Notes on California Bombyliidae with 

 Descriptions of New Species 



Frank R. Cole, Stanford University, Cal. 



The sun-loving Bombyliidae have always been a favorite group 

 with the writer, as the rather abraded specimens in his earliest 

 collections will bear evidence. California is rich in species of these 

 flies and notes on a few of the interesting forms are given below. 



During the past two summers the writer has spent some time 

 in Mill Creek Canyon in San Bernardino County. Paracosmus 

 morrisoni O. S. is a very common form in this locality and is 

 usually taken aloni? roads and paths in the bright sunlight, Aphoe- 

 bantus vittatus Coq., a trim, beautifully marked little species, 

 occurs along with the above, but is not so common and is often 

 harder to catch. Villa squamigera Coq. and Villa mira Coq. are 

 not uncommon in the Mill Creek region, the latter species more 

 abundant in August, when it is found out in the sandy river 

 washes. Villa miscella Coq. is seldom seen and is quite wary, 

 flying up and down sandy roads for long distances when disturbed. 

 In Glen Martin, in this same general region but at a higher alti- 

 tude, one occasionally finds Rhabdoselaphus setosa Cresson, a little 

 species with a very long proboscis : it is usually taken on the wing 

 in the middle of the day, hovering near the ground. With the first 

 days of autumn specimens of Villa autumyialis Cole begin to ap- 

 pear, frequenting the yellow flowers of Ericameria and Chry- 

 sothamnus, and now and then a specimen of the beautiful golden 

 Lordotiis diversus Coq. 



Villa chromolepida new species. 



Female. Length 7 mm. Black, clothed with bright iridescent 

 scales ; front tibiae without bristles ; wings hyaline. 



Head rather large in proportion to the body; proboscis pointed 

 and scarcely projecting beyond the oral margin; palpi small, black, 

 cylindrical and black pilose. Antennae black, first joint about 

 twice as long as second and with black pile; third joint twice as 

 long as first two combined and gradually tapering toward apex 

 (see fig. 9), the apical bristle minute. Frons shining black, with 

 erect black pile and sparse golden scales which are purple in 

 certain lights. Face projecting (see fig. 10), shining black, with 

 scales like frons but denser, pile short, black, reclinate. Cheeks 

 shining black, bare of pile or scales. Occiput black, densely 

 clothed with scales like those on face and frons ; next the hollowed 

 out back of the head a line of short, fine, yellowish pile. 



Mesonotum and scutellum shining black, with golden green 

 scales, purple by reflection ; the median portion of dorsum with 



