Dasiops passifloris
FEMALE. Very similar in colour and general appearance to D. alveofrons McAlpine, but differing in details as follows: Slightly smaller; frons without a distinct depression; much narrower; about 1.3 times as long as wide (about as wide as long in alveofrons). Eyes almost bare as in alveofrons, but under higher magnification pubescence longer and denser. Lunule, face and parafacials less densely pollinose and duller silvery. Lunule shining brownish on upper margins. Face shining bluish in antennal fovea, especially near mouth margin. Cheek narrower; shortest distance between eye and mouth margin scarcely as wide as third antennal segment; bristles and hairs of cheek weaker; with 2 to 4 weakly outstanding, vibrissa-like bristles. Basal fourth of arista yellowish (black in alveofrons). With 2 to 4 poststigmatal hairs (usually 2) and a single stigmata1 bristle as in alveofrons, but bristles of mesopleuron stronger; mesopleuron with 2 anterodorsal and 3 relatively strong
posterior bristles. Prosternum bare. Wings, calyptrae and tarsi as in alveofrons. Abdomen more heavily and more uniformly dusted with whitish pollen. Terga five and six entirely dusted (bare in alveofrons). Hairs on hind margin of tergum seven evenly distributed (a cluster in middle in alveofrons). Ovipositor very different; in dorsal view like a tiny spear with head broader than shaft. Penultimate segment much more slender and with parallel sides. Apical segment a little broader at base than penultimate segment; almost equilaterally triangular, with very sharp point; sides with 2 to 3 tiny hairs about middle of exposed portion.
MALE. Differing from female in usual sexual characters: Frons much narrower; especially at lunule; 1.2 times as high as wide; sides more conspicuously convergent anteriorly. Surstylus with 2 teeth; aedeagus with apical margins meeting in a rather sharp point, i.e., forming
an angle just under 90".
TYPES Holotype, 9 , allotype, $ , and 7 9 9 , paratypes, Dade Co., Florida, 12 March 1952, reared ex fruits of Passiflora pallida, F. G. Butcher.
REMARKS. This glistening little species does not appear to have any very closely-related species among the material I have seen. It may be a member of the albiceps group, where it is easily distinguished by its white calyptrae and its distinctive ovipositor.