l893-] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 143 



collection, but these latter retain part of the normal maculation 

 of E. urge in the W mark, and traces of the outer tooth in ihe 

 cell. The hind wings are largely blackish. 



Synopsis of the North American species of Melecta. 



By Wm. J. Fox, Philadelphia, Pa. 

 FEMALES. 



Size large, 11-15 mm. in length. 



Pubescence on thorax and ornation of abdomen tawny; tubercles on scu- 

 tellum ending in a short tooth; fore wings, with exception of a pale 

 spot at apex of submarginal and discoidal cells, fuscous throughout. 



interrnpta Cr. 



Pubescence on thorax and ornation of abdomen grayish-white; tuber- 

 cles on scutellum ending in a long tooth; fore wings, except a spot 

 in the median, first and second submarginals and third discoidal 

 cells, and the broad apical margins hyaline . . miranda n. sp. 

 Size medium, less than 11 mm. in length. 



Ornation on abdomen interrupted medially; first joint of flagellum 

 shorter than the following two united . . californica Cr. 



Ornation of abdomen not interrupted medially, forming continuous, 

 irregular, or dentate fascia; first joint of flagellum as long, or a 

 little longer than the following two united . . maculata Cr. 



MALES. 

 Size large, i r mm. or over in length; pubescence of thorax and ornation 



of abdomen tawny interrupta Cr. 



Size medium, less than 11 mm. in length; pubescence, etc., pale. 



Ornation of abdomen not covering the entire surface of the dorsal seg- 

 ments. 

 Fascia on abdomen interrupted medially ; flagellum not, or very 



slightly thickened medially californica Cr. 



Fascia on abdomen not interrupted medially, forming continuous, 

 irregular, or dentate bands; flagellum greatly thickened medially. 



maculata Cr. 

 Ornation of abdomen covering the entire surface of dorsal segments. 



macida Cr. 

 Helecta miranda 9— Deep black; head, thorax on sides and beneath 

 dorsulum anteriorly, scutellum more or less, coxae and femora beneath, 

 with long, grayish-whfte pubescence; on the anterior part of dorsulum 

 enclosed by the pale hair and a spot between the tegulae and scutellum 

 composed of black pubescence; dorsulum rather coarsely punctured, the 

 punctures a little strongei- and more separated than in interrupta, 

 scutellum very coarsely punctured, more so than in interrupta, pro- 



