262 LEPTID^ 



the upper branch is united by the small cross-vein with the discal cell rather near its 

 base ; the first four posterior cells are all almost equally wide open, while the 

 fifth ( = postical fork-cell) is more widely open ; anal cell usually open though 

 contracted, but closed in L. nigra Meig. Squamai (alar) moderate in size, and 

 with a rather abundant pale many-haired fringe (not in a single row, as in Chryso- 

 pilus) ; thoracal squamae undeveloped. 



The metamorphoses of several species have been observed ; the larvae 

 usually live in earth and are predaceous, and that of L. tringaria is said to 

 feed upon earthworms: the perfect insects occur on tree-trunks and on 

 the leaves of shrubs. For its reputation of being aljle to inflict a severe 

 bito, see page 235. 



This genus is closely allied to Chrysoinlus, but is ordinarily distinguished 

 by its open anal cell (which is not an infallible character) ; it is however 

 better distinguished by the presence of two spurs on the hind tibiae and 

 the absence of any peculiar adpressed golden pile on the thorax and 

 abdomen of a distinct nature from the pale pubescence of L. lineola and 

 its allies ; the palpi in ChrijsojoUus are porrect, or even upturned, and 

 not drooped. The short rather triangular third antennal joint distinguishes 

 this genus from Atherix and Atrichops. 



Zep/5'is contains about sixty known species, of which about thirty. are 

 Palsearctic and nearly as many American (North, Central, and South), the 

 rest being odd species from South Asia and Australia. Some of the 

 European species appear to be very variable and have consequently a 

 confused nomenclature, and some seem to have light and dark forms 

 which have sometimes been considered distinct species or sometimes only 

 local or mountain races. 



Synonymy. — As Leptis is the parent genus of the family, it ought to be fixed with 

 the greatest possible certainty. In 1775 Fabricius, in his Systema Entomologite, 

 p. 761, founded a genus Rhaglo for four species, which occur in the following order, 

 scolopaceus, tinngarius, vermileo, and diadema ; these all belong to the Leptidie, and 

 the first two to the present acceptation of the geiius Leptis; on page 182 of the 

 same volume he had founded a coleopterous genus, Rhagiuin^ which still exists, and 

 in 1805 (Syst, Antl. Ind., p. 19) he wrote concerning J?/?ar//o, Nomen genericum, ne 

 " cum Rhagimn Eleutheratorum confundetur, in Leptis mutatum est," and in the 

 body of the same work he expressly stated " Character generis naturalis e L. 

 scolopacea desumtus," although the only species he described in detail (which is 

 often considered his type species in each genus) was X. bicolor. There can therefore 

 be no possible doubt that Rhagio and Leptis are absolute synonyms, and that the type 

 species of each is L. scolopacea ; I cannot therefore agree with the acceptation of 

 L. vermileo as the type of Rhagio, and I thoroughly agree with Fabricius' view that 

 the genera Rhagiuni and Rhagio should not co-exist ; what Bergroth means by 

 stating (Wien. ent. Zeit., viii., ]). 296) that Latreille in 1809 fixed Musca vermileo 

 Schrnk. as the type of the genus Rhagio I fail to comprehend, as I find that 

 Lati'eille in 1809 (Gen. Crust, et Ins., iv,, p. 287) said "^Aa^^'o (nunc Ze^^^/*')," and 

 he expressly distinguished the larva of R. vermileo from the numerous other species 

 of the genus, so that he emphasised its distinctness from the genus Rhagio instead 

 of indicating it as the type of that genus. 



Moses Harris in 1782 well distinguished this genus both by description and 

 by figures, but his name " Sylvicohe" can hardly be accepted even if amended 

 to Sylvicola. 



Table of Species. 



1 (2) Wings maculated. 1 scolopacea. 



2 (1) Wings without markings except for a blackish stigma. 



3 (8; Stigma blackish. Legs with at least the hind femora broadly and 



conspicuously black at the tip. 



