285. 



SPHtEROMIAS albomarginatus. 



Order Diptera. Fam. Tipulidae Lat.^ Leach. 



Type of the Genus, S. albomarginatus. 



SpHiEROMiAS Stephens. 



Antennce alike in both sexes ? inserted in front of the face (2), 

 not quite so long as the thorax, slightly setaceous pilose, 14- 

 jointed, basal joint robust, subturbinate, 2nd longer than the 

 7 following, which are nearly cylindrical, the 10th and remainder 

 twice as long, the terminal one being subacuminate (3). 

 Labrum coriaceous, hollow and attenuated to the apex which is 

 rounded (b). 



Tongue longer than the lip, sublanceolate, the margins thick- 

 ened (c). 



Mandibles rigid, dilated towards the base, slightly curved and 

 acute at the apex, with several sharp teeth on the inside (d). 

 Ma.villcB short, lanceolate, very thin at the apex (e). 

 Palpi longer than the rest of the trophi, 4-jointed, pilose, 1st 

 and 2nd joints of equal length, the former rather more robust 

 and bent at the base, 3rd the shortest, 4th the longest and cla- 

 vate (f). 

 Head rather small and suborbicular. Clypeus not produced, convex. 

 Eyes reniform approximating above. Ocelli none? {2, front view of 

 the Head, showing the insertion of the antennae, &c.) Thorax ovate 

 truncate, sloped off behind. Scutellum elevated, semicircular. Ab- 

 domen broad and fiat, gradually increasing in diameter to the apex 

 which is triangular and incurved in the males ? Wings longer than 

 the body with a costal and 2 perfect subcostal cells (9). Halteres 

 short naked and capitate. Legs rather stout. Tibiae simple. Tarsi 

 5-jointed, pubescent beneath, basal joint the longest, 2nd and 5th 

 shorter, of equal length, 4th the shortest, terminal joint armed ivith 

 a double row of spiny bristles. Claws very long and muck bent, 

 (8, a tarsus). 



Albomarginatus Stephens. 



Cinereous. Eyes and antennae blackish, the latter fulvous at the 

 base, with a channel between and 2 punctures above them. 

 Thorax silky, with very short bristles scattered over it, a pale 

 brownish stripe on each side and 2 abbreviated ones near the 

 middle. Scutellum castaneous at the margin. Abdomen with 

 the margins whitish, the base piceous, forming a triangular mark 

 in the centre of every joint beyond the middle. Wings iridescent, 

 yellowish at the costa, the nervures tawny. Halteres whitish. 

 Legs pilose, ferruginous ochre, black where articulated. Thighs 

 of hinder legs piceous, except at the extremities, the tibiae of 

 these and the intermediate pair piceous, the latter lightest. Tarsi 

 paler, with the tips of the joints, the whole of the 4th and 5th and 

 the claws black. 



In the Cabinets of Mr. Cooper and the Author. 



