%>\\t Canadian JtntowoloubM. 



Vol. XXXIV. LONDON, APRIL, 1902. No. 4 



CLASSIFICATION OF THE FOSSORIAL, PREDACEOU3 AND 



PARASITIC WASPS, OR THE SUPERFAMILY 



VESPOIDEA. 



BY WILLIAM H. ASHMEAD, A. M., ASSISTANT CURATOR, DIVISION OF 

 INSECTS, U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



(Paper No. 4. — Continued from Vol. XXXII. , 1900, p. 296.) 

 Subfamily III. — Aporinse ( = Pompilinae). 



18 1 5. Aporida, Leach, Edinb. Encyc. IX., p. 149. 



Pompilus. Fabr., is preoccupied, and the family name Po/npi/idcc 

 must be changed to Ceropalidcc, as has been shown recently by Fox 

 (vide Ent. News, Vol. XII., 1901, p. 268). In consequence, my 

 subfamily Pompilitue must be changed to Aporince. 



This subfamily is unquestionably the largest in number of genera 

 and species of any of the groups of the family Ceropalidce (Pompilidrc). 

 Most of the species, in comparison with those found in the Pepsince, are 

 of medium size or small, few attaining much over an inch in length, while 

 the vast majority are much smaller. 



All of the species, so far as we know, dig burrows in the ground, in 

 which they store up spiders as food for their young. I suspect, however, 

 that some of the genera, judging from their structural characters and the 

 absence of a tarsal comb, will prove to be inquilinous in the nests of others, 

 as with the Psithyridce, Stelididce and other families in the Hymenoptera. 



The characters made use of in my table of subfamilies readily 

 separate the subfamily. The spiny or strongly bristly legs, which are 

 never smooth nor serrate, and the absence of a transverse grooved line or 

 furrow on the second ventral segment separate it from the Pepsince and 

 the Ageuiince ; the antennae being placed higher up on the face, and not 

 low down on or below an imaginary line drawn from the base of the eyes, 



