1865.] 385 



Descriptions of some new species of MUTILLA, from California. 



BY E. T. CRESSON. 



(Communicated May Sth, 1865.) 



Genus MUTILLA. Linn. 



1 . Mutilla Sackenii. n. sp. 



Deep black; head, thorax and abdomen above with very long, dense, erect, 

 whitish pubescence. 



Female. — Deep black, with large coarse punctures ; head not wider 

 than the thorax, clothed above the antennae with long, dense, erect, 

 whitish pubescence, rest of the head with deep black pubescence; eyes 

 small, round, entire and convex ; antennas black, the flagelluui serice- 

 ous. Thorax ovate, abrupt on the sides and behind, the upper surface 

 densely clothed with a very long, erect, somewhat radiating, whitish 

 pubescence ; the black upper surface of the thorax is concealed by a 

 short, dense, appressed, whitish pubescence ; sides of the thorax and 

 beneath clothed with deep black pubescence, which is exceedingly long 

 and fringe-like on the ridge between the two lateral excavations and 

 immediately opposite the intermediate legs. Legs deep black, with 

 long black pubescence, very long on the femora. Abdomen ovate, the 

 dorsal surface, except the extreme base, clothed like the thorax, with 

 a very long, somewhat radiating whitish pubescence, which extends be- 

 neath on the lateral apical margins of the segments; the node or small 

 basal segment is rather small, deeply rugose and clothed with long black 

 pubescence. Length 5i — 6£ lines. 



Ilab.— California. (Coll. Ent. Soc. Philad.) 



Four specimens. This remarkable species may be at once recognized 

 by the deep black color and the exceedingly long, erect, whitish pube- 

 scence which clothe the upper surface of the head, thorax and abdomen, 

 giving it a brush-like appearance. The smallest specimen has the 

 whitish pubescence much shorter than the larger ones, as if the very 

 long pubescence had been cropped off". 



It gives me much pleasure to dedicate this curious species to my 

 friend Baron R. Osten Sacken, to whom the Society is indebted for this 

 and many other valuable species of Hymenoptera. 



2. Mutilla magna, n. pp. 



Large, black: head, thorax above and the abdomen except base, clothed with 

 long ochraceous-yellow pubescence; metathorax, extreme base of abdomen and 

 the tibia; and tarsi, with black pubescence. 



Female. — Deep black, coarsely punctured ; head not wider than the 



