1919] Hine: Genus Erax 119 



The anomalus Group. 



Three species belong to the group with three submarginal cells 

 normally. They are all rather light colored and inhabitants of more or 

 less arid regions. Coquillett has proposed the genus Efferia for the 

 reception of these species, but usually it is considered a synonym of 

 Erax. The furcation of the third vein occurs about midway between 

 the base of the second posterior cell and the anterior cross vein. Costa 

 not dilated. 



1. Bristles of the palpi, scutellum and upper part of the occiput, black, 



anomalus Bellardi 



Bristles of the mystax, palpi, upper part of the occiput and usually of the 



scutellum, pale 2 



2. Male abdomen with white hairs parted at the middle and directed outward. 



candidus Coquillett 



Male abdomen gray poUinose and without white hair parted at the middle 



and directed outward pernicis Coquillett 



Erax anomalus Bell. 



Male. Total length 18 to 26 millimeters. Mystax varying from 

 white to pale yellowish, beard white, palpi sometimes clothed with 

 white hair and sometimes with black, thorax with white and black hair 

 and black bristles, scutellum with white pile on its disc and a row of 

 black bristles on its margin. The color of hair and bristles appear to 

 be somewhat variable, however; wings hyaline. Femora dark, usually 

 black, anteriorly and reddish posteriorly, tibia reddish, darker near 

 apex, tarsi darker than the tibiae. Abdomen largely silvery pollinose, 

 segments two to six with long silvery hair parted at the middle and 

 directed outward. Hypopygium shown from side in Figure 10. Wing 

 shown in Figure 5. 



Female. Abdomen above with a prominent black triangle on each 

 segment with its base on the anterior margin and its apex not quite 

 reaching the posterior border, otherwise gray pollinose. Some variation 

 in the extent of the black occurs however. Oviduct almost as long as 

 abdominal segments five, six and seven. 



Range: Kansas to Texas and Mexico and westward. 



Erax candidus Coquillett. 



Total length 15 to 30 millimeters. Body in both sexes white 

 pollinose, mystax and beard silky white, palpi with white hair, femora, 

 apexes of tibiee, and tarsi black, basal three-fourths of each tibia some- 

 times pale yellow, sometimes darker. Legs everywhere with white 

 hair and an occasional black bristle. Male abdominal segments two 

 to four with white hair parted at middle and directed outward, segments 

 six and seven without such hair. Hypopygium shown from the side 

 in Figure 11. 



" Range: Kansas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. 



