49

ALEXANDER:CRANE-FLIESMar., 1929]

SPECIES OF ERIOPTERINE CRANE
UNDESCRIBEDFLIES FROM THE UNITED STATES AND
CANADA (TIPULID2E, DIPTERA),PART I1
BY CHARLES P. ALEXANDERMASSAOHUSETTSAMHERST,

The great tribe of Eriopterine Tipulidte is well developed in
the Nearctic fauna and many species remain to be described,
especially in the larger and more involved genera. The species
discussed at this timewere mostly collected by Professor J. Speed
Rogers and thewriter in the Eastern United States, a few addi
tional forms being from Canada and theWestern States, where
they were collected by Messrs. Bryant, Crampton, Criddle andVan

I wishDuzee.

to express

to all of

thanksmythe above

named entomologists for this kind cooperation inmaking known
this interesting fauna. Except where stated to the contrary, thetypes of the novelties are preserved inmy collection.
Genus Erioptera Meigen
Erioptera (Erioptera) bryantiana new species.
Size large (wing, $, over 7 mm.); general coloration sulphur-yellow,
the praescutum

andscutumwithreddishmarkings;

mediotergite

postnotal

yellow, the posterior half with two confluent reddish brown areas; halteresand legs yellow; wings fulvous-yellow; ovipositor with the tergal valves
strongly upcurved, their margins smooth.
Female.

about

Length

6.5 mm.;wing

7.2-7.4mm.

Rostrum and palpi yellow. Antennae yellow, the outer flagellar segments
passing

into

dark

brown.

Headpalewhitish

gray,

the

centerthe vertex

ofvaguely darkened; posterior orbits narrowly yellow; eyes (female) relatively
large, contiguous beneath.
Pronotumpale

Mesonotal

yellow.

chieflypraescutum

covered

by

four

dull

reddish stripes, the lateral margins yellow;

tuberculate pits and pseudosu

tural

medially,

foveaepale

reddish;scutumyellowish

thecenterlobes infuscated; scutellum light yellow; postnotal mediotergite
posterior

half

with

1 Contribution

cultural College.

from

two

confluent

the Department

oval

reddishbrownof Entomology,

areas.

oftheyellow, thePleuraMassachusetts

sul
Agri

JOURNALNEW YORK ENTOMOLOGICALSOCIETY[Vol. XXXVII

50

phur yellow, the anepisternum and ventral sternopleurite somewhat more
reddish to produce a faint longitudinal striping. Halteres pale yellow.
Legs with the coxaT and trochanters pale reddish yellow; legs yellow, theterminal tarsal segments dark brown. Wings with a very strong fulvous
yellow suffusion, the base more saturated; stigmal region vaguely darkened;veins dark yellow. Venation: Rs long; vein 2nd A very strongly sinuous.
Abdomen obscure yellow, the tergites narrowly darkened laterally. Ovi
positor with the valves yellow, the tergal valves strongly upcurved, themargins smooth.

Habitat.-Alberta.
Holotype, 9, Bilby, June 19, 1924 (Owen Bryant).
Paratopotype, 9, June 8, 1924 (Owen Bryant); returned to
Mr. Bryant.
Erioptera bryantiana is named in honor of the collector, Mr.
Owen Bryant. Although still known only from the female sex,
the species appears to be very distinct from all known Nearctic
species of the subgenus. The conditions under which this crane
fly were taken have been discussed in another paper on the craneflies of Alberta (Can. Ent., 59: 214-215; 1927).
Erioptera
Male.

(Erioptera)
LengthFemale.

new species.

4.5-5 mm.
mm.;wing
4.5-5 mm.
4.5 mm.;wing
Ostenchrysocoma
Sacken,(E.)

3.8-4.2

about

Lengthsimilar

Generally

chrysocomoides

about

to E.

differing

especiallyin the structure of the male hypopygium.
Antennal scape dark, the flagellum chiefly brownish yellow. Mesonotum
pale reddish brown, with scarcely evident darker markings. Halteres chiefly
the

pale,

of

base

the

stem

darkened.

