180 
Psyche 
[Dec. 
in mid-afternoon sunlight and the rich color contrast of 
his black and red-orange banded abdomen attracted my 
notice. This species hovers just over the herbs and low 
shrubs at heights ranging conveniently from 1-4 feet 
above the ground. My first attempts with the net were 
unsuccessful. However, I soon discovered a method that 
was nearly always effective. After approaching slowly 
within reach, the net may be raised gradually into a 
position directly beneath the fly. Then, with a swift 
upward sweep he is readily captured. Hovering flies 
are not easily disturbed if a person moves unhurriedly. 
Even if they escape the net at first, they almost invariably 
return to hover in approximately the same position. 
Therefore, although they usually evade a head-on or a 
down sweep, they may be readily captured by the casual 
approach from beneath. 
Hovering is an individual affair for this species. In 
contrast to the mass hovering of Tab amis nigrovittatus 
Macquart (Bailey, 1947, 1948), usually no more than one 
or two II. cincta males were seen so engaged at the same 
time. On the few occasions when two or three flies were 
found hovering in an area, they were always some yards 
apart and appeared to be acting quite independently. 
In conclusion, attention should be called to the fact that 
this is the first time that hovering during both the 
morning and afternoon has been recorded for a particular 
species, as far as I am aware. 
Literature Cited 
Bailey, N. S. 1947. Psyche, 54(1): 62-64. 1948. Annals, Ent. Soc. 
Amer., December (in press). 
Brimley, C. S. and Sherman, F., Jr. 1908. Ent. News, 19: 172. 
Philip, C. B. 1947. Am. Midi. Nat., 37(2) : 257-324. 
