Superfamily SPHECOIDEA 1719 



Type-species: Xerostictia longilabris Gillaspy. Orig. desig. 



The genus contains only one polytypic species occurring in the southwestern deserts of the 

 Nearctic Region. 



longilabris longilabris Gillaspy. Ariz., Calif. Ecology: Makes a multicelled nest in sand dunes, 

 practices progressive provisioning. Prey: Brachynemurus longipalpis Hag. adults; 

 Onnenis saucia Van D. adults. Another subspecies occurs in Baja California. 

 Xerostictia longilabris longilabris Gillaspy, 1963. Ent. News 74: 187, figs. 1-7. 9, cJ. 



Biology: Alcock, 1975. Southwest. Nat. 20: 340-341, figs. 3-5 (nest, prey). 



Genus STENIOLIA Say 



Steniolia Say, 1837. Boston Jour. Nat. Hist. 1: 367. 



Type-species: Bembex{\) longirostra Say. Monotypic. 



All but three species occur in western America north of Mexico; two of the extralimital spe- 

 cies range as far south as Venezuela or Ecuador. The wasps nest in small aggregations, con- 

 struct shallow unicellular nests and practice progressive provisioning. Preferred prey of most 

 species are bee-flies (Bombyliidae). The egg is laid on the first prey brought into the nest. 

 Adults of both sexes form large sleeping aggregations on shrubs or plants, often at some 

 distance from the nesting site. 



Revision: Gillaspy, 1964. Amer. Ent. Soc, Trans. 89: 1-117, 6 pis. 



Biology: Evans and Gillaspy, 1964. Amer. Midland Nat. 72: 257-280, 14 figs, (comparative 

 ethology). 

 californiensis Gillaspy. Calif.; Mexico (Baja California). 



Steniolia californiensis Gillaspy, 1964. Amer. Ent. Soc, Trans. 89: 52, figs. 5, 10, 25, 29, 34, 

 50. 6, 9. 

 dissimilis Fox. Southern Ariz.; Mexico (Sonora, Sinaloa). 



Steniolia dissimilis Fox, 1923. Calif. Acad. Sci. Proc. (4) 12: 429. 6, 9. 



duplicata Provancher. Western Tex. to Calif., Nev.; Mexico (Baja California, Chihuahua, 



Coahuila). Ecology: Nests in moderately sandy soil. Parasite: Pamopes concinnus Vier.? 

 Prey: Villa sp. near altemata Say, V. pallida (Coq.), V. spp., Aphoebantus sp. near 

 hirsutus Coq.; Paragus tibialis Fall., Mesogramnia marginata Lw., Eupeodes volucris 

 0. S.; Syrphidae spp.; Fannia sp.; Sarcophaga sp.; Calliphoridae sp.; Syrphidae appear 

 to be the preferred prey. 



Steniolia duplicata Provancher, 1888. Addit. Corr. Faune Ent. Canada Hym., p. 414. 6,9. 



Steniolia edwardsii Patton, 1894. Ent. Soc. Wash., Proc. 3: 45. Nom. nud. 



Steniolia meridionalis Fox, 1923. Calif. Acad. Sci., Proc. (4) 12: 430. 6. 



Taxonomy: Evans, 1964. Amer. Ent. Soc, Trans. 90: 263-264, figs. 34-36 (larva). 



Biology: Bradley, 1908. Ent. Soc. Amer., Ann. 1: 129 (sleeping aggregation). —Evans and 

 Gillaspy, 1964. Amer. Midland Nat. 72: 274-276 (clustering, nest, prey). —Evans, 1966. 

 Compar. ethology and evolution of sand wasps, p. 205 (parasite). 

 elegans Parker. Wyo. to Wash., south to western Tex. and southern Calif.; Mexico (Baja 



California, Sonora, Coahuila, Aguascahentes, San Luis Potosi, Hidalgo). Ecology: Nests 

 in powdery, rocky soil. Prey: Anthrax irroratus Say, Poecilanthrax signatipennis (Cole), 

 Systoechus vulgaris Lw., Villa sinuosa Wied., V. spp.; Holopogon atripennis Back; 

 Eupeodes volucris 0. S., Microdon coarctatus Lw., Volucella sp.; Bombyliidae are the 

 preferred prey. 

 Steniolia elegans Parker, 1929. U. S. Natl. Mus., Proc. 75 (5): 50. 6. 



Taxonomy: Evans and Lin, 1956 Amer. Ent. Soc, Trans. 82: 52, figs. 66-71 (larva). 



Biology: Evans and Gillaspy, 1964. Amer. Midland Nat. 72: 276 (clustering, nest, prey 

 capture). —Evans, 1973. Great Basin Nat. 33: 29-30 (nest, prey transport). 

 eremica Gillaspy. Southern Calif., Ariz., Nev. Prey: Efferia texana (Bks.). 



Steniolia eremica Gillaspy, 1964. Amer. Ent. Soc^ Trans. 89: 67, figs. 14, 38, 54, 84. i, 9. 



Biology: Evans and Gillaspy, 1964. Amer. Midland Nat. 72: 276-277 (prey). 



