the AsilicliX3 of Australasia. 353 



species of Dioctria, though it bears a general resemblance 

 to the genus and has a long third antennal joint ; but the 

 fore tibiae are armed with a very distinct curved spine. It 

 cannot bch:)ng to the genus Cyrlophrys, Loew, the oniemue 

 having no apparent style. The abdomen is black, reddish at 

 the apex. 



Lafiirinje. 



Table of Genera. 



1. Fore tibia; witli a curved spine at apex 2. 



Fore tibia) with no curved spine at apex .... 3. 



2. Blue-black species marked with white abdo- 



minal spots. Moustache usually reaching 

 nearly to antenna), tubercle distinct on face . Thercutria, Loew. 

 Small species. Moustache coutined to oral 

 opening, no tubercle on face Metal(q)]iria, g. n. 



3. Posterior transverse vein in a straight line, or 



almost so, with the vein closing discal cell. . 4. 

 Posterior transverse vein not so placed (3. 



4. Third joint of antenna) notched at apex, usually 



with a spine Clariola, Kertesz. ^a/u^Ai^ta 



Third joint of antennae not notched 5. ■ i/' 



5. Abdomen punctuate, third joint of antennas 



longer than the iirst two joints together .... Atomosia, Macc[uart. 

 Abdomen hardly punctuate, the third joint 

 three times as long as the first two joints 



together Aphestm. 



C. First posterior ceil closed or very narrow. 



Abdomen bare Nusa, Walker. 



First posterior cell wide open or not very 



narrow 7. 



7. Moustache confined to oral opening. Head 



orbicuhir, very much excised behind Maira, Schinor. 



Moustache not confined to oral opening. Head 

 semicircular, not usually so much excised 

 behind Laphriu, Meigen, 



Thereutria, Loew. 



Prngr. Realscliule Meseritz, 1851, p. 20 (1861), 

 8ca)ido7i, Walker, Ins. Saund., Dipt. i. p. 108 (1851), 



This genus was formed by Loew for a new species from 

 Australia, viz. Tkereutria calcar, which Loew made the 

 type of the genus. He separated the genus from Laphria 

 by the presence of tlie curved spine on tlie fore tibise. It is 

 as yet peculiar to tlie Australasian region. The species are 

 distinguished by the blue-black abdomen often marked with 

 white spots, by the blue-l)lack legs, the tibire or femora 

 often yellow, the latter usually stout, curved, i\\Q face with a 

 prominent tubercle covered by the thick moustache, witli 

 often long hairs continued to the base of tlie antenna?, which 



