380 NEAV YOHIv STATE MUSEUM 



teiinue black, covci-i'tl with short whitisli ]>ile; ])j.ili)i bhick^ 

 thoi-ax velvety black, with an oblique bluish white metallie 

 humeral sjjot, tlu' jiosterior uiaritin also inetallic; scutellum 

 velvety black; and pectus black, grayish pruinose. Abdomen; 

 deep velvety black; on each side on the margin of the first 

 abdominal segment is a tuft of fuscous hairs, underneath which 

 the segments api)ear metallic. The posterior ])art of the venter 

 appears metallic. Legs, black and yellow. The extensor sur- 

 face of front tibiae, and a basal ring on the middle and hind 

 tibiae, silvery white; the fore coxae, basal half of all femora, 

 tibiae and metatarsi, and sometimes also bases of some tarsal 

 joints more or less yellowish; the rest black. The anterior tibia 

 with a rudimentary spur, middle and hind pair each with two^ 

 spurs; tarsal claws trifld. Halteres orange-yellow; wings whit- 

 ish hyaline. Length 2 to 2.5mm. 



Female. Black. Antennae black covered with short whitisb 

 pile; two basal joints usually yellowish; palpi black with x>ale 

 hairs; face and front gray pollinose. Dorsum of thorax black,, 

 bluish gray ]>ollinose, particularly on the sides and front cor- 

 ners, sparsely covered with very short yellow hairs. Scutellum^ 

 black, with erect black bristles; pleura black, gray pollinose. 

 Abdomen black, the anterior segments velvety, the posterior ones- 

 subshining browm. Legs yellowish, middle and hind coxae brown, 

 tips of femora and tibiae, the whole of fore tarsi, tips of the 

 middle and hind, first and second tarsal joints and usually the 

 whole of the remaining joints, black. Sometimes the femora 

 are wholly black. The extensor surface of all tibiae is silvery 

 white. The first and third joints of the fore tarsi are each pro- 

 vided with a ])air of long black hairs near the tip, besides the 

 usual shorter ones. The anterior tibia with rudimentar}' spur, 

 middle and hind ones each with a pair. Tarsal claws simple. 

 \Yings wiiitish hyaline, the heavy veins yellowish brown, quite 

 yellowish at the base at point of attachment. Halteres pale 

 yellow. Length 2 to omm. 



This species is very common in the Adirondacks, where it 

 proves to be a great annoyance to travelers. It seems to have 

 a wide distribution, having been reported by Mr Coquillett^ as 

 occurring in Canada, New Hampshire, New York, Michigan, 

 Minnesota, Wyoming, British Columbia, California, Texas, Lou- 

 isiana, Mississip])i and Florida. I have found it in Ithaca N. Y.^ 

 and I have seen specimens from Moscow, ilarsh and Albion Id.^ 

 and Battle Creek Mich. 



lU. S. Dep't Agric. Bui. 10, n. .s, 2. 1898. 



