1T0 DIPTERA OF NORTH AMERICA. [PART IV. 



abdomen ; the color of the abdomen is pale brownish ; last joint 

 reddish-brown, with brownish hairs, especially on its rounded 

 under side ; its upper side convex, with an open space below 

 (fornicate) ; forceps large, reddish ; horny appendages stout, 

 claw-shaped, ending in a rather blunt point. Feet paler than 

 the body, reddish-yellow, rather uniformly beset with long, black- 

 ish hairs ; the hairs on the under side of the first tarsal joint are 

 shorter, but denser than those on the upper side ; under side of 

 the following joints with a microscopic pubescence ; under side 

 of the last joint not excised in the male ; the length of. the 

 femora is equal to about three-quarters of the length of the body. 

 Sab. Massachusetts ; Canada (Harris). 



Gen. XX. SYMPtECTA. 



Two subinarginal cells ; four posterior cells ; discal cell closed ; the 

 second longitudinal vein originates before the middle of the length of the 

 wing and at a considerable distance (about equal to the breadth of 

 the wing) before the tip of the auxiliary vein ; the subcostal cross-vein 

 is at a considerable distance (three lengths of the great cross-vein or 

 more) from the tip of the auxiliary vein ; the seventh longitudinal vein is 

 strongly bisinuated (Tab. I, fig. 20, wing of S. punctipennis) . Wings and 

 their veins glabrous. Antennae 16-jointed. Tibise without spurs at the 

 tip ; ungues small, empodia distinct. The forceps of the male consists of 

 two elongated subcylindrical basal pieces, with two blunt horny append- 

 ages attached to each of them (Tab. IV, fig. 21, forceps of S. punctipennis, 

 from above). Ovipositor with curved, pointed upper valves and short 

 lower ones. 



The close relationship between this genus and Trimicra has 

 already been pointed out under the head of the latter genus. 

 However, the three terminal joints of the antennae are not ab- 

 ruptly smaller, the wings are somewhat broader, the second vein, 

 after originating from the first, describes a gentle curve (and 

 therefore does not form an acute angle with the first) ; the 

 seventh longitudinal vein is bisinuated, not straight ; the basal 

 pieces of the forceps are subcylindrical, elongated, and not so 

 much incrassated as in Trimicra, leaving a targe interval, dis- 

 tinctly perceptible even in dry specimens, between them and the 

 horny appendages. The structure of the feet is the same, and 

 the ungues are also inserted under a slight projection of the last 

 tarsal joint. 



Meigen adopted this genus in 1830 {Meig. Zweifl. etc. VI, p. 



