AMERICAN DIPTERA. 383 



SYSTEURA. gen. nov. 



Wings with the third vein simple, not bifurcate. Front long, the 

 sides nearly parallel ; with three transverse rows of reclinate bristles, 

 besides the four anterior proclinate ones. Antenna? with the second 

 joint slightly oval, more pointed apically, with a dorsal arista. Palpi 

 . bristly below. Dorsocentral macroclueta? present. Hind femora thick- 

 ened ; four hind tibia? each with two long apical spurs, and more or 

 less spinulose along the outer edge. Mediastinal vein indistinct, 

 empodia and pulvilli small but distinct. 



This genus comes close to Metopina in some respects but is readily 

 distinguished by the oval antenna?, the long spurs on the tibia? and 

 the different form of the front, the thickened femora, etc. It also 

 resembles Pachyneurella but differs by its well developed tibial 

 spurs, much lighter fourth to sixth wing veins, and the normal form 

 of the ovipositor in the female. 



The generic diagnosis is based upon Phora coceiphila Coq. which 

 is the only described species possessing the above combination of 

 characters. It is quite possible, however, that Phora exempta, Beck. 

 belongs with coceiphila in the present genus. Of this I cannot 

 positively say, as I have not seen the European exempta. 



Myneiira coceiphila Coq. 



Cocquillett, Canadian Entomologist, xxvii, 106. 



Black, subshining, the under side of the third antennal joint and the palpi 

 yellowish; halteres whitish. Front legs, including the coxae, light yellow, the 

 others brown. Wings whitish hyaline, costal vein not extending to the middle 

 of the wing, ciliate with very short bristles; apex of first vein near the last fifth 

 of the distance between the humeral cross-vein and the tip of the third vein ; 

 fourth vein nearly straight, the cell in front of it nearly twice as wide as the 

 narrowest part of the one behind it. Abdomen bare in both sexes. 



Length 75-1.25 mm. 



Types. Twenty five specimens in the collection of the Depart 

 ment of Agriculture, bred in October and November, from larva? 

 infesting dead adults of Icerya purchasi, collected by Mr. C. H. T. 

 Townsend at Magdalena, Victoria and Tamaulipas, Mexico. 



By the kindness of Dr. L. O. Howard, I am enabled to examine 

 some of the types. I do not know any member of the family in 

 which the first and second veins end so near together. The heavy 

 veins are very short and the light ones relatively long without any 

 marked curves. The thorax is provided with a single pair of dor- 

 socentral macrocha?ta? and two marginal scutellar bristlo. 



TRANS. AM. F.NT. SOC.. XXIX. DECEMBER. 1903 



