MONACAIS T 'XHOMT.rA. 23 



Genus MONACANTHOMYIA, Brun. 

 Monacanthomyia, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mas. vii, p. 448 (1912). 

 Genotype, Monacanthomyia annandalei, Brun. 



Allied to Pachygaster, Mg., from which it differs by the for- 

 mation of the scutellum, which is produced 

 upwards so as to form a very large conical 

 base, from which it is continued upwards 

 in the form of a long strong spine with 

 blunted tip. It differs from the allied 

 Acraspideq, Brauer, by the 3rd antennal 

 joint being large and round instead of fili- 

 form and longer than the head. The type- „. , 1/f ,, 

 species is the only one known, annandalei, Brun., 



Range. India. scutellum in profile. 



4. Monacanthomyia annandalei, Brun. 



Monacantliomyia annandalei, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 448 

 (1912). 



S . Head with vertex triangular, elevated, the three ocelli 

 distinct, reddish ; frons- between one-fourth and one-fifth width of 

 head, nearly linear, shining black, with (seen from above) two 

 small, nearly contiguous, oval, silvery-grey-dusted spots a little 

 above the antennae ; eyes with very small uniform facets ; face 

 shining black, lower eye-orbits silver-dusted ; back of head black- 

 ish, lower posterior eye-orbits with silvery reflections and a few 

 very short snow-white hairs. Proboscis short, narrowed at base, 

 pointed at tip, yellow, microscopically pubescent. Antenna? 

 yellow ; third joint very large, round, with a rather long apical 

 thickened bristle. Thorax shining black, with microscopic grey 

 hairs, which on the dorsum are intermixed with (or possibly wholly 

 replaced by) yellow hairs, all microscopic. Scutellum shining 

 black, with microscopic whitish and a few yellow hairs. Abdomen 

 shining black, with microscopic snow-white hairs; venter similar; 

 genitalia very minute. Legs with basal half of coxa? and a broad 

 band occupying nearly all the femora, except base and tips, black 

 or blackish brown, remainder of coxa? and femora yellowish ; tibia? 

 and tarsi white. Wings very pale grey, highly iridescent ; stigma 

 yellow ; basal half of costa and 1st longitudinal vein much blacker 

 than the remainder of the veins ; halteres with the stem yellowish, 

 the club milk-white, rather large. 



Length, 2 mm. 



Described from a perfect c? in the Indian Museum, captured 

 by Dr. Annandale at Kurseong, Darjeeling District, 4700 ft., 

 15. iv. 1911, on a window. 



