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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>To all my flower fly friends and
colleagues:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Due to the bad financial situation in the US, etc.,
I was forced to take early retirement last year. My position at the Systematic
Entomology Laboratory was abolished.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>However, I continue my research, now as an Adjunct
Scientist, Department of Entomology, Smithsonian Institution. Small office,
etc., just a new title.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Also, my old e-mail of <A
href="mailto:Thompson.Chris@ars.usda.gov">Thompson.Chris@ars.usda.gov</A> was
disconnected in January, so I lost much mail.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>My new business address is <A
href="mailto:thompsonf@si.edu">thompsonf@si.edu</A> The mailing address is
the more or less the same: Department of Entomology, MRC-0169, PO Box 37012,
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013-7012</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>However, my home address remains <A
href="mailto:xelaalex@cox.net">xelaalex@cox.net</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The good news is that I am free and can began
finishing up old projects, like my incomplete PhD thesis work on the Microdons
(yes, I will get to it soon Menno)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And the Nearctic flower flies, Copestylum,
MesoAmerican flower flies, etc.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The other good news is that Ximo Mengual has
arrived here and has started on his fellowship. We will be focus on Allograpta,
especially the exotic ones from down under. We would greatly appreciate fresh
material in alcohol of the following critical genera and species: Anu una (New
Zealand), Allograpta dorsalis / ventralis (New Zealand); Eosphaerophoria (Sri
Lanka to New Guinea), Allograpta alamacula (Australia); Giluwea (New Guinea)
Loveridgeana (St. Helena), Sphaerophoria nigra (Azores Is.) and any of the South
African Sphaerophoria species.(retrocurva & quadrituberculata)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Cheers</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Chris</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>F. Christian Thompson</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>6611 Green Glen Court</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Kingstowne, VA 22315 USA</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>