Legs

with

coxae

the

and

trochanters

pale; fore femora chiefly black, the bases narrowly yellow; posterior femora
yellow, only the extreme tips darkened; tibiae dark brown; tarsi brown, thefore tarsi somewhat paler; segements of legs with long conspicuous erectsetae.

Wings
thanradialcells

aschrysocoma.

in

one-thirdtheto be muchthe apicalsuffusion
tending
pale yellow,
in chrysocoma,
at least
usually
involving
the small
dark
brown
the cord;
beyondtensivelength

outer

the

more

ex

of

all

ends

dots

about
arrangedof Sc, beyond
Venation:Sc, aboutRz;
oppositeTipvein 2nd Aof Rs; Analveins morestrongly
divergent,

Abdomen brownish yellow, theusually short and nearly straight.
hypopygium still brighter. Male hypopygium large, the structure aboutasin chrysocoma
arm more

but

outer
much

stouterdilated.
andpaler.

the apex abruptly
stout,
setae.
by numerousthedetails
distinct.
quite
with
Gonapophyses
Basalgonapophyses

narrowed

intoa black

Outer

dististyle

with

the

very

arms
subtendingin structure,different

spine,

thisthelaterallattersurroundedMar., 1929]

ALEXANDER:CRANE-FLIES

51

Habitat.-Tennessee.
Holotype, J, Allardt, Fentress Co., altitude 1650 feet, July 8,
1924 (J. S. Rogers); Coll. No. 82.
Allotopotype, $, July 15, 1924 (J. S. Rogers) ;Coll. No. 9.
Paratopotypes, several S, O, June 16-July 15, 1924.
Type returned to Professor Rogers.
The chief characters for the separation of the present species
fromlie in the morechrysocoma

anal veinsdivergent

and

the

structure of the basal gonapophyses of the male hypopygium.
Erioptera (Erioptera) subfurcifer new species.
Mole. Length about 4.5 mm.; wing 5.5 mm.
Belongs to the chlorophylla group; most closely allied to E. (E.) furcifer
Alexander, differing especially in the structure of the male hypopygium.
Male hypopygium with the outer dististyle broadly flattened, the apex
thedarkened,ofmarginouterapicalthe blade

furtherangle

into a point,
the outerproduced
Inner dististyleproslender,

serrulate.

microscopicallyfoundly bifid at apex, as in furcifer, the outer arm terminating in a smooth,slender, darkened spine, the inner arm entirely pale, more flattened; outerofmarginpearing
duced

fork ofthe style withmicroscopic
as broadly
flatteneddark-colored
plates,into a spine,
the marginsof the plate
more

denticles,

abundantandarrangedsetulee.

Gonapophyses

ap

the outerwithmulti-seriallyapicalangle pro
numerous
microscopic

along

the

lateraledge.

E. furcifer has the outer dististyle unusually slender, the apex blackened,truncate and entirely smooth. Inner dististyle with the outer arm more
erect, conspicuously hairy. Gonapophyses slender, pale, the apex and outerwithmargin

small

weak

the

denticles,

apophyses

notat allproducedintoaspline.

Habitat.-Michigan.

Holotype, S, Washtenaw Co., June, 1920 (J. S. Rogers); Coll.
No.

126.

Type returned to Professor Rogers.
Erioptera(Ilisia) manitobensis

5 x 1.25 mm.

LengthAlliedto E. cinctipennis Alexander,

venation

and

about

detailsof

4 mm.;

new species.

Male.

wing

differing

chiefly in the coloration,coloration.

Head gray. Antennae black throughout. Anterior lateral pretergites
conspicuously light yellow. Mesonotal praescutum obscure gray, with fourbrown stripes; tuberculate pits widely separated, small; pseudosutural
foveae conspicuously blackened; interspaces obscure yellow; posterior sclerites
of mesonotum grayish brown. Pleura clear light gray. Halteres pale yellow.

52

JOURNAL NEW

YORKENTOMOLOGICALSOCIETY[Vol. XXXVII

Legs with the coxse gray; trochanters brownish yellow; femora dark brown,
the bases of all femora broadly yellowish; tibiae pale brown, the tarsi passing into darker. Wings pale yellowish subhyaline, conspicuously crossbandedattwo

withbrown,a morecord;
areas
connected

a broadincludinginner band
diffusethethebeyondouterin cells

Venation:cinctipennis.

