151 KANSAS UNIVERSITY SCIENCE BULLETIN. 



Tachytes intermedium (Vier.) 



Tachysphex intermediuf! Viereck; Trans. Am. Ent. Soc, XXXII. 211-12; 



1906. ^' . 

 7 . Slender. Clypeus well produced and rounded, not dentate later- 

 ally; third joint of antenn» a little shorter than fourth; vertex with 

 fine separate punctations, as also scutum, which is shining; scutellum 

 not impi-essed; disc of propodeum finely granulate, without an impressed 

 line, apical fovea shallow and rather indistinct, a strong sulcus on 

 posterior face; abdomen smooth and slender, eighth ventral segment 

 rather broadly emarginate. Black; marked like obscums; wings hya- 

 line, venation testaceous. Pubescence sparser than in obscurus; that of 

 head, thorax and abdomen white or silvery; suberect pile on pygidium; 

 that of legs with a golden tint. Length, 8.25 mm. (type) . 



One 7' ; Douglas county, Kansas; F. H. Snow. 



This is not a Tachysphex, as first described, and is therefore not re- 

 lated to Tachysphex puiictifrons or sethiops, as stated by its describer, 

 but is close to obscurus; the clypeus is more produced than in that 

 species, however, the punctation more delicate, the thorax and abdomen 

 more polished, and the pubescence sparser. 



Tachytes obscurus Cress. 

 (Fig. 2.5, mandible, ^ ; 58 clypeus, ^ .) 

 ' Tachytes obscurus Fox; Trans. Am. Ent. Soc, XIX, 249; 1892. ^ j . 

 Tachytes texanus Cresson; Trans. Am. Ent. Soc, IV, 217; 1872. j- . 

 Tachytes obscurus Fox; Trans. Am. Ent., XIX, 249; 1892. ^ 5 . 



o . Rather slender. Clypeus rounded out, two blunt lateral teeth; 

 joints 3 and 4 of antennae subequal; mandibles broad with a very narrow 

 exterior notch; vertex and scutum with fine separate punctations; scu- 

 tellum not impressed; disc of propodeum very finely granulate, and with 

 sparse shallow punctures, subapical fovea distinct, as is also the sulcus 

 on the posterior face; metatibial spines quite stout and thorn-like, stouter 

 than the same in abdorninalis; abdomen rather long, somewhat depressed, 

 pygidium nearly straight, much like that of abdorninalis, covered with 

 fine appressed pile and sparse erect hair. Black; wings subhyaline; 

 pygidium with the pile somewhat silvery at base, bronzy apically. Pubes- 

 cence of head and thorax silvery; abdomen with four silvery fascia. 

 Length, 13-14 mm. 



J . Mandibles normally notched; spines on posterior tibia not stout 

 as in o ; eighth ventral segment of abdomen broadly emarginate. 

 Length, 9-11 mm. 



Four o o and numerous j 7 from western Kansas, besides a 

 few from Douglas county, in the eastern part of the state. I have 

 :found the o to be very rare. 



