DURHAM DIPTERA. 1 93 



XXVIII. 289. 

 289. Sph^erophoria, St. Farg. 



The members of this family shew a great tendency to run 

 into varieties, and at present it is hard to say how many 

 species we have. Mr. Verrall recognised only three as British, 

 but his specific marks are not very definite. The following is 

 his table of species and varieties. 



1 (4). Thorax moderately shining, with its yellow side-margins 



continuous. 8-10 mm. 



2 (3). Abdomen very elongate. Largest species, 10 mm. 



Scutellum usually yellow haired. 



1546. Sphczrophoria scripta, L. 

 a (b). Legs all orange, including coxae and trochanters. 



var. scripta, L. 

 Common at Hesleden in August, but I do not 

 seem to have met with it elsewhere. 



b (a). Legs orange, but coxae mainly blackish. 

 c (d). Fore and mid coxae all blackish, and hind coxae 

 partly so. (var. dispar, Lw.) 



d (c). All coxae and trochanters blackish. 

 e (f). Abdominal spots sloped off, but reaching the 



hind-margins. 



var. mgricoxa, Ztt. 

 Hesleden, 2 $, 9 & 26-8-99 j * $> 1-8-00. 



f (e). Abdominal spots not reaching the side-margins. 



(var. strigata, Staeg.) 

 8 (2). Abdomen moderately long. Moderately small species, 

 8 mm. Scutellum usually black haired. 



1547. Sphcerophoria menthastri, L. 

 a (d). Pubescence of scutellum black. 



b (c). Abdominal bands all entire. 



var. menthastri, L. 

 Hesleden, 3 $, 9-8-99, 1 $, 23-8-00; Wearhead, 

 2 $, 21-8-01 ; Wynyard, 1 $, 28-5-02. 



c (b). Abdominal bands all separated into spots. 



var. pic ta, Mg. 



Common at Hesleden in August. Also Escomb, 

 1 ?, 27-5-99; Barnard Castle, 1 $, 20-6-00; 

 Bishop Auckland, 1 $, 1-7-97 ; Wearhead, 

 1 ?, 1 8-8-0 1. 



M 



