178 PROCEEDINGS ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



case of the Bassini, while the conformation of the scape in one 

 case and the character of the claws in another is drawn upon 

 to separate tribes. So we have the time honored incon- 

 sistency of treatment repeated. 



While we could have wished to have the subject treated from 

 some new viewpoint, yet the result will be of value to all stu- 

 dents of this group, no matter what fauna is considered, es- 

 pecially in view of the treatment of a number of species that 

 are genotypes of widely distributed genera and the introduc- 

 tion of so many good figures w T hich act as a guide to the habi- 

 tus in a group where habitus is so important in introducing the 

 uninitiated to the study of the group. 



NOTES ON NEARCTIC MANTISPID^. 



BY NATHAN BANKS. 



Our species of this family are not numerous; on the occasion 

 of adding two more I tabulate the genera that are now know r n 

 to be represented in the United States. The genus 7 richos- 

 celia occurs in Mexico, and so may be taken later on our side 

 of the border. 



1. Two claws to tarsus I; axillary vein forked in margin; pro- 



notum short, bristly; female with long ovipositor. . . .Symphrasis 

 But one claw to tarsus I, axillary vein not forked; pronotum 



more elongate; no ovipositor 2 



2. Pronotum without transverse furrows or corrugations, finely 



haired; first radial cell with but one branch Mantispilla 



Pronotum transversely furrowed, not hairy, usually more than 



one branch from first radial cell 3 



3. Upper branch of first radial sector bent up to unite with second 



radial sector, or connected thereto by very short cross- 

 vein; radial cells very slender Climaciella 



Upper branch of first radial sector connected to second radial 

 sector by a rather long cross-vein; radial cells broader; 

 pronotum more elongate Mantispa 



Symphrasis includes but one species, S. si gnat a Hagen, 

 from the Southwest. 



Climaciella was made by Enderlein for our Mantispa bnui- 

 nea Say; it will also include M. f or i dan a Bks. 



Mantispa includes several species, one of which, Af. ma-sta 

 Hag., has never been refound. 



Mantispilla was considered a subgenus by Enderlein; as 

 denned above it makes a good genus; we have two species 

 hitherto undescribed. 



