244 • SYRPHID^. 



Genus SYEITTA, St. Farcj. et Sew. * 



Syrilta, St. Fargeau & Serville, Encycl. Meth. x, p. 888 (1825). 

 Coprma, Zetterstedt, Ins. Lapp., Dipt., p. 584 (1838). 

 Xi/luta, VVestwood (nee Meigen), Introd. ii, Syuops., p. 130 (1840). 

 Planes, Rondani, Archiv. Zool. iii («e/?.), p. 9 (1863). 



Genotype, Musca p'qnens^ L., by original designation. 



Closely allied to Xylota, from which it is distinguished by the 

 anterior cro.«s-vein being placed at the n)iddle of the discal cell 

 and perfectly upright. Face with a central keel. iSecond segment of 

 abdomen projecting backwards at the sides, bearing a peculiar 

 fringe of hairs at its most produced portion. Hind femora 

 extremely incrassated, much more so than in Xijlota^, with short 

 rigid spines below and often with characteristic markings. 



Life-lintory. The larva of S. pipiens, L., lives in horse- or cow- 

 dung : the early stages of this species have been known for a long 

 period (see Lundbeek, Dipt. Danica, v, p. 528, 1916). Terry 

 (Proc. Hawaiian Ent. Soc. ii, p. 96, 1910) describes and illustrates 

 the life-cycle of S. oceanica, Macquart ; oviposition in this species 

 was observed to occur under the loose bark of a twig lying among 

 rotting fruit and other decaying vegetable matter, and the larvae 

 fed on a similar medium. 



Range. Practically \\orld-wide, tlie insects occurring almost 

 anywhere amongst flowers and leaves, in hedges and fields ; the 

 (5 d" are frequently seen hovering. 



The exact number of species of Sip-itta in the East is a moot 

 point, but with a few exceptions all the numerous specimens 

 examined by me may be embraced by three forms, which may 

 tentatively be regarded as of specific rank, and may be separated 

 thus : — 



Table of Species. 



1. Hind femora with a moderately narrow complete 



orange ring at base ; a more or less iucomplt^e 

 ring or sti'eak of varying width on under side 

 near middle. Abdominal spots in c5' on L'nd 

 and 3rd segments definitely separated by a 

 moderately wide median black stripe jnpiens, L., p. 245. 



2. Hind femora normally wholly black, but some- 



times very narrowly pale at extreme tip, and 

 occasionally just perceptibly so at extreme 

 base ; frequently with upper side practically 

 wholly black, and basal half (or thereabouts) 

 below brownish or orange ; with or without an 

 additional streak at middle of under side (as in 

 piplens). Abdominal spots in S on 2nd and 

 3rd segments normally united to form two com- 

 plete bands, or at most the dividing black line 

 is verv narrow or incomplete. (In specimens 

 with entirely black femora the abdominal spots ■ [p. 246. 



are mcne widely separated.) orientalis, Macq., 



* For preliminary notes on Oriental species, see JBruuetti, Eec. Ind. Mas. 

 i, p. 77 (1908). 



