2OO ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, '09 



but less than the length of joints 3 + 4. Third antennal joint a little 

 shorter than the fourth ; fourth and fifth equal or the fifth the shortest ; 

 apical joint about the same length as the preceding. Dorsulum and scu- 

 tellum finely, closely punctured ; scutellum slightly impressed. Metano- 

 tum finely granular, with a very faint medial line, fovea at the apex want- 

 ing ; bounded on the posterior margin by a line like series of foveae, 

 which meet in the middle in the form of a broad V. Posterior face more 

 coarsely granular, middle line stronger. Third cubital slightly broader 

 on the radial than the second cubital is. Longer spur of the hind tibiae 

 about as long as the first joint of hind tarsi ; first joint of hind tarsi not 

 much longer than the second. Abdomen dorsally microscopically punc- 

 tured ; punctures on the first two ventral segments similar to those on the 

 dorsal surface ; apical margin of the second ventral segment smooth, 

 shining ; apical part of segments 3-6 beneath with close punctures ; apical 

 margins of the ventral segments with some long bristle-like hairs. Pygi- 

 dium rather truncate at the apex. 



Black; p<Jpi and apical joints of tarsi brownish; tegulae testaceous; 

 abdomen clear red, apical segments slightly darker. Wings clear hyaline, 

 iridescent ; venation pale brown. Face, clypeus, mandibles, cheeks, 

 thorax (more especially the plurae and pectus), inside of four anterior 

 femora, tibiae and tarsi, apical two-thirds of inside of posterior tibiae (the 

 basal third has golden pubescence), apical margin of abdominal segments 

 1-4 with silvery pubescence. The pubescence of the abdomen is not very 

 dense. Pygidium with dense golden pubescence. 



Hab. L,ee Co., Texas, May, 1907 (G. Birkmann). 



I take great pleasure in naming this handsome little wasp 

 after an energetic collector, Rev. G. Birhmann. 



This species looks very much like a Tacky sphex, but the 

 appressed hair on the pygidium at once excludes it from that 

 genus. 



It undoubtedly belongs to Section II of Fox. In his table 

 for this section it runs to obdnctus Fox, but it is very different 

 from this species. Besides the difference in color from obduc- 

 ti/s the third autennal joint is shorter, the scutellum is im- 

 pressed, the metanotum does not have a distinct fovea, etc. 



T. rufofasciatus Cress, is the only other described species of 

 the section which has black legs and a rufous abdomen, so a 

 comparison with it may be useful. T. birkmanni may be 

 known from T. rufofasciatus Cresson by its smaller size, the 

 impressed scutellum, the metanotum with a slight furrow, pu- 

 bescence silvery instead of golden, and the presence of two 

 lateral teeth on the anterior margin of the clypeus. 



