296 LEPTID^ 



on the metapleurse. Scutellum with pubescence similar to but rather longer than 

 that on the thorax ; metanotum and its side-humps quite bare. 



Abdomen even at its base narrower than the thorax, conical, usually somewhat 

 compressed in the male, and with seven obvious segments but the seventh segment 

 sometimes very short. Pubescence moderately long and outstanding and fairly 

 conspicuous all over. Genitalia distinct. 



Legs of the usual Leptid type though proportionately shorter than in the allied 

 genera, but still with the front tarsi longer than the tibiae ; front tibiae without a 

 spur, middle tibiae with two nearly equal fairly long spurs, hind tibiae with one 

 distinct spur. Pubescence moderate, but rather long and distinct on the femora of 

 the male. " Touch-hairs " apparently absent, though there may be traces of them 

 beneath the front tarsi of the male of S. crassicornis. 



Wings of the ordinary Leptid type (fig. 198) ; cubital fork long and narrow ; two 

 upper veinlets from the discal cell well separated at their base and apparently not 

 varying as in Ptiolina ; anal cell open. Alar squamae rather well developed and 

 with a delicate marginal ciliation which runs in a single row until near the angle and 

 then becomes longer and in several rows. 



This genus is a fairly natural one and cannot well be confounded with 

 its allies if attention be given to the shape of the antennae and arista, the 

 single spur on the hind tibiae, and the open anal cell. 



Symphoromyia is represented by only a few species in Europe, but 

 several are known from North America. They frequent long grass and 

 usually occur in some numbers when found. The metamorphoses of 

 S. crassicornis are known. Osten Sacken has stated that the females of a 

 Californian species bit him quite painfully and drew blood like a Tabanvs, 

 and though there is no other well authenticated case of a Leptid biting 

 the statement of such a Dipterologist as Osten Sacken is beyond doubt, 

 and as some confirmation Bezzi has recorded that the females of S. (jrisea 

 settled on his hands as if intending to attack him. The genus is recorded 

 from Europe and North America. 



Synonymy. — When Frauenfeld formed this genus in 1867 he gave <S'. melcena 

 Meig. as the type and associated with it S. crassicornis and S. immactdata, and to 

 these three another previously little known European species (.S'. grisea) has been 

 added. 



Table of Species. 



1 (2) Larger species. Basal antennal joint very much dilated in the 

 male (fig. 195) and clothed with long pubescence, and even in 



Fig. 190. — Si/miih o rovv/ia 

 inimaculata S- x 43. 



Fio. 195. — Symphoromyia crassicornis d. x 30. 



the female dilated (fig. 197) and at least five times as long 

 as the second. 1 crassicornis. 



(1) Smaller species. Basal antennal joint small and not longer than 

 the second in either sex (fig. 196), and with only short incon- 

 spicuous bristles. 2 immacidata. 



