120 LEPTID2E. 



Genus ATHERIX, Mg. 



Atherix, Meigen, Illig. Mag. ii, p. 271 (1803). 

 Ibisia, Rondani, Dipt. Ital. Prod, i, p. 154 (1856). 

 Pelechoidocera, Bigot (p.p^, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, (2) ii, p. 91 

 (1856). 



Genotype, Atlierix ibis, E. ; by general acceptance.* 



This genus differs from Atricliops, Verr., chiefly in the pubes- 

 cent frons and face. In A. ibis, a well-known European species, 

 both these parts bear dense long pubescence, whereas in Atricliops 

 they are bare. 



Verrall, in describing Atricliops, adds a number of minor charac- 

 ters which, though illustrative of the type-species (crassipes, Mg.), 

 may possibly not occur in all the species that it may be advisable 

 to refer to the genus. 



The characters therefore allotted in this work to Atricliops may 

 be considered to apply to Atlierix also. 



Only one species is Indian, labiata, Big.f 



Range. World-wide. 



Life-history. It has been said that the larva has tracheal gills, 

 whilst Brauer states that it possesses true pseudopods instead of 

 the roughened intercalated areas generally present in this family. 

 The $ $ of A. ibis, a European species, cluster on a bough and 

 lay their eggs all together in a mass, dying on the cluster, the 

 larvae when hatched falling into the water. 



■81. Atherix labiata, Big. 



Atherix labiata, Bigot, Bull. Soc. Zool. France, xii, p. 117 (1887) ; 

 Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. iii, p. 212 (1909). 



$ . " Proboscis at least as long as height of head ; labella 

 distinctly enlarged ; palpi bare, a little dilated, dark brown : frons 

 black, with a few black hairs, face whitish-tomentose. Thorax 

 and scutellum moderately shining black, the former with grey 

 reflections, tomentose on anterior part, sides grey-tomentose. 

 Coxae black; halteres chestnut, with tips blackish. Abdomen 

 shortly pubescent, grey at the sides ; 1st segment black at base 

 and middle, with a half baud of grey dust on each side ; 2nd 

 segment dull tawny, with a triangular basal black spot, and at the 

 middle of each side a brownish transverse half-band ; 3rd segment 

 with a transverse reddish line in middle. Begs all black, except 

 base of hind femora which is tinged with pale j'ellow. Wings 

 nearly clear at base, posterior half brownish grey, with three 



* Coquillett adopts Bhagio diadema, F., as genotype, but Verrall successfully 

 establishes ibis as such (British Flies, v, p. 285). 



t My thanks are due to Mr. Collin for the information that labiata, Big., is 

 truly an Atherix after an examination of the type, otherwise, as all the species 

 that have come before me belong to Atricko2)S, I should have been tempted to 

 include labiata also in that genus. 



