162 



Genus PLECIA, Wied. 



Piecta, Wiedemann, Auss. Zweifl. Ins. i, p. 72 (1828). 



JEupeitenus, Macquart, Dipt. exot. i, p. 88 (1838). 



Crapitula, Gimmerthal, Bull. Soc. Imp. Nat. Moscou, xviii, 2, p. 330 



(1845). 

 Rhinoplecia, Bellardi, Ditter. Messicana, i, p. 16 (1859). 



GENOTYPE, Hirtea fulvicollis, F. ; by designation of Blanchard 

 (Hist. Nat., Ins. iii, p. 576, 1840). 



In general character and appearance similar to Bibio. The 

 differences consist of the distinct, longitudinal, rather obtuse 

 ridge on. the frons, also in the absence of any spine or tooth-like 

 process at the tip of the fore femora. The 3rd longitudinal vein 

 is forked, not simple ; the 4th vein is forked some distance 

 beyond the posterior cross-vein (which is always considerably 

 nearer the base of the wing than the anterior cross-vein) instead 

 of at its junction with it ; and there are two longitudinal veins 

 beyond the 5th instead of only one, that is to say, both 6th and 

 7th longitudinal veins are present. Antennae apparently normally 

 12-jointed, sometimes 10-joiuted, the last joint very small and 

 shaped like a flattened cone.* 



Range. Probably world-wide, though only one species is actually 

 recorded from Africa (P. riificollis, P.). Wiedemann established 

 this genus for four exotic species of Fabricius (placed by the 

 latter author in his Hit-tea), and two new ones. All the six 

 species he included were South American except S. 

 the generally distributed and common Oriental one. 



Table of Species. 



1. The 3rd longitudinal vein forks some dis- 



tance beyond the anterior cross-vein 

 (nearly at half the length of its lower 

 branch) and always distinctly beyond 



the fork of the 4th vein 2. 



The 3rd longitudinal vein forks shortly 

 beyond the anterior cross-vein (distinctly 

 before one-third of the length of its 

 lower branch) and approximately opposite 

 the fork of the 4th vein; the upper 

 branch lying almost parallel to the lower 

 one, not almost erect as in Division 2 . . 3. 



2. The whole thorax reddish yellow, in- 



cluding dorsurn, sides, scutellum and 



metanotum ; antennae twelve-jointed . . fulvicollis, F., p. 163. 



* The two scapal joints are short and are easily mistaken for a single joint, 

 and as tho first fiagellar joint is always larger than the others, it is easily 

 mistaken for the second scapal joint. 



