Asilidae. ()7 



Length 11 — 14 mm. 



This species is at oiice recognised in both sexes by tlie black, 

 shining face whicli is white oniy along the eye-margins. 



R. variabilis is rare in Denmariv and first nevvly detected; in 

 1907 I caught ten specimens at Tisvilde and in the same year three 

 specimens were cauglit in Jutland at Silkeborg (A. Petersen); it is a 

 somewhat late occurring species, the dates of capture are ^h — ^Vs. 

 It occurs on sandy localities generally sitting on the sandy ground. 



Geographical distribution: — Northern and niiddle Europe; but it 

 does not seem to go further towards the south than to Holland and 

 northern Germany; towards the north it goes to northern Scandinavia 

 and is tbund in Siberia ; it is to some extent an alpine species. 



1:2. Antipalus Low. 



Species of somewhat large size and of dark greyish colour. Face 

 somewhat broad, distinctly widened downwards; the epistomal cailus 

 large, reaching more than two thirds of the height of epistoma. An- 

 tennæ placed somewhat above the middle, the hairs on the under 

 side of the first joint long. The facets in the' front part of the eye 

 distinctly enlarged. Dorsocentral bristles present on the posterior half 

 of the thorax; the marginal bristles on scutellum and the long hairs 

 on meta- and hypopleura somewhat weak. Bristles at the hind margin 

 of the abdominal segments present. Front femora with spine-like 

 bristles below in the female (in the Danish species, in other species 

 in both sexes); middle femora with numerous spine-like bristles on 

 the front side. Male genitalia somewhat large, the upper forceps with 

 a small excision at the apex; the ventral lamella black shining. The 

 female ovipositor of a curious shape, very thick, the eighth segment black 

 but otherwise quite segment-shaped, the second dorsal piece broad, 

 semiannular, the lamellæ broad, directed downwards and meeting above 

 in the middle, thus forming a roof-shaped part; the lower margin of 

 the second dorsal piece and the lamellæ with dense, reddish hairs. 



Of the genus 4 species are known from the palæarctic region; 

 one is found in Denmark. 



1. A. varipes Meig. 



1820. Meig. Syst. Beschf. II, 328, 33 {Asilus). — 1849. Low, Linn. 

 Entom. IV, 136, 70.— 1855. Zelt. Dipt. Scand. XII, 4567, 6 — 7 {Asilus). — 

 1862. Schin. F. A. I, 145 {Asilus). — 1903. Kat. palåarkt. Dipt. II, 145. 



Male. Eyes in the living specimens slightly metallic, brovnish witli 

 a slight greenish cast. Face yellowish grey pruinose, cailus greyish 

 black; epistomal beard whitish, black above. Palpi black with long 



