INTRODUCTION 9 



was new to Alaska, although known to occur in British Co- 

 lumbia. 



Four interesting Diptera were taken in the same situation with 

 the above — Didyma pullula Van der Wulp, a Tachinid origi- 

 nally described from Mexico; Chirosia glauca Coq., a new 

 species of Anthomyid ; Aptilotus politus (Will.), a Borborid 

 originally described from California; (Edoparca glauca Coq., 

 a new form of the family Sciomyzidae, specimens of which had 

 already been taken at Metlakatla. In addition to these a Syr- 

 phid {Sphcgina infuscatd) was captured at the flowers of a spe- 

 cies of Lupinus. A single caddice-fly found beneath a stone 

 proved to be Asynarchus punctatissi?nus (Walker), a widely 

 distributed representative of the group. 



JUNEAU 



June j and July 2$. — A short stay was made at Juneau on June 

 7, during the northward journey of the Expedition, but the con- 

 ditions were not favorable for the collection of insects. On the 

 return trip a day (July 25) was spent at this locality, and a better 

 opportunity was afforded to study the entomological conditions 

 of the region. At the rear of the town a good collecting ground 

 was found about the shores of a small pond in a deep hollow. 

 Here were growing dense patches of Epilobium spicatum and 

 numerous other plants. Over thirty species of Diptera were 

 captured, including ten species of Syrphidce. Most of the latter 

 had already been collected at other localities, the only exceptions 

 being Syrphus gracilis sp. nov. Coquillett and Xylota barbata 

 Loew. Other interesting Diptera were Rhamphomyia setosa 

 Coq. and Sepsis jlavimana Meigen, the latter a European 

 species not previously known from the American continent. 

 Bumble-bees were quite common on the blossoms of Epilobium 

 spicatum, including Bombus nearcticus Handl., B. mclanopy- 

 gus Nyl., B. oregonensis Cr., and Psithyrus insularis (Smith). 

 Ichneumonoidea were also abundant among the herbage, and 

 yielded ten species, of which eight were new to science, includ- 

 ing a new genus {Hyposyntactus Ashmead). Dragon-flies were 

 common about the edge of the pond, but all were of a single 

 species, Enallagma calverti Morse. 



