36 STUDIES IN AMERICAN EPHYDRIDAE (dIPTERA) 
Notiphila erythrocera Loew 
1878. Notiphila erythrocera Loew, Zeit. f. Ges. Naturw., 194. 
?1830. Notiphila difficilis Weidemanii, Auss. Zweifl. Ins., ii, 591. 
1906. Notiphila varia Jones, Univ. Cal. Tech. Bull., i, 153. 
Here we have a species, represented in my material by an 
extensive series, which is seemingly in the process of breaking 
up, there being much variation, especially in the markings and 
in the color of the antennae and legs; at present, however, I 
cannot find any satisfactory lines of demarcation between the 
various forms. This species is sometimes liable to be confused 
with its closely allied species, but not with any special one, and 
this fact is responsible for the possible synonymy suggested under 
those species. I do not doubt my determination of this species. 
Specimens having the mesonotum faintly vittate suggest the 
recessive forms of facialis; while those having only two series of 
abdominal spots suggest species in the cinerea-group; while 
those with the more intense, less opaque, abdominal pattern are 
liable to be confused with riparia. However, in general there 
should be little difficulty in recognizing this species. The best 
distinguishing characters are the broad face, tawny or yellow 
second antennal joint, the size, number and position of the facial 
bristles, and the immaculate or faintly vittate mesonotum. 
These facial bristles are strong, two or three in number, limited 
to the lower third or fourth of the facial profile; the uppermost 
being hardly above the level of the buccal orbit. The general 
color is ochreous, even the browns and the dark areas are over- 
cast with this color. The females should not be confused with 
those of virgata, which have the browns of the abdomen more or 
less shining and the mesonotum distinctly vittate. Rarely are 
the abdominal spots shining in this species, and the antennae are 
always pale, rarely brown or ^the second joint blackish. The 
median abdominal stripe is very conspicuous in certain aspects. 
Description. — Black; antennae, palpi, halteres, apices of femora, middle and 
hind tibiae, and tarsi, yellow; fore tibiae and tarsi brown, rarely yellow; hind 
tibiae rarely brown medianly; tarsal fascicle black; wings yellow. 
Opaque; head ochreous; frontalia and ocellar region darker; frons some- 
times golden, and vittae obsolete or at times very marked in certain aspects. 
Face varying from gray to golden; second antennal joint seldom infuscate 
apically. Mesonotum brownish to yellowish olivaceous or golden, sometimes 
faintly vittate with brown. Scutellum concolorous or brownish on disk. 
