156 



STRPHID.?:. 



Dolichomerus, Macqiiart, Dipt. Exot., Suppl. 4, p. 131 (1849). 

 JEristahmyia, Rondaui, Dipt. Ital. Prodr. ii, p. 38, uota {Eristalomya) 



(1857J. 

 *Siinoides, Loew, Ofvers. Kongl. Vet.-Akad. Furhaudl. xiv (1857), 



p. 382 (1858). 

 Eriops, Lioy, Atti. Isti. Veneto, (3) ix, p. 743 (1864). 

 Doliosyrphus, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, (6) ii, Bull. p. cxx 



(1882). 

 Dalyosyrphus. id., op. cit., (6) iii, p. 228 (1883). 

 Eristalodes, Mik, Wieu. Ent. Zeit. xvi, p. 114 (1897). 

 Lathijrophthabnus, id., loc. cit. 



Genotype, Musca tenax, L. ; by Curtis's designation (Brit. Ent. 

 1832). 



Head as broad as, or a little broader tlian, thorax, approximately 

 semicircular ; frons only slightly produced, always pubescent ; 

 eyes contiguous in J (exceptions rare), wide apart in $, pubescent 

 (in some species on upper part only) ; face with distinct central 

 knob and moderately produced upper mouth-edge ; antennje 

 normal, 3rd joint oval, with arista dorsal, either quite bare or 



Fig. Si.— Er/sfali.-< solifus, Walk., c? (left), $ (riglit). 



plumose on basal half. Thorax quadrate, densely but often 

 inconspicuously pubescent ; scutelkim similarly clothed, frequently 

 yellowish or translucent. Abdomen about as wide as thorax, ovate, 

 subconical or rather elongate, generally with pale (usually 

 yellowish) markings, side spots or bauds; pubescence of great 

 variability. Legs simple, pubescence very variable, hind femora 

 normally not incrassate ; hind tibiae usually, but frequently only 

 slightly, curved. Win</s of normal venation except that the mar- 

 ginal cell is closed. The 3rd vein takes a very conspicuous 

 downward loop into the 1st posterior ceil, v/hich is closed well or 

 just before the boi'der by the upward-eiu'ved tip of the 4th vein. 



Life-history. That of the cosmopolitan E. tenax is known. It 

 breeds in drains, the larvae of this genus being known as *' rat-tailed 



* Considered a valid genus bj- some authors. 



