92 [Assembly 



" Meanwhile, the extcnsire Adirondack Region, with its numerous 

 lofty mountain peaks, its deep gorges, its hundreds of lakes — per- 

 haps second only to the White Mountains in point of interest to the 

 entomologist of any locality in the United States east of the Rocky 

 Mountains — has been permitted, year after year, to bury within 

 itself its entire entomological wealth. Previous to the collections 

 noticed in this paper [Lepidoptera of the Adirondack Region*], 

 hardly an insect had been drawn from it. At the present, nothing 

 has been reported of its mountain insect fauna. Many new species 

 are undoubtedly to be discovered there, and the first comparison of 

 its fauna with ■that of other elevated and more northern regions is 

 yet to be made. 



" It is sincerely to be hoped that, from the growing interest mani- 

 fested in entomology, the numerous accessions to the number of its 

 students, the facility for study afforded by recent publications and in 

 several extensive classified collections, the reproach resting on the 

 entomologists of New York may speedily be removed. And while 

 the thorough exploration of any locality can scarcely fail of bringing 

 to light much new material, the ambitious student may have for his 

 incentive the assurance that in the Adirondack Mountains there is 

 open to him an unexplored field where faithful search will assuredly 

 yield him a most abundant return." 



The locality of Long lake and the season offered but few flower- 

 ing plants for the attraction of insects. The collections, therefore, 

 were nearly confined to golden rods {Solidago) and the hardback 

 {Spircea tomentosa), which were freely visited by Hymenoptera, 

 Diptera and Coleoptera for the pollen that they afforded. 



Of the Hymenoptera, the flowers were especially prolific in 

 Apidce^ Crabo7iidce, Euaneyiiclce and Andrenidce, whilst also yielding 

 some desirable Ichneumonidoi. 



In Diptera, several species of the gaily-colored Syrpliidce (flower 

 flies) were abundant, of which, perhaps, the most interesting form 

 was Spiloynyia fusca Loew — a large fly, so singularly mimicking in 

 size, form, color and markings the common " bald-faced hornet," 

 Vespa macidata Linn., as to be easily (and generally by other than 

 entomologists) mistaken for it. The species had never come under 

 my observation before, nor has it been recorded as occurring in the 

 State of New York. Its first capture was made on the 11th of 

 August. It continued to increase in number, in both sexes, and the 

 day prior to my departure from the locality (^Sd inst.) it was 

 more abundant than before. Over forty examples of the species were 

 taken. Nothing, I believe, is known of its larval stage. Several 

 examples of a Conops^ undetermined species, were also captured on 

 the Solidago. A large, globose-bodied Tachinid fly, Ecldnomyia sp., 

 having its tegulse and basal portion of wings of a dull yellow, which 

 I had in former years observed abundantly in Essex county, N. Y., 

 was also a common visitor to the blossoms of the golden rod. 



♦Seventh Annual Report of the Topographical Survey of the Adirondack Region of 

 Now York, 1880, pp. 375-400. 



