1868. 



7 



NOTES ON SOME BRITISH SYRPHI. 



BY G. IT. VERRALL. 



Amongst the Diptera I collected last year, I have found five species 

 of Si/rphus to which I wish to call attention. I cannot call tliem new 

 to England, aa most of them occur in any collection, but none are 

 recorded as species in Walker's " Diptera Britannica." They are, 

 certainly, all allied to other acknowledged British species. 



Under S. auricollis, Meig., occur the true species of that name, 

 and maculicornis, Zett. ; the latter may be at once distinguished 

 by the abdominal bands being entirely interrupted, whilst in auricollis 

 they are only deeply notched on the hinder edge. Both the species 

 occur in gardens near London, maculicornis being much the commoner. 



Under umbellatarum, Fab., may also commonly be found lasioph- 

 tJialmus, Zett., which has slightly hairy eyes in the male, and also has 

 the abdominal spots and epistoma yellower. The epistomal middle 

 line is also more distinct, and the whole insect rather more hairy. 



Under ductus, Fall., I think it most probable we have none of 

 the true species, but only cinctellus, Zett. Walker certainly, amongst 

 his varieties of cincfics, gives both species, but I have never yet seen 

 the true form. Cinctellus has the antennae brown above, a black spot 

 on the front just above the antennae, and the scutellum clothed with 

 brownish hairs. Should any entomologist find specimens witli wholly 

 yellow antennae, no black spot above them, and the scutellum clothed 

 with yellow hairs, he has the true ductus, for which I should be much 

 obliged. Cinctellus is common. 



Under vitripennis, Meig., or rihesii, Linn, is occasionally to be 

 found nitidicollis, Meig., which may be known by its having a brightly 

 shining thorax, and the epistoma ( ? generally) partly black. This insect 

 has also a handsomer appearance than its allies, probably from its pubes- 

 cence being darker. I believe it is rather rare ; it has been recorded as 

 British by Stephens and Curtis. 



Under albostriatus, Fall., is also confusus, Egger, if the latter can 

 be considered a separate species. Schiner confesses that n character 

 taken from the colour of the legs of a Si/rphus is a very uncertain one, 

 but says that among a large number of specimens of these two species 

 he can find no tendency to vary. They differ only as follows : Albo- 

 striatus has the femora of the four front legs black at the base, and of 

 the hind legs with a broad blackish ring, and also a small dark ring on 

 the hind tibiae. Confusus has the same parts wholly yellow, with the 



