AMMOPHILA. 7 



b. Mesothorax transversely striated. (Species 6-8.) 



6. Ammophila aureo-notata. (Tab. I. figg. 11 ; n a, <$ .) 



Nigra, abdomine subcseruleo, mesonoto striato ; alis fumatis ; $ elypeo transverso, S acuminato. 

 Long. 12-15 millim. 



Edb. Mexico, Valladolid in Yucatan (Gaumer). 



Face in the female densely covered at the sides and on the clypeus with silvery-white 

 hair ; the vertex shining, bearing a very short pale pile and a few longish hairs, fuscous 

 or blackish ; the sides of the head bearing longish white hairs. Clypeus produced 

 broadly in the middle, the apex depressed and transverse ; the sides rounded. Front 

 depressed in the centre, where there is a narrow, but distinct furrow running down 

 from the ocelli, these latter being surrounded and united by furrows. The vertex and 

 front bear some distinct punctures, those on the front being the longer. The ocelli 

 are almost in a triangle. The third antennal joint is twice the length of the fourth. 

 Pronotum narrow above, with a slight longitudinal furrow on the top and an oblique 

 furrow on either side. Sternum transversely striolated. A wide oblique furrow in the 

 centre of the propleurse; and a {-shaped furrow runs down the mesopleurae from the 

 tegulse. Prothorax above and laterally shining, impunctate, sparsely pilose ; the pro- 

 sternum opaque, alutaceous. Mesonotum strongly transversely striated, depressed in 

 the centre (where it is scarcely striated) and along the sides. Mesopleurae opaque, 

 finely but rugosely punctured. Scutellum stoutly, longitudinally, rugosely striolated. 

 Metanotum depressed in the middle, transversely striated ; metapleurae obliquely 

 striated, opaque. The thorax is sparsely covered with a greyish pile and has some 

 rather long pale hairs ; there is a golden spot on the middle of the mesonotum at the 

 base ; the tubercles, a large mark on the mesopleurae, and an oblong spot on either 

 side of the metanotum are silvery white. The petiole is deep black, shining ; the rest 

 of the abdomen is covered with a velvety pile, and inclining to blue in tint. Legs 

 covered with a short, greyish, silky pile, which is longest on the coxae. Wings 

 uniformly fusco-hyaline, varying in intensity in different individuals, but never darker 

 at the apex. 



The male has the face thickly covered with a golden pile ; and the clypeus acuminate, 

 terminating in a stout tooth. 



^ 7. Ammophila barbata, 



Ammophila barbata, Smith, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 4th ser. xii. p. 260 (1873) \ 

 Hob. Mexico 1 . 



In having the mesothorax transversely, and the scutellum longitudinally, striated, as 

 well as in coloration, this species agrees with A. aureo-notata ; but it must, I think, be 

 regarded as distinct. A. barbata is said to have the prothorax coarsely transversely 



