130 STRATIOMYID^ 



joint of some species is of very trivial importance, and the anastomosing 

 of the anterior wing-veins does not seem to provide any clear character. 

 More than 150 species are known from all parts of the world and about 

 twenty are recorded from Europe, of which five undoubtedly occur in 

 Britain, while three or four more have been reputed of which 0. microhon 

 and 0. hydroleon are likely to occur. They frequent the neighborhood of 

 water, and may be found on Umhelli/ercc and other flowers, and when the 

 sky is darkened they hide on the under side of broad-leaved water plants, 

 and are said to be often found in astonishing numbers, but I have never 

 observed this; some continental species are said to occur in woods and 

 hilly places far away from water. The larvoe, like those of Stmtiomys, 

 live in mud or damp earth or among decaying leaves or in puddles under 

 Lemna. 



Synonymy. — I am of opinion that Opseo(iyninus Costa, PseUidotus Rond., and 

 Ilopiodotita Rond. have no generic value, even thougli Brauer has adopted IIoplo- 

 donta for an individual species. I have also under my synonymical note of 0. 

 argentata expressed my belief that Macquart's genus Exochostoma was founded only 

 upon some imperfect specimens of that species. 



TaUe of Species. 



1 (14) Subcostal and radial veins separate (fig. 126) (Odontomyia Brauer). 



Discal cell with at least two issuing veinlets. 



2 (5) Basal joint of the antennte twice as long as the second (fig. 129). 



Cubital vein not forked. Eyes bare. 



3 (4) Abdomen dorsally with narrow yellow transverse side-stripes and 



tip, and without shimmering pubescence. microleon. 



Fig. 129. Odontomyia argentata $. x 20. Pig. 130.— Odotitomyia ornata 9. x 8. 



4 (3) Abdomen dorsally with inconspicuous yellow side-spots, and with 



conspicuous silvery ( ^ ) or golden ( 9 ) shimmering pubescence. 



1 argentata. 



5 (2) Basal joint of the antennte barely longer than the second (fig. 130). 



Cubital vein forked. 



6 (7) Abdomen all black. Eyes of the male hairy. 2 tigrina. 



7 (6) Abdomen black with green or orange side-markings. Eyes bare. 



8 (13) Abdomen black with a greenish margin. Medium-sized species. 



9 (10) Abdomen black with only a narrow unequal greenish margin. 



felina. 



