FAM. EMPIDID/E : 317 
Tyne species : P. cursilans, Fabricius (Pl. 4, Fig. 30), by designation of Westwood, Intro- 
duction, Vol. 2, Synopsis, p. 132 (1840). 
The species of this dominant genus are able to run and to fly well. —'T'he more pruinose species 
are campestral and are found through the warmer summer months, the testaceous and the shining black 
species are more fond of shady woods. The species are predatory, using their curiously formed middle 
legs for holding their prey. "The larva of P. major, has been found in the ground under moss (Beling). 
'The genus P/atypalbus, includes so many species that it has become unwieldy from a practical 
viewpoint. Furthermore, in this assemblage there are species so diverse that if contrasting forms were 
selected they would present differences striking enough to warrant a division of the genus. The pale 
yellow species scarcely resemble the black ones; those with stout legs and strong tibial spur are unlike 
the delicate forms with slender legs and no tibial spur. X Rondani attempted a segregation on the basis 
of antennal structure, forming his genus P/Aoroxypha for those few species which have a short dark arista, 
centering about /ougicornis. Bezzi, in 1899, formed two groups, one where the antennz are longer than 
the head, the other where they are shorter. Frey,in 1907, based his primary divisions on the length 
of the tibial spur. All of these characters, however, present too many gradations to have even subge- 
neric value. Even Corti's recent subgenus, Cleptodromia, founded on an abnormal tarsal structure, is 
scarcely more secure, although so far its solitary species presents a unique characterization. 
In rg13, Brunetti described two related Indian genera of Empididz, Brevios and Howlettia, 
locating them near Bicellaria, Later he supressed Brevios as a synonym of Platypalpus, but retained Ho- 
leiiia as a genus of anomalous position, placing it provisionally in the Empidinz. In its description 
Howlettia agrees with Platypalbus so completely that in view of the complexity of this dominant genus it is 
here included asa synonym. The only distinctive character specified by Brunetti is the complete anal 
cell and anal vein, and it may be that in the strength of the anal vein Howleftia presents a more archaic 
condition than found in the other forms of P/atypalfus. 
A discussion of the usage of the terms Platypalpus, Tachydromia and Coryneta has previously been 
given by the writer in Psyche, Vol. 17, p. 41-48 (1910) and need not be repeated here. Briefly the case 
isthis : Meigen described Tachydromia in 1803, citing cursitans and cimicoides. 1n 1827 Macquart segre- 
gated the genus Platypalfus for cursitans and itsallies. Thus cimicoides becomes the only available type of 
Tachydromia. | Coryneta is one of the aggravating genera of Meigen's 1800 paper. [t was erected, like 
the others in this paper, without designation of type and, in our opinion, its genotype and its validity date 
from H endel's interpretation in 1908. 
SYNOPSIS OF THE NEARCTIC SPECIES OF PLATYPALPUS 
I. Coxz and femora largely or entirely black; body and antenne 
BlactovemnsOdRe 4 M cu d E NN NC etel aure eer e 
Coxes femora 4nd bue larpelv'orenürelv vellow. 2-0. Vos SIS LL uU. x16. 
2. Front tibiz thickened, wider than the hind tibiz; front femora 
thickened; spur of the middle tibiz strong ; third antennal 
joimbowal: thorax polbnose, with yelow bristles. . —. . . . . «. . 7. von... 8. 
Front tibize not incrassate : 
Un 
3. Posterior crossvein short, located beyond the anterior a greater 
distance than its length, the under side of the second basal 
cell greatly bowed upward distally, the first posterior cell 
wx sabes lcg lubior Moe Sous T0 UOS OI TN DL ELU 
