1893.] NATURAL. SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 513 



defined as in the allied species, about two-and-a-half times longer 

 than it is broad at the base, with distinct, scattered punctures. Black; 

 mandibles in the middle and the apical joints of the tarsi obscure 

 reddish; coloration of abdomen varying from bright red to nearly 

 black; wings subby aline, iridescent, the nervures black ; marginal 

 cell obliquely truncate ; width of the second and third submarginals 

 at the top variable. Length 10-11 mm. 



$ . — Front coarsely granulated; vertex and clypeus with very 

 close punctures; space between the eyes at top about equal to length 

 of anteunal joints 3 and 4 united; antenme rather stout and long, the 

 first joint of the flagellum nearly one- half shorter than the second; 

 dorsulum with very close punctures; metathorax above and on the 

 sides finely coriaceous, the posterior face indistinctly striated; legs 

 feebly spinose, the emargination on fore femora large; colored like 

 the female except that the legs are more red; the wings are 

 clearer and more iridescent. Length 7-8 mm. 



New Jersey to Florida, westward to Nevada. Although the width 

 ot the second and third submarginal cells at the top is variable, yet 

 in the majority of specimens examined, the second is by far the 

 broadest. Larrada laevifrons Smith is evidently closely related if not 

 identical with this species. 



7. — Tachysphex texanus Cress. 



Larrada texana Cr. , Trans. Amer. Amer. Soc, IV, 214. £ 8 ■ 

 Larra texana Patt. , 1. c. p. 3S9. 



9 . — Anterior margin of the clypeus subtruncate, the lateral 

 angles sharp, but not dentate; front finely granulated; vertex with 

 fine, distinct punctures; space between the eyes at the top just about 

 equal to the length of antennal joints 2 and 3 united; first joint of 

 the flagellum scarcely one-fourth shorter than the second, which is 

 shorter than either the third or fourth joints; dorsulum with fine, 

 even, distinct punctures, which are closest posteriorly; scutellum a 

 little more strongly punctured, slightly impressed; metathorax above 

 finely reticulated, on the sides and behind strongly striated; legs 

 rather slender, in comparison to the preceding species, strongly armed 

 with spines; abdomen above impunctate, the last ventral segment 

 sparsely punctured ; pygidial area tolerably well defined, with 

 gpax-se, distinct punctures, its length is scarcely two-and-a-half times 

 longer than it is wide at the base. Black; mandibles in the middle, 

 spot on scape at apex beneath and the tarsi, obscure red; abdomen 