Cu

m-cu

the

level

own

lengthbroaderits

nearlyband

its proximal
havingedgeof the originof Rs, thethe pale ground-color
andbeforeand moreinthanconspicuousatand M4;

much

band

outer

before

the

fork

of M;

Anal veins divergent, vein 2nd A being short and nearly straight. Abdomen
dark brown, with conspicuous short yellow setae. Male hypopygium muchasincinctipennis,

the

inner

dististyle

with

a

seriesofblack

conspicuous

spines along the margin, the outer spine largest, these gradually decreasing
in size basally. Outer dististyle slender, the tip obtuse. Gonapophyses
relatively wide, the tips obtuse, the margins smooth.

Habitat.-Manitoba.
Holotype, o,Aweme, June 24, 1924 (N. Criddle).
Type in the Canadian National Collection.
The strongly patterned wings, with divergent anal veins, andthe wide gonapophyses of the male hypopygium offer the chief
characters for the separation of the present species from cincti
pennis.
I am referring the present group of Eriopterine crane-flies tothe subgenus Ilisia, but with considerable doubt. The relation
ship to the European E. melampodia Loew seems certain and thislatter species has been placed in Ilisia by Continental students.
In some respects, the species of the group agree better with
Psiloconopa Zetterstedt. There is a conspicuous difference inthe course of the anal veinsin the different

Nearctic

In

species.

some, as cinctipennis, vein 2nd A is long and somewhat sinuous,
agreeing with the same characters in the subgenus Erioptera; instill other species that are certainly closely allied (as the present
vein
species and E. painteri Alexander),straight, diverging
strongly from 1st A.
Erioptera
Closelywith
thisstructure(lisia)allied2nd A

is short

andcarbonipes new species.
to E.

(I.)

cinctipennis

species,
differing
especiallyof the malehypopygium.

Malehypopygium withterminatingin the usual

Alexanderandin the entirely

black

the inner dististyle

two points,of which

formerlylegs andconfuseddetailsofvery large and flattened,

the outeris a blackened

spine;

Mar., 1929]

53

ALEXANDER: CRANE-FLIES

beyond midlength of the outer margin of the blade a conspicuous tubercle
bearing a small delicate seta; posterior portion of margin of style with small
acute teeth. Gonapophyses unusually wide, appearing as broad flattenedplates, the tips obtuse but microscopically denticulate.
In cinctipennis the legs are pale, especially the bases of the femora. Male
hypopygium with the inner dististyle narrower, the outer margin with large
conspicuous teeth. Gonapophyses unusually narrow, especially on the distal
third

where

are

there

one

two weakorondenticles

the

lower

or

cephalic

margin.

Habitat.-Washington.
Holotype, (, Northbend, King Co., July 10, 1920 (E. P. Van
Duzee).
Type in the California Academy of Sciences.
The type of E. carbonipes was returned to the California
Academy of Sciences with the determination "E. cinctipennis
Alexander.7
It is now evident that there are several species of
the group in western and northern North America.
newneomexicana

Erioptera

species.

General coloration light gray; femora obscure yellow, broadly darkened
before tips; halteres yellow; wings subhyaline; cell M, open by the atrophyof basal section of M,; abdomen chiefly yellow; male hypopygium withboth dististyles terminal in position, the outer style microscopically spinulose
apex,
Male.

beforeAntennaedarkata conspicuous
black
spine.
4.3 mm.
3.8 mm.;wing
thelatterbrownishyellow,

tip withabout

LengthRostrumandpalpi
brown,

darkenedsegments

andremainderthepraescutum

with

very

black,

lying

the

basal

of

head

outwardly.
obscuredby shellac.
Mesonotum

lighttuberculatelines;

gray,
pits

just

narrowbrown

lateral

of

level

of

cephaladthethepseudosutural foveae; scutum gray; scutellum gray, the margin yellowish;
lpstnotal mediotergite gray, the anterolateral angles conspicuously light
Pleuravariegatedyellow.
grayor less distinct
moretransverse

andyellow,on
bands

and on the pleurotergite.
pleurite,and middle
coxne dark,
the posterior

Wings
veins

extremetips

relatively
brown.

