j^5o Franz Friedr. Kohl. [2 521 



The male closcly rcsemhles thc fcniale, but is morc thickly pubcsccnt, and the ab- 

 domen is niore densely clothed with silky pilc. 



Hab. Vandiemensland. 



This spccies most closclv rcsembles Spliex canescens, but is at once distinguished 

 bv the form of the submarginal cells and by having a longer petiolc.« 



170. Sphex optimus Smith. 



5/>/2e.v ()/7/:;;?c7 Smith, Cat. Hym. Brit. Mus., P. IV, 245, 9 i856 



»Female. Length i3 lines. Black: thc face and cheeks densely clothed with rieh 

 golden pubescence; on the vertex are scattered a few erect fuscous hairs. The pro- 

 thorax, sidesandhinder margin of thc mesothorax above, the tubercles and a spot bcneath 

 the wings, clothed with bright golden pubescence; the mesothorax has anteriorly a cen- 

 tral, abbreviated, impressed line which is coated ^vith golden pubescence; the postscu- 

 tellum has a spot on each side, and thc apex of the mctathorax is densely clothed with 

 Short silverv-white pubescence; theere is also a silvery stripe on the sides at the Inser- 

 tion of thc posterior coxac; thc mctathorax is thinly covcred with a changeablc glitter- 

 ing pile, observable in diftercnt üghts; a similar pile also Covers thc Icgs; wings 

 yellowish-hyalinc , their apical margins clouded, thc ncrvures black. Abdomen red, 

 with the pctiolc and thrce apical segments black; thc third segmcnt has on each side 

 an oblique fuscous linc which unites in the middlc of the segmcnt; the fourth scgment 

 has its apical margin narrowly and obscurely ferruginous; thc apical segmcnt rugose. 

 Hab. Africa (Gambia).« 



171. Sphex perplexiis Smith. 



Sphex perplexa Smhh,C-dLH\m.Ent. Mus., P. IV, 2bb,(f i856 



»Male. Length 10 lines. Black: the face covered with silvery pubescence; the 

 head and thorax with a sparing black pubescence; the thorax hnely rugose, the mcta- 

 thorax transverselv so; the wings fusco-hyahne, their apical margins clouded. Abdomen 

 very smooth and shining, thc basc of thc tirst segmcnt ferruginous, the apical margins 

 of three or four of the basal segments narrowly rufo-piceous. 

 Hab. North China (Shangai). 



This insect so closcly rcsembles the male of SpJiex emarginata, that, with the 

 exccption of the pale margins of the segments of the abdomen, three is scarcely another 

 specific difference; both have the second submarginal cell narrow, which rcceivcs the 

 first recurrent nervurc in the middlc.« 



172. Sphex praedator Smith. 



Sphex praedtitor Smhh, iomn.Proc.L'mn. Soc, \U, 14, cf iSSg 



»Male. Length 10'/. lines Black; the head and thorax opake. Abdomen shining 

 blue-black. The face with silvery pile on each side of the clypcus, and sprinkled with 

 erect black hairs. Thorax: the posterior margin of the prothorax with a line of silvery 

 pubescence; the mctathorax with a short light-brown pubescence at the apex, and thinly 

 clothed with black hairs; wings dark brown, with a brillant violett iridcscence. Ab- 

 domen blue-black, smooth and shining, 

 Hab. Celcbes.« 



