938 



Charles Paul Alexander 



Genus Qonomyia Meigen (Gr. angle + fly) 



1818 Gonomyia Meig. Svst. Beschr. Zweifl. Ins., vol. 1, p. 146. 

 185G Taphrosia Rond. Dipt. Ital. Prodr., vol. 1, p. 182. 

 1869 Goniomyia O. S. Mon. Dipt. N. Amer., part 4, p. 176. 



Larva. — Form elongate, terete. Spiracular disk surrounded by five blunt lobes which are 

 heavily marked with brown, in some species (G. alexanderi) the brown suffusing the disk 

 between the spiracles. Head capsule of eriopterine type. IMandible with lateral teeth 

 slender, flattened. Antenna with apical papilla elongate-oval. Alentum not chitinized. 



Pupa.- — Cephalic crest blunt, the surface with minute roughenings. Pronotal breathing 

 horns flattened, fanlike (Gr. sulphurella), or short, trumpet-shaped. Mesonotum declivitous, 

 at crest with an interrupted transverse row of six to eight tubercles which are densely beset 

 with sharp black spicules. Wing sheaths attaining base of third abdominal segment. Leg 

 sheaths moderately elongated, reaching base of fourth abdominal segment; tips of middle 

 tarsi ending a short distance before apices of other tarsi. Armature of abdominal segments 

 weak. Lateral spiracles distinct, tubular. Five blunt, fleshy lobes on dorsum of eighth 

 abdominal segment. 



Gonomyia is a lar^c and diverso gsnus of small crane-flics (including 

 more than one iiundrcxl known species) described from all parts of the 

 world. They are divided into four recent subgenera, of which three — 

 Gonomyia Meig., Progonomyia (new name for Gonomyella Alex., pre- 

 occupied), and Leiponeura Skuse — occur in the Nearctic fauna. 



The immaturo stages of the known species arc spent in moist sand or 

 earth, usually near water. In Europe, G. tenclla Meig. (Beling, 1879:56, 

 mention only) was found in August in damp, sandy earth along the margin 

 of a dried-up brook. 



The writer has found the immature stages of Gormmyia {Leiponeura) 

 alexanderi and G. (G.) kansensis in wet sand near rivers. G. sulphurcUa 

 and G. suhcinerea 0. S. occur in muddier and more stagnant conditions 

 near ponds and small streams. 



Not enough larvae arc availal)lc for study to require a key at this 

 time. The pupae of the known Nearctic species may be distinguished by 

 the following kc}': 



1. Pronotal breathing horns narrow at base, expanded distr.lly into a very flattened, fan- 



like blade with delicate and anastomoi^in.-? narvures G. sulphurella O. S. (p. £40) 



Pronotal breathing horns not as above, more earlike or trumpet-shaped 2 



2. Pronotal breathing horns massive, trumpet-shaped; l^tsril margin of thorax before 



wing root produced into an angle; mile cj.uda small, elongate, dorsal lobes a little 

 shortfir than ventral lobes, with two stout lobes on dorsil side fir removed from their 



b la'! G. alexanderi (Johns.) (p. 939) 



Pronotal breathing horns flattened, earliko or narrowly truimet-s'iaoeil; literal margins 

 of thorax above wing root broad and blunt; male c luda s'lort, stout, dorsil and ventral 

 lobes subequal in length, the latter closely approximated along median line, the former 

 widely separated, at their base with two acute points G. kansensis Alex. (p. 941) 