narrowly

narrow,
Venation:tibiaepale;
subhyaline,
Sc,

coxye

latteranepisternum

yellow.
yellow;andforming
sterno

with
the
Legs
trochantersbrown,

fore
thefemora obscure yellow, darkened outwardly,

posterior trochanters yellow;
theHalterescoloration

the
the

endingbrownishthestigmaltheoppositeyellow,

the

tarsi

darker.

darkened;regionvaguely
fork of Rs, Sc, far fromits tip, just beyond the origin of Rs; Rs long, straight; R2 a little shorter
than R,+ 3 + 4 placedjustbeyondthe forkofthelatter;cell M,

open

by

the

54
atrophy

JOURNALNEW YORK ENTOMOLOGICALSOCIETY [Vol. XXXVII
of basalof M,;

sectionm-cu

beforejustthe fork

of M;

vein

2nd

A

short, nearly straight, diverging from 1st A.
Abdomen chiefly yellow, the sternal incisures darker; subterminal seg
ments more or less darkened medially. Male hypopygium with the disti
terminalstylesthe distal
halfspine;

apexofin position,

both

than

blackened;

outer

black

style

denselyouter
at base, morestyle palesmall;
a long acute
beforemargintip with
to produce
a mace-likeset with
small spines

ap

pearance. Inner dististyle subequal in length, pale, its tip dusky. Gona
pophyses appearing as flattened black blades, the margins smooth, the tips
acute.

Mexico.

Habitat.-New

Holotype, S, Jemez Springs, June.
The

strictsubgenericof E. neomexicana

positionas somewhat questionable.
known regional species.

may

be held

The fly is quite distinct from all

Genus Psiloconopa Zetterstedt
Psiloconopa gaspicola new species.
General coloration dark gray; wings brownish yellow, the stigmal region
faintlydarker;veins

stout;

vein

2nd

A

unusually

short

and

hypopygium with the outer dististyle broadly dilated;
slender, narrowed to the weakly bifid blackened apex.
Male.-Lengthabout

5.5 mm.;wing

straight;

male

inner dististyle

5.2 x 1.2 mm.

Described from an alcoholic specimen.
Rostrum, palpi and antennae black; flagellar segments oval, decreasing insize outwardly. Head dark gray.
Thorax dark gray, the anterior lateral pretergites and dorso-pleural mem
brane paler; pseudosutural fovese and tuberculate pits black. Halteres paleyellow. Legs with the coxa and trochanters brownish yellow, the former
darkeratbases;

remainder

of

legs

broken.

Wings

of moderate

width,

asshown by the measurements, with a brownish yellow suffusion, the base andcostal region more yellowish; stigmal region faintly darker; veins stout,
dark brown, those in costal region more yellowish. Venation: As in P.
alatskensis but with the veins beyond cord shorter and stouter, the forks
more shallow; vein 2nd A unusually short and straight, the cell narrow.
Abdomen dark gray. Male hypopygium almost as in alaskensis, the outerdististyle broadly dilated; inner dististyle slender, yellow, the apex black
ened and weakly bifid, gently curved to an acute point.

Habitat.-Quebec.
Holotype, alcoholic c, Gaspe Peninsula, south shore, June 26
July 1, 1928 (G. C. Crampton).

Mar., 1929]55

ALEXANDER: CRANE-FLIESThe discovery of a species of this otherwise essentially arctic
and western group of crane-flies in the Gaspe region is of especial
interest. A similar distribution in the flora of this non-glaciatedportion of eastern Canada is now relatively well-known throughthe researches of Professor M. L. Fernald and others. Psilo
conopais closely

gaspicola

to the Alaskan

alliedP.

alaskensis(Alexander), differing especially in the coloration of the wings
and in slight details of venation and structure of the male hypopygium.
Genus Melophilus Curtis
Molophilus laricicola new species.
General coloration reddish brown; antennae (male) of moderate
only,

if bent

backward

about

extendingofto the baselengththe abdomen;

femorayellow, the tips broadly blackened; tarsi black; male hypopygium with themesal

set withof basistylelobeelongate

spinesthat merge

mm.,

antennae

intosetae;

both

about

2 mm.

dististyles narrow, pale basally.

and

5-5.2

wing

about 4.5-5 mm.; wing 5.5-6 mm.

