 



Head broader than high. Eyes higher than broad. Frons broader than 

 long; orbits nearly paraUel; chaetotaxy normal. Face three-fourths width of 

 vertex,' slightly longer than broad, in profile, vertical with shght hump above 

 middle; parafacials very narrow, concentric with orbits to cheeks; facaha 

 sparsely setulose with one or more bristles. Cheeks about as broad as third 

 antennal joint. Antennae with arista of 10 to 12 hairs. 



Thorax and abdomen normal. Fore femora of male sparsely and weakly 

 bristly below. Length. — 2.5 to 3.5 mm. 



Type. — Described from Texas. The type in the Museum of 

 Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Massachusetts. I have not 

 examined it. 



The variation in the pruinose color is considerable, ranging 

 anywhere from dark brown to golden brown on the head and 

 thorax, but the abdominal olivaceous bands are fairly constant 

 in color although varying in extent. The thoracic vittation is 

 also subject to variation in extent or may l)e absent. In poor 

 and abraded specimens the pruinose vesture may be nearly 

 absent so that the surface is shining. Of such specimens the 

 student should l)e careful and not refer them to obscura Will., 

 a form that may possibly be found with this. In the goUlen 

 colored specimens the abdomen is generally olivaceous with the 



