914 CHARLES PauL ALEXANDER 
Molophilus ursinus (O. 8.) 
1859 Erioptera ursina O.S. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., p. 228. 
Molophilus ursinus is probably the smallest crane-fly in North America 
The following notes on the swarming were made along Power Housé 
Creek, Gloversville, New York, on June 27, 1915: 
This species occurred in small dancing swarms over the little lateral streamlets that poured 
down the steep slope, some of the swarms including scores of individuals. When not swarm| 
ing, they rested flat on the upper surfaces of leaves, their wings folded over the abdomen 
Crane-flies associated with this species today included the following: Bittacomorphell 
jonest, Limnophila toxoneura, L. areolata, L. (Lasiomastiz) tenuicornis, Liogma nodicornis 
Dolichopeza americana, Tipula collaris, T. nobilis, T. iroquois, T. hermannia, T. macrolaiis® 
T. submaculata, T. fuliginosa, N ephrotoma macrocera, N. tenuis, Longurio testaceus, and others 
Genus Erioptera Meigen (Gr. wool + wing) 
1800 Polymeda Meig. Nouv. Class. Mouch., p. 14 (nomen nudum). 
1803 Erioptera Meig. [Illiger’s Mag., vol. 2, p. 262. 
1818 Polyraphia Meig. Syst. Beschr. Zweifl. Ins., vol. 1, p. 88. 
1854 Octavia Bigot. Ann. Soc. Ent. France, p. 474. 
1856 Chemalida Rond. Dipt. Ital. Prodr., vol. 1, p. 180. 
1856 Limnaex Rond. Dipt. Ital. Prodr., vol. 1, p. 181. 
1856 Ilisia Rond. Dipt. Ital. Prodr., vol. 1, p. 182. , 
1861 Limnoica Rond. Dipt. Ital. Prodr., Corrigenda, vol. 4, p. 11. 
1863 Trichosticha Schin. Wien. Ent. Monatschr., vol. 7, p. 221. 
1864 Platytoma Lioy. Atti dell’ Institut Veneto, ser. 3, vol. 10, p. 42. 
Larva.— Form elongate, in some cases very slender, terete. Spiracular disk tending t 
be reduced, in some species (as E. chlorophylla) very small. Anal gills blunt. Head caps 
slender, consisting of six bars, four dorsal and two ventral; ventral bars in some speci4 
(as E. chlorophylla), at least, with five to eight teeth at their expanded anterior end, formin 
the mental plates. Labrum narrow, densely hairy. Mandible small, bluntly toothec 
Maxilla blunt, hairy. Hypopharynx cushion-like. 
Pupa.— Cephalic crest consisting of blunt or acute (in F. chlorophylla and E. vespertind 
lobes. Pronotal breathing horns elongate, the length many times the diameter, usua 
straight and slightly divergent (H. megophthalma, E. septemtrionis), or acutely pointed an 
directed forward (E. chlorophylla). Mesonotal declivity along crest with very numero 
setiferous tubercles or (in the European £. lutea) with four prominent teeth. Leg sheatl 
moderately long, reaching fourth abdominal segment; middle tarsi conspicuously short 
than the others. Subapical armature of abdominal segments strong on sternites and tergit 
but lacking on pleurites. Spiracles distinct, tubular. Lobes on dorsum of eighth abdomin 
segment not forming a distinct pentagon. 
Erioptera is a large genus of small flies, including more than one hundre 
described species, chiefly from the temperate regions. In the case 
all species of which the immature stages are known, these stages are spel 
in wet earth. In Europe, Erioptera (Acyphona) maculata (Beling, 187% 