Female.-Length
Rostrum

4 mm.;

about

Male.-Length

brownishpalpi

Antennae

black.

of moderate

in male,length,if bent backward, extending about to the base of the abdomen; scapeyellow; flagellum dark brown; flagellar segments elongate, with a dense
white pubescence and slightly longer scattered verticils. Head ochreous.
reddishMesonotum

thebrown,

lateralofmarginandthe praescutumthepretergites pale yellow; setae of interspaces very small; median region of
scutumandyellow.

Halteresofbase

scutellum

mediallyslightly
withthe coxe
Legs

pale.

Pleurareddishplumbeous.
concolorousandtrochanterswiththe pleura; femora yellow at base, the tips broadly blackened, thismostextensive

on

the

fore

where

femoraabout

the outer

fourthis included,

least extensive on the posterior femora where only the extreme tips aretibiaedarkened;brown,

the

dark

tips

brown;

tarsi

black.

with

Wings

a

yellow tinge, the base and costal region somewhat brighter; veins darker
yellow
2nd A

than

the

long

and

ground-color;sinuous.

macrotrichia

darkbrown.

Venation:Veingentlytergites brown, paler laterally, the sternites more uniformly
hypopygium yellow. Male hypopygium with the mesal lobe ofAbdominal
pale;basistylemarginrelatively
intopassing

the spines
small,
delicate
setae;

unusuallylong andthe blackened
spinesthose onsetiform,setae
and spinous

number about fifteen. Both dististyles pale except at tips; outer dististylenearly glabrous, narrow; inner style narrow, produced into a long, darkened
apicalelongate,elements

point
in

that

bears

slide

mountsofthegenitalia.

afew

scatteredextendingcaudadsetigerous
beyondpunctures.
the levelofAedeagus
the other

JOURNALNEW YORK ENTOMOLOGICALSOCIETY[Vol. XXXVII

56

Habitat.-New York.
Holotype, J, Canada Lake, Fulton Co., altitude 1700 feet,
June 25, 1928 (C. P. Alexander).
Allotopotype, T.
Paratopotypes, 10 , 0.
Molophilus laricicola is readily told from all other similar
species of the gracilis group, pubipennis subgroup, by the lengthand structure of the antennae.
This interesting species occurred in a small sphagnum bog
where the forest cover consisted of black spruce, balsam andlarch; an abundance of Ledumz,Aronia and Viburnum cassinoides; and the ground cover, besides the dominant sphagnum,
included an abundance of pitcher-plants and dwarf smilacina.
Bog crane-flies that were associated with this species at this dateincluded Limonia (Dicranomyia) profunda Alexander, Pseudo
limnophila inornata Osten Sacken, Limnophila laricicola Alex
ander

and Erioptera

chrysocoma

Osten

Sacken.

huron new species.

Molophilus
Male.-Length

Female.-Length

about
about

4 mm.;

wing

4.8-5

mm.

5 mm.;

wing

about

5.5 mm.

Belongs to the gracilis group, pubipennis subgroup; closely allied to
M. fultonensis Alexander, differing especially in the structure of the malehypopygium.
Rostrum and palpi black. Antenne ( ) elongate, if bent backward ex
tending to about opposite one-fourth the length of the abdomen; flagellum
dark brown. Mesonotum reddish brown, the humeral region more yellowish;
pretergites pale yellow; remainder of mesonotum reddish brown. Pleura
reddish brown to slightly plumbeous. Halteres dusky, the stem yellow.
Wings yellow, the vestiture dense, dark brown, including the costal fringein both sexes. Abdomen dark brown, the hypopygium obscure brownish
yellow. Male hypopygium with the spines of the mesal lobe of basistyle very
short

and

stout,

peg-like,

thecoarsemarginal

setae

distinctand

nottending

into spines. Outer dististyle unusually broad, in general form
rectangular, the inner lateral angle produced laterad into a short spine;
surface of style with microscopic setulae. Inner dististyle rather broadly
expanded, produced in a slender dark spine, this less elongate than in
to merge

fultonensis.

