AMERICAN DIPTERA. 211 



and Piedmont, S. D., in the collection of Prof. J. M. Aldrich, 

 one female from Denver Highl. (Aug. 18), at the M. C. Z., 

 and a pair from Cal. (July 30) in the collection of Prof. W. C. 

 Johnson, which I think are picticomis. The ungreased speci- 

 mens with the bloom largely concealing the reddish ground 

 color appear very differently from the greased type. The 

 whole body is covered with a yellowish-gray bloom, the dor- 

 sum of the thorax showing a dark narrowly divided median 

 stripe and rather obscure ill-defined lateral ones; the posterior 

 portion of the thoracic dorsum very bristly; segments 2-7 of 

 the male, and segments 2-5 of the female, abdomen with bare 

 polished spots. These spots are characteristic of the species 

 (so far as my material goes) ; they are narrow and located on 

 the anterior half of the lateral margins, nearly or quite touch- 

 ing the anterior margins of the segments. In the female the 

 last two segments of the abdomen are polished black, but red- 

 dish above. Basal segments of antennas black or reddish- 

 yellow, the third segment black, sometimes reddish-yellow at 

 base and tip, longer than the basal segments, and about twice 

 as long as the style. The first and fourth posterior cells of 

 all the specimens closed and petiolate. In the two specimens 

 from South Dakota, which are greased, the thoracic dorsum 

 is wholly black except two red stripes, broad anteriorly and 

 embracing the humeri, and behind narrowing rapidly, which 

 separate the median from the lateral stripes. 



SPHAGEUS. 



Sphageus Loew, Cent., VII, 55, 1866. 



Spahageus Schiner, Verh. Zool.-Bot. Ges., XVI, 847, 1866; 

 quotes orig. desc. 



Legs strong, under side of the front femora with a patch of 

 short very stout bristles on the proximal half; middle femora 

 with a similar patch on the middle of the underside and on 

 the middle of the anterior side and extending over onto the 

 upper side; hind femora with only scattering bristles; coxae 

 with strong bristles. Antennas similar to that of Dizonias, 

 but without the excision on the third segment; first segment 

 cylindrical; second, shorter, swollen distally; third elongate, 



TRANS. AM. ENT. SOC, XXXV. JUNE, 1909. 



