ALASKA INSECTS 



MenyantheS) the principal visitors were Eristalis occidentalis 

 Will., J\ r eoascta globosa L., and Mclanostoma mellinum (L.). 

 At Nc^>hrophyllidium the only insect taken was Melanostoma 

 mellinum (L.), while at Sieversia a number of Muscida? were 

 captured, as well as one species of Syrphidse {Melanostoma 

 trichophus Thomson). In the spathes of Lysichiton, a beetle 

 (Donacia femoralis Kby.) was found at work devouring pollen, 

 and here also occurred the fly, Syrphus ribesii L. 



Sweeping brought to light a number of Diptera hidden in the 

 grass and herbage, including five Tipulidae, of which two were 



FIG. I. METLAKATLA. 



new (Ttpula strigata Coq. and Tipula gelida Coq.) ; three 

 species of Empidas, all of which were new (Empis fumida Coq., 

 Rhamphomyia glauca Coq., and Rhamphomyia anthracodes 

 Coq.) ; and two species of Dolichopodidae, Dolichopus longi- 

 manus Loew being especially abundant. Of the Muscidse, the 

 most interesting were Orthochceta folosa (Zett.), a European 

 species not previously known from America, and (Edoparea 

 glauca Coq., a new species of Sciomyzidag. 



With the exception of water beetles, the Coleoptera do not 

 thrive in very marshy places, only six species being found, and 

 these of an uninteresting character, except Stenus umbratiUs 

 Casey, which was new to Alaska, although known from British 

 Columbia. The same may be said of the Heteroptera, since 



