Dipterd 81 c 



Scatophaga Fallen. 



The members of this genus are much niore common in temperate latitudes 

 than in subtropical or tropical, and are, judging from collections I have exarnined, 

 pa/rticularly abundant both in individuals and species in the extreme northern 

 portions of the western hemisphere. In the present collection there are three 

 species represented by thirty-seven specimens. 



The larvae feed upon decaying vegetable matter and in manure; the flies 

 are predaceous, but also feed on the same substances as the larvae. 



In order to make it possible for students of the order to recognize the species 

 before me, I give a key for their identification, using characters similar to those 

 used in a key to part of the same ge>nus in a paper written for the U. S. Bureau 

 of Biological Survey on Pribilof Island Diptfera, which at time time of writing 

 is ready to go to press. 



Key to Species. 



1. Mid and hind tibiae with a number of strong outstanding bristles in addition to the 



long, soft hairs 2 



Mid and hind tibiae without strong bristles; with only soft hairs (Group unrepresented) 



2. Cross-veins of wings not infuscated; legs almost entirely black (Unrepresented) 



Cross-veins of wings very noticeably infuscated; legs almost entirely, or entirely, yellow- 

 ish Or reddish ,3 



3. Arista long haired at base; antennae entirely reddish yellow; apical ventral abdominal 



segment of male as in PI. X, fig. 35; pteropleura bare suilla Fabricius. 



Arista bare 4 



4. Hind femur with several long bristles on antero-dorsal • surface of apical half; ptero- 



pleura and hypopleura bare ; ! furcata Say. 



Hind femur without such bristles; pteropleura sometimes with a few long hairs on 



centre; upper portion of hypopleura with a few long hairs rubfcunda MaUoch . 



Scatophaga suilla (Fabricius). 

 Musca suilla Fabricius. Ent. Syst., vol. 4, p. 343, 1794. 



One male and one female, Nome, Alaska, August 21, 1916 (F. Johansen). 



A European species previously reported from Alaska. 



I have figured, the fifth sternite of suilla and lutaria Fallen to illustrate 

 the specific distinction (PI. X, fig. 5, 35 and .35a). Lutaria occurs in Alaska, 

 Ohio, and New Hampshire. 



Scatophaga furcata (Say). 

 Pijropa furcata Say. Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., vol. 3, p. 98, 1823. 



Thirty-two specimens from the following localities: Nome, Alaska, August 

 21-25, 1916, eight specimens (F. Johansen); Barter island, Alaska, July 2, 

 1914, twelve specimens, June 8, 1914, twelve specimens (D. Jenness); CoUinson 

 point, Alaska, June 15, 1914, twelve specimens (F. Johansen); point Pullen, 

 WollaFton peninsula, Victoria island, August 18, 1915, one specimen (D. Jenness). 



Ihis very common species occurs throughout North America well into 

 the arctics, and, is equally common in Europe. 



Scatophaga rubicunda Malloch. 



Scatophaga rubicunda Malloch, in press. 



This species is represented in the collection by three specimens, one male 

 from Cockburn point. Dolphin and Union strait. Northwest Territories, Canadian 

 Arctic coast, September 7, 1914, and one male and one female from Bernard 

 harbour. Dolphin and Union strait. Northwest Territories, Jtlne 17, 1915, and 

 June 20, 1916 (F. Johansen). 



I have previously seen it from Pribilof islands, Bering sea. 



Vol. iii— 4596b— 6 



