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UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 224 



Genus Cryptomerinx Enderlein 



Figures 2515, 2522 



Cryptomerinx Enderlein, Zool. Anzeiger, vol. 44, p. 254, 1914. 

 Type of genus: Cryptomerinm laphriicornis Enderlein, 

 1914, by original designation. 



The following is Enderlein's description in 

 translation : 



Female. Genus of the subfamily Asilinae. The venation is 

 like that in Asilus Linnaeus or Rhadiurgus Loew, but the an- 

 terior branch of the fourth vein is completely straight on its 

 base, not bent or arched (bogig geknickt). The third posterior 

 cell is a little broader than the second posterior cell. The 

 third antennal segment is short and spindle-formed (from the 

 side view it is broadened and pressed together). Arista (seta) 

 formed as a very short, strong, almost style-like bristle which 

 is about one-sixth the length of segment three and which at 

 the base is thicker and towards the apex sharpened. 



Distribution: Neotropical: Cryptomerinx laphri- 

 icornis Enderlein (1914). 



The figures given by Enderlein for wing and antenna 

 are reproduced in this study. While it seems obvious 

 that this asilid belongs to the Laphriinae and not to 

 the Asilinae, it might have remote affinities with the 

 Laphystini. The wing venation is not greatly differ- 

 ent from Nusa Walker and the antenna is almost dupli- 

 cated by some of the South American relatives of Nusa 

 Walker. A knowledge of the male terminalia would 

 be very useful in determining its correct relationship. 



Genus Laxenecera Macquart 

 Figukes 215, 624, 1223, 1232, 2097, 2101, 2151 



Laxenecera Macquart, Dipteres exotiques, vol. 1, pt. 2, p. 77, 

 1S38. Type of genus: Laxenecera albiharbis Macquart, 

 1838. Designated by Hermann, 1919. 



Acurana Walker, Insecta Saundersiana, vol 1, pt 1, p. 107, 



1851. Type of genus : Acurana sexfasciata Walker, 1851, 

 by monotypy. 



Dyseris Loew, Ofvers. Svenska Vet.-Akad. Forhandl., vol. 14, 

 p. 357, 1858. Type of genus: Laphria albicincta Loew, 



1852, first of three species, by present designation. 



Flies of medium size, distinguished by the short, 

 appressed, abdominal pile, the stout, not spined femur, 

 the bulboconvex face and elongate antenna. The face 

 characteristically has numerous, very long, slender 

 bristles or bristly hairs from top to bottom. The third 

 antennal segment is slender, elongate, with long, con- 

 spicuous, dorsal setae, which in some species may ex- 

 tend the whole length of this segment ; also on much of 

 the basal part of this segment these setae extend down 

 the sides and over the ventral surface. First poste- 

 rior cell closed and stalked. Length 12 to 20 mm. 



Head, lateral aspect: The head is moderately long. 

 The face is strongly produced and convex, especially 

 on the lower half, the eyes but little recessed below, 

 strongly convex anteriorly and only slightly and 

 gently convex behind. The occiput is swollen and 

 thick on the lower half but obliterated on the upper 

 third; its pile is unusually abundant and long espe- 



cially on the lower portion. Weak, slender bristles 

 begin near the upper fourth and are replaced by stiff 

 hairs in the middle; there are approximately 5 or 6 

 pairs of slender bristles. Bristles are absent behind 

 the vertex, being replaced by stiff, long hairs. The 

 proboscis is relatively short, with a blunt apex, and 

 varies from stout to comparatively slender and sub- 

 cylindrical. The dorsomedial area is high, especially 

 through the middle. The apex bears numerous, stiff, 

 rather long hairs and a subventral lateral fringe for 

 a short distance back from the apex. The pile on the 

 ventral half and sides of the proboscis is long and 

 especially abundant and the proboscis is basally swol- 

 len and directed obliquely forward. Palpus of two 

 segments, the first segment excavated, the second with 

 a minute apical pore. Both segments bear long pile 

 ventrally ; the second segment has stiff bristles dorsally 

 and on all sides near the apex. 



Antenna attached at the upper sixth of the head and 

 unusually long and slender; the first segment is 2\< 2 

 times as long as the second, and the third is twice as 

 long as the first. The third segment beyond the 

 middle becomes slightly wider than the second segment 

 and near the apex it is slightly reduced and attenuate 

 with a bluntly rounded apex and a shallow, dorsal 

 groove on the apical fifth. The apex forms a down- 

 turned, spoonlike structure which encloses a short, 

 stubby spine. Pile of first segment long and copious 

 on all sides, except the middle, and with 7 moderately 

 stout, long bristles below. Second segment with 5 stiff 

 setae below and 5 above ; second segment with some 20 

 setae below on the basal half and laterally and with 

 more numerous dorsal setae which reach nearly to the 

 apex. 



Head, anterior aspect: The face width below antenna 

 is one-fourth of head width and slightly divergent 

 below; the subepistomal area is short and slightly 

 oblique. The face without pubescence, except laterally, 

 and very densely covered with long, slightly curved, 

 stiff, bristly pile which is directed obliquely downward ; 

 the front is exceedingly short, somewhat divergent; the 

 divergence is continued on up to the vertex and beyond 

 to the dorsally extended upper eye margin. Sides of 

 front along the eye margin with 2 rather stout, long 

 bristles and an extensive patch of stiff pile. Vertex 

 deeply excavated; the ocellar protuberance is moder- 

 ately large and high and bears 3 pairs of long, stiff, 

 divergent bristles. Central eye facets greatly enlarged. 



Thorax: The thorax is coarsely pollinose or often 

 bare over most of the mesonotum and pleuron. Meso- 

 notum with fine, scattered, subappressed setae and often 

 with considerable suberect pile. Acrostical and dorso- 

 central elements are not differentiated. Humerus 

 pilose. The lateral margin bears stiff, long bristles 

 which consist of : 2 to 4 notopleural, 6 to 15 supraalar, 6 

 to 8 postalar and 4 to 6 pairs of stout scutellar bristles. 

 Scutellum flat, pollinose, with considerable stiff or 

 flattened pile on the disc. In some species there are 

 dorsocentral bristly hairs before the scutellum which 

 become long and fine. Propleuron with numerous, 