Habitat.-Michigan.
Holotype, A, Gogebic Co., August 15, 1920 (J. S. Rogers);
Coll. No.

100.

Mar., 1929]57

ALEXANDER: CRANE-FLIESAllotopotype, O,August 16, 1920 (J. S. Rogers); Coll. No. 107.
Paratopotypes, several S i, July 29-August 16, 1920.
Type returned to Professor Rogers.
paludicola new species.

Molophilus

about 3-3.2 mm.; wing 3.5-4 mm.
Male.-Length
about 4.5 mm.; wing 4.8-5 mm.
Female.-Length
Belongs to the gracilis group, ptbipennis subgroup; allied to M. fultonen
sis Alexander and M. huron new species, but much smaller, especially in themale sex, and showing slight differences in the structure of the hypopygium.
Rostrum, palpi and antennal flagellum dark brown; scape obscure yellow;
flagellar segments elongate-fusiform, with long, outspreading pale setae;
antennae ( ) elongate, the segments a little shorter than in fultonensis.
Head chiefly dark gray, the front and occiput more ochreous.
Posterior pronotum and anterior lateral pretergites pale yellow. Mesono
tum

and

reddishpleurathegray,humeraltrochanters

fore

the

yellow,a little

coxae

regioninfuscated.

pale, the knobs slightly

Halteresofpraescutum
testaceous

femoradarker;brighter.

the coxse andLegs withbasally,

the tips broadly dark brown; tibiae obscure brownish yellow, the tips
narrowly darkened; tarsi dark brown. Wings with a pale brownish suffu
costal

and

base

more

sion,

the

dark,

including the costal fringe

Venation:

R,

and

r-m

regionin alignment;

yellowish.

in both
R+,,,

and

of

Macrotrichia

wings

sexes, long and conspicuous.
in length;

R4+5 subequalvein

2nd A relatively short, ending opposite or just beyond the caudal end of
n-Ctu.
dark

Abdomenthebrown,

genitalsegments

in bothsexes

brighter.

Malehypopygium with the mesal lobe of basistyle set with unusually small blackmuchspines,smallerthanin pubipennis

to those of huron. Dististyles
eachproducedstrongly

lateradandfultonensis

but

quite

similarbroadly flattened, the inner lateral angle ofintoa slender

chitinizedblack

point.

Habitat.-Massachusetts.
Holotype, S, in boggy meadow near Amherst, altitude 275
feet, July 25, 1928 (C. P. Alexander).
Allotopotype, 0, pinned with male.
Paratopotypes, 1 c, 1 ?, July 15, 1928 (C. P. Alexander),mounted on same point.
Severalof thespeciesof the pubipennis

subgroup

in northeastern North America are becoming increasingly difficult of
separation, especially those formswith very elongate antennae inthe malespeciessex andare M.

a darkfultonensis

These
in the female.
fringenewM.
huron
species andAlexander,
costal58

JOURNAL NEW

YORKENTOMOLOGICALSOCIETY[Vol. XXXVII

M. paludicola new species. The distinctions between the first twolarger species have been given under the description of huron.
M. paludicola ismost similar to huron, differing in the small size,
especially of themale, venation, as the shorter 2nd anal vein, andslight differences in the antennae and hypopygium.

THE LIST OF OHIO LEAFHOPPERS
Our veteran entomologist, Prof. Herbert Osborn, has justadded another important publication to his long list of valuable
papers on Cicadellidae. This one, "The Leafhoppers of Ohio,"
published in the Ohio State University Bulletin, Vol. XXXII,
No. 27,May 31, 1928, is quite characteristic of his previous work,
particularly where he is individual author. He has been rather
conservativein applicationof some of the latest

taxonomic

workand has only applied such where it seemed advisable. His pro
fusion of good text illustrations makes it particularly handy forthe non-specialist. An interesting feature is the appended checklist of The Ohio Leafhoppers, corresponding to the Van Duzee
check

list in numeration.

As

a wholeit is a very

neat,

preciseand useful publication. It is just one more block added to thefoundation of cicadellid knowledge, just one more volume of use
ful cicadellid literature and ready reference for the student
interested in the distributions of United States Cicadellide.
CHRIS E. OLSEN.