28 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 69 



XYLOTA SEGNIS (Linnaeus) 



Xylota segnis Linnaeus, genotype of Xylota^ and a well-known 

 species in Europe, was first recorded from North America in 1915. 

 In Aldricli's card index is a note : "A male specimen, agreeing ex- 

 actly with Verrall, was sent me by Arthur Gibson for identification ; 

 locality, MacNabs Island, N. S." This is followed by " Gibson, 

 Record, 1915, occurring in Halifax, N. S. Same specimen as pre- 

 ceding." 



Description based on European material : Rather large and fairly 

 slender species, 10-13 mm. Antennae black; third joint rounded; 

 arista black, longer than width of face ; mesonotum distinctly brassy ; 

 fore basitarsal joint of male with long light hair at apical inner 

 corner and black spines on under side near base ; mid basitarsus with 

 black spines only at apex; metasternum pubescent; hind trochanters 

 of male spurred; second and third tergites chiefly brassy red, re- 

 mainder of abdomen black; wings hyaline; discal cross vein joining 

 discal cell well beyond middle; posterior cross vein shorter than sec- 

 tion of fourth vein above it; metathoracic spiracle slightly smaller 

 than third antennal joint. 



Distribution, in America. — Nova Scotia, MacNabs Island, Halifax, 

 1915. (A. Gibson.) 



Type. — In Linnaean Society, London. 



XYLOTA SUBFASCIATA Loew 



Xylota subfasciata Loew is closely related to ejuncida Say. The 

 description was based on material from "Red River of the North, 

 Canada," 1857. Since then it has rarely been correctly identified. 

 In the National Collection there are three specimens (New Hamp- 

 shire) of the Williston collection of Syrphidae which Williston de- 

 termined as Xylota ejimcida Say. They differ from ejuncida, how- 

 ever, and as they agree perfectly with Loew's description of sub- 

 fasciata and possess in common with Loew's type certain other char- 

 acters recorded in the notes of the writer, they have been designated 

 as this species. Other specimens from New England are at hand 

 which are conspecific. 



Medium sized, rather slender species, 9-11 mm. Antenna very 

 dark brown to black, third joint slightly excavated on upper margin, 

 a little longer than broad; arista black, longer than width of face, 

 noticeably pubescent under a 27X hand lens or medium power of 

 the binocular (a minute but good character for both sexes; the color 

 of the abdomen heretofore used for specific diagnosis is too variable 

 for exact specific purposes) ; mesonotum dark aeneous; last two fore 

 tarsal joints black; anterior tarsus of male with a long hair on apex 

 of first and second joints, black spines on lower side of basitarsus; 



