New Bombylidse of the Group Paracosmus, 219 



NEW BOMBYLIDJE OF THE GROUP PARACOSMUS. 



Among the Bombylidae having a short proboscis is a small 

 group of insects in which the body is elongated and nearly naked, 

 being entirely destitute of flattened scales and of stout bristles, 

 while the hair is so very short and sparse as to be scarcely dis- 

 cernible with the naked eye. To this group belongs our only de- 

 scribed genus, Paracosmus Loew, containing two described species, 

 Edwardsii Loew, and Morrisoni Osten Sacken. I have collected 

 three other species belonging to this group. One of these, to which 

 I apply the generic term Amphicosmus, differs from all the others in 

 having three, instead of only two submarginal cells in each wing; 

 the structure of the antennae and the course of the second vein of 

 the wings are the same as in Paracosmus. Another species differs 

 from Paracosmus in the structure of the antennae, in the course of 

 the second vein, and in that the ocellar tubercle is situated much 

 farther forward upon the front; to this form I apply the generic 

 term Metacosmus. This form is known to me only in the female 

 sex. The third species agrees with Paracosmus in the course of the 

 second vein and in the situation of the ocellar tubercle, but the tip 

 of the third antennal joint is rounded instead of being truncated; 

 still I am unwilling to found a new genus on so trivial a character 

 as this, but prefer to place this species in the genus Paracosmus, at 

 least for the present. I will now give a more extended characteriza- 

 tion of these three new forms. 



Amphicosmus n. gen. Body elongated, nearly naked, destitute 

 of flattened scales and of stout bristles. Head subglobular, front 

 in profile gently convex, not greatly projecting at base of antennae ; 

 face scarcely one-fourth as long as the front, projecting farther for- 

 ward than the latter, with which it forms an obtuse angle. An- 

 tennae somewhat approximate at base, about one-fourth as long 

 as the head, first two joints subequal in length, together slightly 

 shorter than the third ; the latter tapers but slightly towards the 

 apex which is obliquely truncated, the upper angle prolonged in 

 a short tooth, the lower angle broadly rounded. Proboscis not 

 projecting beyond the oral margin, labellae well-developed; palpi 

 slender, clavate at the tips, slightly over one-half as long as the pro- 

 boscis. Eyes narrowly separated in the male, very widely separated 

 in the female. Ocellar tubercle close to edge of occiput. Scutellum 

 rounded behind. Abdomen much narrower than the thorax, seven- 

 segmented in both sexes; male genitalia exposed and very large. 

 Wings with three submarginal and four posterior cells, all of the 

 latter open, as is also the anal cell ; bifurcation of second and third 

 veins occurs before base of discal cell; tip of second vein curving 



