81 
Vol. LVI, No. 9. 
+ A NEW CERIOIDES WITH FOLDING WINGS 
(Diptera-Syrphidae) . 
By G. H. Hardy. 
( Received 18 th October , 1944; accepted for publication , 21th November , 
1944; issued separately , 25th June, 1945.) 
Genus Cerioides Bond. 
Between 1922 and 1927, Shannon divided this genus giving names 
that do not appear applicable to the Australian fauna. Ferguson (1926) 
applied three of these names, pointing out that not all characters cited 
by Shannon are present and there now seems to be no justification for 
separating C. breviscapa Saund. from C. subarmata C. & B. on characters 
used for the purpose; indeed they evidently form a natural group 
together with the new species described below. Thus only two groups 
can be retained to accommodate the Australian Cerioides until such 
times as the world’s forms become better known. Of the twelve species 
hitherto described, six belong to the breviscapa-group, distinguished 
by the constriction near the base of the abdomen being excessive and 
wasp-like, and to this group the new species is added below’. The 
ornata-g roup has but a slightly constricted abdomen. 
Cerioides breviscapa-group. 
The two species which I myself have captured in the bush, had 
their wings folded longitudinally when at rest, a character reported by 
me in 1933, and I would suggest that all species with the character 
belong to one natural group, but it is uncertain as to how far this 
extends in* the group as at present understood. The character is 
readily overlooked as the flexure neither occurs readily when in the 
relaxed condition, nor is the flexure retained at death. The wing is 
flexed upwards, bringing the halves, rear above fore, to lie in parallel 
planes and not touching. Seen from above, the line of flexure shows 
three straight lines meeting at two points, forming two obtuse angles. 
This line of flexure has been traced by Mr. Edgar Biek and myself, 
using a freshly captured specimen of C. subarmata , caught by Mr. Biek 
on the large swamp at Sunnybank in August 1944, and this assures that 
on all pinned specimens with a wflng folded, the feature is identical with 
that of the living state. 
The line of flexure runs at least half way along the anterior margin 
of the alula, which normally is hinged to turn upwards on many flies,, 
then passes at an angle to a deep crease just behind the median vein. 
p 
