FOSSORES MIME8ID/T5. Hit 



Nat. Hist. 1880, and Bull. U. S. Geo!. Survey, 1879). Dr. Packard, 

 in his " Revision" treats this family as u subfamily, giving; the char- 

 acters in detail, tabulating the species and tiescribing one as new. 



The genera are easily separated, the characters being well marked 

 and constant. All have numerous species, except Aphilanthops, 

 which has but two. In Cerceris the clypeus of the $ is often jn-o- 

 duced into various curious shapes, which serve as convenient charac- 

 ters for se})arating the species, while in the % it is never more than 

 convex, but with the lateral apical margin fui'uished (as in the other 

 genera), with a "moustache" or fringe of hairs, which sometimes has 

 a waxed appearance. 



The species of Philanthus are said to jn-ey u])on certain bees, es- 

 pecially the hive-bee, while Cerceris seems partial to different species 

 of Curculionidie. 



Family MIMESIDiE. 

 Table of Genera. 



Second submarginal cell usually receiving both recurrent nervures, the subme- 

 dian cell of posterior wings longer than the median cell on the externo-me- 

 dial nervure ; stigma slender ; inner spur of posterior tibije broadly flattened. 



]VIiinesa Shuck. 

 Second and third submarginal cells each receiving a recurrent nervure, subme- 

 dian cell of posterior wings shorter than the median cell on the externo- 

 niedial nervure; stigma broad ; both spurs of posterior tibise much alike. 



Psen Latr. 



Tliese characters are those given by European authors, and are 

 based principally on neuration, which Dr. Packard, in his " Re- 

 vision," declares to be unreliable and to vary greatly in both genera ; 

 he says : " Mimesa differs from Psen by its broader and shorter head, 

 longer body, much more clavate antenna?, the much longer propo- 

 (h'liiii and abdomen, and the 9 tip is broad and flattened, where in 

 Psen there is a linear, narrow groove." He gives the differential 

 characters at length, but they merge so im))erceptibly that it is almost 

 im])ossible to tabulate them. The two genera are, however, very 

 closely allied and the species look much alike. 



Family MELLINIDiE. 



Body smooth and shining; abdomen petiolate ; anterior wings with three sub- 

 marginal cells, the first recurrent nervure received near the apex of the first 

 submarginal cell, and the second at the base of the third submarginal cell. 



Melliuu!<» Fabr. 



