192 THE DIPTERA-BRACHYCERA OF TASMANIA, 



genera, one of which is new. They are distinguished as 

 follows : 



1. First posterior cell closed. 2 



First posterior cell open. 3 



2 First basal cell longer than the second. 



BOMBYLIUS, L. 



First and second basal cells of about equal length. 



Systcechus, Lw. 

 3. First basal cell much longer than the second. 



DiSCHISTUS, Lw. 



First and second basal cells of almost equal length. 



SiSYROMYiA, Gen. nov. 

 Of these genera Bomhyhus, Syst(vchus, and Sisyromyia 

 occur in Tasmania. 



43. B o M B Y L I u s, L. (Sensu strirto) (Fig. 33). 



Thorax and abdomen broad, covered with dense, furry 

 pubescence; proboscis long ard slender; wings with th© 

 first posterior cell closed, anal cell open ; first basal cell 

 miich longer than the second basal cell. 



Head small, narrower than the thorax. Eyes joined in 

 male, separated in female. Proboscis long and slendetr. 

 Antennse approximated at the base, the first joint much 

 longer than the second, and bearing long hairs, the third 

 differing much in shape and longer than the first two joints 

 together. Thorax considerably arched. Abdomen broad 

 and rounded ; both thorax and abdomen clothed with 

 dense furry pubescence. Legs long and slender, with small 

 bristles. Wings usually hyaline, with a brown fore- 

 margin, but sometimes spotted ; the first posterior cell al- 

 ways closed far above the wing-margin ; anal cell open ; 

 the first basal cell considerably longer than the second 

 basal cell. 



This genus comprises the well known "Bee flies," which 

 may often be seen hovering over flower?;, whilst they suck 

 the nectar with, their long proboscis, or at other times 

 settled on the ground in warm sunny places. 



Bomhylius is a genus of very wide distribution, well 

 represented in the Australian region, but not known to 

 occur in New Zealand. From Tasmania six species have 

 been described, but these do not all belong to the genus in 

 its restricted sense. Of these B. fusranus, Macq, is a true 

 Bomhylius, B. auratus, Walk, and B. hrevirostris, Macq, and 

 probably also B. alhicinctus, Macq, belong to Si.^yromyia, 

 whilst the position of B. fenuicornis, Macq, and B. con- 

 mhrinuH, Macq, is doubtful. Two other true species of 

 Bomhylius are now added. Of other Tasmanian species 



