Eristalis. 419 



femora are black bristles. Wings more or less yellowish, towards the 

 anterior margin more brownish, especially along the veins; upper 

 marginal cross-vein recurrent above; the veinlets at the apex of sub- 

 costal and first posterior cells turned upwards; radial vein with fine 

 bristles on its basal part; vena spuria visible, at all events to the 

 cross-vein. Stigma long, yellowish or brown, darkest at the base. 

 Squamulæ and fringes whitish yellow. Halteres yellow. 



Female. Vertex and frons broad, widening downwards; vertex 

 blackish, frons brownish yellow pruinose, with a more or less distinct, 

 brown, longitudinal spot in the middle, and black and shining above 

 the antennæ; the hairs are black about the ocelli, then reddish, and 

 whitish above the antennæ. Eyes only very slightly haired just above. 

 Thorax generally with indications of three or five narrow, greyish 

 stripes. Abdornen quite yellow-haired. 



Length about 11 mm. 



This species varies only slightly in Denmark, but, as stated by 

 Verrall, it seems to vary considerably in southern regions ; I have seen 

 specimens from Sicily which were much more bright æneous and the 

 females had on thorax five very distinct, greyish white stripes, the 

 three middle ones united behind. 



E. aeneus is somewhat common in Denmark, but less common 

 than sepulchralis; at Copenhagen, Amager, Nyraad near Vordingborg; 

 on Lolland at Bremersvold and Strandby west of Nysted, and on 

 Bornholm. My dates are ^U — ^^h; it may be seen during the whole 

 summer, but it is especially present in early spring and again in late 

 summer and autumn; I have records of it in copula on V4. It occurs 

 on meadows and commons and is especially found near the shore; 

 it frequents various Umbelliferæ I have often taken it on Pastinaca; 

 in early spring it may be seen on palings and walls. The larva was 

 taken on Vesterfælled on sand below sea-weed at the shore on ^^/t, 

 it developed in August (Schlick). 



Geographical distribution:— All Europe and down into Syria, 

 South Arabia and North Africa, and on the Ganaries; towards the 

 north to middle Sweden ; it occurs also in North America. 



3. E. cryptarum Fabr. 



1794. Fabr. Ent. Syst. IV, 285, 26 (Stjrphus) et 1805. Syst. Antl. 235, 11. 

 — 1817. Fall. Dipt. Suec. Syrph. 29,24 (Syrphus). — 1822. Meig. Syst. 

 Beschr. III, 389, 9, Tab. XXXII, Fig. 22. - 1843. Zett. Dipt. Scand. II, 667, 

 13 (Stjrphus). — 1862. Schin. F. A. I, 333. - 1901. Verr. Brit. Fl. VIII, 

 503, 3. — 1907. Kat. palåarkt. Dipt. III, 100. 



27* 



