1 Monograph <>t Egyptian Diptera. 29 



that of Syrphus although a difference may be detected by a train- 

 ed eye in the more pronounced undulation of the turned up portion 

 of M 1+2. 



This genus shows a distinct connection with our Xmitho- 

 gramma cegyptium, although in Europe it seems to be well separ- 

 ated by its distinct shape and markings. 



Sphcerophoria, as a restricted genus, occurs in North Africa, 

 India, Ceylon, Australia, Japan, North and South America, Si- 

 beria, Greenland, Madeira, Canary Islands, Asia Minor, Java,, 

 Sumatra, North America, Marquesas and Tahiti Islands, and 

 throughout Europe. 



The metamorphoses of a few species are known. The larva 

 and pupa of S.scripta, which were found among Aphids in April 

 and May, have been described by Rcesel (Ins. Belust. II, 1749 Muse. 

 31 T. VI.). IBouche (Naturg. d. Ins. 1834, 51, T.V. f. 4-0) des 

 cribes the developmental stages of S. menthastri (taeniata) and 

 states that the larvae were found among Aphids on Compositae. 

 Zettersted (Dipt. Scand., II. 1843, 766) says that he found larvae 

 and pupae of S.scripta as well as those of S .menthastri, the larvae 

 of the latter feeding on Aphids on Vicia faba. Lundbeck (Dipt. 

 Dannica, V. 340. 1916) has also found the larva of S. scripta feed 

 ing on Aphids and I have myself found the larvae of S. flavicavda 

 feeding on an Aphis on Centaurea mgyptiaca. 



Lundbeck describes the larva of S. menthastri as being "of the 

 "usual shape of a Syrphus larva ; it is corrugated above, the dermis 

 "is finely shagreened and there are very small bristles on the 

 "dorsum and at the sides, arranged quite as in Syrphus : on the 

 "ventral side there arc slight transverse swellings ; the posterior 

 "spiracular process is not quite short, black, with a longitudinal 

 "dividing furrow above and below and the apical cleft with the 

 "points a little diverging. The larva is light green with two 

 "whitish longitudinal dorsal stripes. Length from 7 to 10 mm. The 

 "pupa is broad and rounded in front and attenuated behind and 

 "thus drop-like; the spiracular process is as in the larva ; it is green 

 "during the first part of the development, later the imago shines 

 "through and the empty puparium is whitish. Length about 7 mm." 



The larvae are aphidiphagous. Verrall states that S. flavicauda 

 is in some way associated with the garden Asparagus and that 

 an allied genus Mesograpta (M . polita, Say) has been proved to eat 

 pollen in the larval stage. 



At the period of pupation the larva attaches itself by its 

 posterior extremity to a leaf or stalk. 



SYNONYMY: — I agree with what Verrall says as regards the 

 synonymy of this genus, and entirely support his statement that 



