CONOPS. 305 



Thorax almost quadrate, slightly convex above, with a scapula on each 

 side ; scutellum small, semicircular. Wings lanceolate, finely pubes- 

 cent, incumbent and parallel in repose ; prsebrachial vein united with 

 the cubital towards the tip ; prasbrachial and discal areolets long, the 

 latter closed near the posterior margin by a transverse vein ; anal areo- 

 let long, distinct, complete. Abdomen arched, rather long, with six 

 segments more or less slender towards the base, obclavate towards the 

 tip, which is incurved. Legs rather stout ; tibiae very slightly curved, 

 compressed and dilated at the tips, in some cases with a transverse 

 suture j tarsi rather broad ; ungues and onychia distinct. Male. Abdo- 

 men with a projecting conical process on the fourth segment beneath. 



These flies frequent flowers ; their larvse are parasitic on those 

 of humble-bees. The second abdominal segment is very variable 

 in the degree of its contraction, and the British species may be 

 grouped thus : 



a. Abdomen more or less sessile. Species 1-8. 

 a a. Abdomen much petiolated. Species 9. 



Conopaus, Edn., includes C. quadrifasciata and C.Jlavipes ; Conops, 

 Edn., contains C. macrocephala ; and C. ceriaformis belongs to Cono- 

 pilla, Rdn. 



1. vesicularis, L. fn. 1903(1761); Gf.; Fb.; Mg.; Ll.j Fln. ; 

 Ct. ; Mq. ; Ztt. Mas. cylindrica, Mg. kl. Ferruginea, capite flavo 

 argenteo-quadrivittato, thoracis disco piceo, alls subcinereis ad costam 

 ferrugineis, abdomine Jlavo-univittato basi piceo. Long. 6 ; alar. 



121in. 



Ferruginous. Head yellow above and in front, with four silvery stripes ; 

 the outer pair along the eyes ; the inner pair diverging from the base 

 of the antennaB to the peristoma. Disc of the thorax piceous. Wings 

 slightly grey ; a ferruginous stripe occupying half tJw breadth from the 

 costa includes a greyish spot near the tip. Halteres yellow. Abdomen 

 piceous towards the base ; hind border of the second segment yellow. 



Eare. (E.) 



2. flavipes, L. fn. 1904 (1761); Fb. ; Gm. ; Pz. fn. ! Ixx. 21, 

 22 ; Fin. ; Mg. ; Mq. ; Ztt. ; Edn. trifasciata, Dg. vesicularis, Hrs. ! 

 melanocephala, Mg. kl. macrocephala, Sch. Sml. ! cp. Nigraflavo- 

 varia, capite argenteo-bivittato, alls cinereis ad costam fuscis, pedibusflavis, 

 femoribus nigro-fasciatis. Long. 5-5^- ; alar. 9-10 lin. 



Slack. Head yellow above and in front ; two silvery stripes diverg- 

 ing from the base of the antenna to the peristoma ; vertex piceous, black 

 towards the anteima3. Thorax with two yellow nearly round humeral 

 scapulae ; scutellum yellow along the hind border. Wings grey, brown 

 along the costa. Halteres yellow. Abdomen bluish-black ; first segment 

 with a small yellow scapula on each side ; hind borders of the second and 

 third segments yellow. Femora yellow at the base and at the tips ; tibia 



VOL. I. * E 



