SYSXUiCIIUS. 277 



Thomson), iv. 1914, common (Ghatterjee) ; Theog, Simla Hills, 

 14. v. 1909; Kumaon, 18 & 27. v. 1912; Bhowali, 5700 ft., 

 iii. 1910 (Ghatterjee); Eunjit Valley, Sikkim, v. 1894 (Lt.-Col. 

 G. T. Bingham): Kangra Valley, 4500 ft., x. 1899 {Dudgeon); 

 Coimbatore, 30. v. 1912 ; Hadagalli, Ceylon, x. & xi. 1911. 



Type in the British Museum. 



The colour of the pubescence is so variable that I am inclined 

 to think my nivalis may be an extreme form. The proboscis in 

 nivalis is distinctly longer than from the tip of the frons to the 

 tip of the scutellum. 



Mr. T. B. Fletcher finds that the larvae prey on the eggs of 

 the Deccan grasshopper. 



219. Systcechus nivalis, Brun. 



Systaschus nivalis, Brunetti, Rec. Ind. Mus. vii, p. 472 (1912). 



S . Head with frons and face blackish grey, darker above, both 

 thickly covered with long black bristly hairs. Antennae rather 

 long, black ; 1st and 3rd joints subequal, each about three times 

 as long as the 2nd \ first two joints cylindrical, 3rd much more 

 slender on apical half. Proboscis very long,|labium reaching to 

 middle of abdomen (actually bent backwards to this distance 

 below the body in -the type), labrum shorter; palpi extremely 

 short and slender ; underside of head dark grey, with whitish 

 hairs. Thorax and abdomen closely covered with pale yellowish 

 grey, almost white, bristly pubescence, which is more yellowish 

 on anterior part of former and whitish on pleurae and apical part 

 of abdomen ; underside of thorax and abdomen with whitish hair. 

 Legs black; tibiae from the base, for the major part, brownish 

 yellow. Wings pale grey, costal cell a little darker grey ; base of 

 wing a little yellowish. 



Length, 9 mm. 



Described from a uuique 6 in the Indian Museum from 

 Airadeo, Kumaon Distr., Western Himalayas, 31. v. 1912 (Lmms). 



Possibly a variety of socius, AValk. 



220. Systcechus flavospinosus, sp. nov. 



5 . This species differs from 8. socius only as follows : — Face 

 wholly covered with long dense silky yellowish scales, no black 

 bristles; 1st and 2nd antennal joints brownish yellow, 1st with 

 some Jong pale hairs ; 3rd rather shorter and broader basally than 

 in socius; scutellum almost entirely brick-red; spines on hind 

 margins of abdominal segments yellow, not black ; femora and 

 tibiae wholly bright brownish yellow, tarsi gradually darkening to 

 brown at tips. 



Length, 7 mm. 



One 2 Ul the British Museum from the South Shan States, 

 Upper Burma, 4000 ft., xi. 1899 (Lt.-Col. C. T. Bingham). 



