SYNOPSIS OF NORTH AMERICAN SYRPHID^. 161 



middle of which is less i)ilose. Face aud IVont mostly concealed be- 

 neath dense yeMowish pollen and similar-colored pile ; a broad median 

 facial stripe and the cheets shining black; the upper part of the front 

 in the female and a spot above the antennae in both sexes black, with 

 black pile. Antennae brownish black ; arista reddish, darker at the 

 base, nearly bare. Thorax black, but little shining ; dorsum covered 

 with yellowish pollen and moderately abundant yellow pile. Abdomen 

 brownish black, nearly bare, wholly sliiniug ; the second segment, and 

 sometimes the third, with narrow posterior reddish margins ; the usual 

 triangle slender, inconspicuous, obscurely reddish yellow ; third seg- 

 ment sometimes with a similar, small, less distinct spot on the sides. 

 Le^s brownish black, or black, with yellow i^ile ; tip of femora and basal 

 third of anterior and middle tibiae light yellow, the distal portion of 

 these tibiae and all of the hind tibiae blackish or brownish ; middle me- 

 tatarsi yellow. Wings hyaline, a small spot at tip of auxiliary vein; 

 the disk sometimes broadly but faintly clouded. 



Numerous specimens. 



The most remarkable thing in connection with this insect is the date 

 of its first discovery in America. Prior to 1874 or 1875 the species had 

 never been recognized by dipterologists, although such an able collector 

 as Baron OstenSackeu had spent many years in the study of our dipter- 

 ous fauna. At present it is very abundant in New England, and 1 

 have seen specimens from the Central and Pacific States. In Professor 

 Eiley's collection, however, there is a specimen bearing the date of 1870, 

 and presumably captured in the Western States somewhere. Upoa 

 calling this gentleman's attention to the specimen he assured me that 

 the species had long been familiar to him libout privies and out-houses, 

 where they are known to breed. It seeujs probable to me that the species 

 has been in this country for many years, but had never been recognized. 



Eristalis aeneus. 



Sijrpluis osneus Fabricius, Eut. Syst., iv, o02,88 ; Fallen, Syrpb., 28, "22; Panzer, 

 Fauua Germ., ^2, 15 ; Zetterstedt, Dipt. Scand., ii, 668, 14. 



Conopa (Hweus Scopoli, Eut. Carn., 356, fig. 967. 



Eristalis ceneus Fabricius, Syst. Antl., 244, 57; Meigen, Syst., Beschr, iii, 384, 

 2; Macquart, Hist. Nat. Dipt., i, 506,16; Schiuer, Fauna Austr. Dipt,, 1,333. 



Eristalis c«/?roi;iite/HS Wiedemaun, Auss. Zw. Ins., ii, 190,54. 



Eristalis sincerus Harris, Ins. Injur, to Veget., 3rd ed., 609; Walker, List, iii, 611. 



Sahitat. — Europe, North America !, Algiers, Canary Islands, Malta, 

 Syria. 



S ,9 . Length 8 to 10™™. Dark metallic green, wholly shining. Eyes 

 spotted with small rouud dots, nearly bare, very slightly pilose near the 

 top. Face and front with grayish pile and pollen, a small spot on the 

 tubercle and the cheeks narrowly shining. Antenuae brown ; the third 

 joint yellowish, often the first two joints likewise; arista bare. Thorax 

 and abdomen with obscure yellowish pile. Dorsum of the thorax in the 

 female with five grayish-white stripes, the middle one slender, linear. 

 Scutellum of the same dark metallic green. Tibiae at the base, some- 



