22 AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGY. 



Obs. Not uncommon. I have found it in June, on the oak 

 and other forest trees ; it very much resembles Anthicus mono- 

 ceros, of which Marsham observes, " Thorax recta antrorsum 

 exiens in cornu nigricans ultra caput extensum, unde vere nion- 

 strosa et insectis insolita facies." A. monodon was first described 

 by Fabricius, but it has not been hitherto figured. 



Lower figures, of which the smaller indicates the natural size. 



SYRPHUS. Plate XL 



Generic character. Antennas separate at base, shorter than the 

 head, advanced, nutant, triarticulate ; third joint orbicular or 

 oval, compressed, with a seta near the dorsal base ; hypostoma 

 tuberculated, but not very remarkably prominent ; feet simple 

 and slender • wings incumbent parallel, central transverse nervure 

 placed almost perpendicularly. 



Obs. This genus was included by Linne in his comprehensive 

 genus Musca. In the Systema Antliatorum, Fabricius con- 

 structed a separate genus under the name of Scseva, for the re- 

 ception of many insects that he had formerly placed in his genus 

 Syrphus. But it is now ascertained that nearly or quite all the 

 species retained in the latter belong to other genera, and par- 

 ticularly to those of Volucella and Sericomyia. The name Syr- 

 phus being therefore disengaged, has been very properly restored 

 to its old species, and, as far as I can learn, the name of Scseva 

 is rejected by Meigen. Consequently, the nine new species which 

 I described in the Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences 

 (vol. iii. p. 88,) under the name of Scseva, must now be consi- 

 dered as belonging to the genus Syrphus. As it now stands, this 

 genus is closely allied to Milesia. Not one of our numerous spe- 

 cies was known to Fabricius. 



The larvae feed on Aphides or Plant-lice ; the body is in the 

 shape of an unequal cone, large behind, attenuated to a point be- 

 fore, and destitute of distinct feet. In order to suck out the 

 juices of their victims, they raise it from the surface of the plant 

 on which they rest. When about to enter the pupa state, they 

 attach themselves by a glutinous secretion to a fixed object, the 

 body contracts, and the anterior portion, which was previously 

 attenuated, becomes the most dilated part. 



Syrphus cylindricus. — Specific character. Blackish, va- 



