204 PROC. E)NT. SOC. WASH., VOL. 21, NO. 9, DEC., 1919 THE GENERIC STATUS OF ZODION PALPALIS ROBERTSON (DIPTERA, CONOPIDAE), W^TH GENERIC KEY TO THE FAMILY. J. R. MALLOCH, Urbana, III. While visiting Mr. Charles Robertson in 1918 I obtained from him a specimen of his species Zodion palpalis in order to ascertain if it really belonged to the genus in which he had described it, some doubt having been expressed on that point by one of Mr. Robertson's correspondents. The species undoubtedly runs out to Zodion when one uses Williston's key to the genera, but there are some characters which ally it closely with Occemyia as well as those which indicate its affinities with Zodion. In fact, the species possesses some of the characters of both genera and the only course possible to me is to erect for the reception of the species a new genus which is accordingly done in this paper. I give a synoptic key to the genera occurring north of Mexico, as the most efficient method of expressing the relations and dis-tinctions of this and other genera. Many of the characters used in the key are used here for the first time. Key to Genera. 1. Pteropleura with a long bristle; vertex, lateral margins of dorsum of thorax, and scutellum with a few long strong bristles; anal cell very small (Stylogastrinae) Stylogaster Macquart Pteropleura unarmed; vertex, lateral margins of drosum of thorax, and scutellum without bristles, or with a few which are but little differen-tiated from the surrounding hairs; anal cell large 2 2. Third antennal joint with a 3-jointed style at apex; abdomen con-stricted basally, the second ?nd usually the third segments longer than broad; subcosta and first branch of radius connected by a cross-vein; halteres with some short hairs at base of knobs on outer side (Conopinae) 3 Third antennal joint with a dorsal arista ; abdomen not noticeably con-stricted basally, the second and third segments each broader than long (Myopinae) .... 4 3. Propleura with a bristle on lower margin; posterior metathoracic area below base of abdomen and extending between hind coxae not uni-formly chitinized, the small portion projecting from between coxae separated from the broad upper portion by a much less heavily chit-inized area; hind femora regu'arly thickened, the thickest part ;il middle Conors Liniu Propleura bare; posterior metathoracic area below base of abdomen uniformly heavily chitinized; femora irregularly thickened on basal half I'liysuccplniln Sehiner
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