

The Syrphidse of the Ethiopian Region. 



INTRODUCTION. 



THE extensive collection of Ethiopian Syrphidse, sent me for study 

 from the Imperial Bureau of Entomology, enables us to obtain a 

 better idea than has hitherto been possible of the Syrphid fauna of 

 this Region. 



The Syrphidae form a very large family, numbering about 2300 

 described species *, which are to be found in all parts of the world ; 

 from the Ethiopian Region, however, comparatively few species 

 are known. The number hitherto recorded from this Region is 

 only ISO, to which, in the present contribution, are added 60 new 

 forms, thus bringing the whole number of the species at present 

 known up to 249. A catalogue of these is appended (pp. 3-5). 



A striking characteristic of the Ethiopian Syrphid fauna is the 

 complete absence of Pipiza and allied genera, and also of Platy- 

 cliirus and Chilosia, two genera which are abundantly represented 

 in the Palaearctic Region. The Mediterranean genus Jlerodon is 

 scarcely to be found, while Xylota, JL'lesia, Chrysotoxum, and 

 their allies are also very poorly represented or entirely wanting. 

 Very notable is the almost complete absence of the genus Volucella, 

 which has only a single little-known species, although a second one 

 has been introduced from Tropical America. 



* In Kertesz's ' Catalogus Dipterorum,' vol. vii. (1910), 123 genera and 

 2162 species are recorded as known at the end of the year 1907. 



