460 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Yol. 7 



From this it appears that the center of activity of this genus is within 

 the Indo-Ethiopian region, and, therefore, calcitrans is more likely to 

 have arisen within this region than independently within the palce- 

 arctic. 



Little is known of the parasites of this insect, especially in the Ethi- 

 opian region, but from my own observations in various parts of Africa 

 I should say that it is less abundant there than in many extra-tropical 

 places I have collected in. Seeing that the climatic conditions in 

 Africa are more favorable than in temperate climates, the less abun- 

 dance of this insect there may possibly be due to the presence of para- 

 sites. 



Whether India or Africa was the birthplace of this species, it is 

 difficult to judge, as there is no evidence to judge by, but my personal 

 belief, unsupported by any direct evidence, is that the honor (or dis- 

 honor) should be given to Africa. 



A NEW CECIDOMYIID FLY 



By T. D. A. CocKERELL, Boulder, Colorado 



On July 15, 1913, I observed a large number of small gnats hovering 

 over flowers of Japanese 7ns, in the grounds of Mr. D. M. Andrews, 

 about three miles east of Boulder, Col. These prove, on examination, 

 to represent a new species of the interesting genus Microcerata Felt. 



Microcerata iridis n. sp. 



Male. Length nearly 2 mm.; reddish brown, with the legs cream-color; thorax 

 redder than abdomen, the latter dilute sepia; wings clear hyahne with very pale 

 veins; antennse 9 jointed, the last tliree joints more slender than those before; 

 palpi 4 jointed, the last joint very long. Very close to M. spinosa Felt, with the 

 antenna? and palpi practically as in that species; but distinguished by the much 

 larger size, paUid legs, subcosta joining costa before middle of wing; basal segment 

 of clasp of genitaha swollen apically, terminal segment subbulbous basally and sharply 

 bent apically, style as long as first segment of clasp. The following measurements 

 are in microns: width of second antennal joint, 51; width of third, 37; width of ninth, 

 16; length of last palpal joint, 82; length of last segment of clasp, 75. 



This is quite close to the fossil Lithomyza Scudder, but has the 

 venation more modified from the supposedly primitive type. 



Fig. 29 — Portion of venation; 

 a Microcerata iridis, b Lithomyza condita (latter after Scudder) 



