478 Syrphidae. 



and develop early the next spring; the pupa is generally found in the 

 earth near the bulb. 



The species of Merodon are beautiful, somewhat Bee-like flies; 

 the genus is of southern occurrence, numerous species occurring in 

 Southern Europe and North Africa, but the species are far from being 

 well known. They are recorded to occur on meadows and to frequent 

 especially Umbelliferæ. 



Of the genus nearly 65 species are known from the palæarctic 

 region; one is found in Denmark. 



1. M. equestris Fabr. 



1794. Fabr. Ent. Syst. IV, 292, 51 (Syrphus) et 1805. Syst. Antl. 196, 2. 



— 1822. Meig. Syst. Beschr. III, 352, 2," Tab. XXXI, Fig. 23 et 1838. VII, 

 141. — 1862. Schin. F. A. I, 344. — 1901. Verr. Brit. Fl. VIII, 556, 1, 

 figs. 380-381. - 1907. Kat. palaarkt. Dipt. III, 117. - 1913. Sack, 

 Abhandl. Senckenb. Nat. Gesell. 31, 428, Tab. 24, Fig. 5. — Syrphus flavi- 

 cans Fabr. 1794. 1. c. IV, 292, 52 et 1805. 1. c. 242, 40 (Éristalis). — 

 1822. Meig. 1. c. III, 355, 8. — Éristalis narcissi Fabr. 1805. 1. c. 239, 32. 



— 1822. Meig. I. c. III, 354, 6. — Éristalis ferrugineus Fabr. 1805. 1. c. 

 240, 35. - 1822. Meig. 1. c. III, 355, 7. — M.nohilis Meig. 1822. 1. c. III, 

 353, 3 et 1838. VII, 141. — M.transversalis Meig. 1822. 1. c. III, 354, 4. 



— M. constans Meig. (nec Rossi) 1822. 1. c. III, 354, 5. — M. validus Meig. 

 1822. 1. c. III, 365. 24. ~ 1862. Schin. F. A. I, 347. 



Male. Vertex long, brownish yellow pruinose, frons greyish pruinose, 

 both with long, yellow hairs, more or less hidding the colour; epistoma 

 black, shining, slightly greyish pruinose, with long, pale hairs; the 

 epistoma has no central knob, it is arched just below the antennæ, 

 hollowed in the middle and then produced to the rather prominent 

 front mouth edge ; it is almost not descending. Occiput greyish pruinose, 

 the hairs yellow. Eyes with pale yellow hairs. Antennæ black, third 

 joint a little elongate, straight or slightly concave above, with a more 

 or less distinct upper angle ; arista not longer than the antennæ, bare, 

 brownish at the base. Thorax black, or more or less brown on the 

 front part, shining; the ground colour nearly hidden by the long and 

 dense pile, which is yellow on the paler front part, for the rest black. 

 Scutellum black and black-haired. Pleura with long hairs which, as 

 on the disc, are yellow in front, black behind. Abdomen somewhat 

 conical, blackish, shining; it is long and densely pilose, the hairs black 

 at the base, reddish on the apical part, or they are all pale, whitish 

 at the base, yellow to reddish on the apical part. Venter black, with 

 long, pale or mainly pale hairs; fourth segment bent somewhat down- 

 wards, incised in the middle of the hind margin ; genitaha rather large. 

 Legs strong and robust, black, at most reddish just on the anterior 



