188 NORTH AMERICAN MUTILLIDAE 



In describing colors in the papers that follow I have used the 

 terms as defined by Ridgway.^ 



The classification of the family Mutillidae is moot. I do not 

 believe that there is at present any firmer basis than personal 

 opinion or prejudice for answering certain queries that arise 

 in regard to genera, their status and relations. As time permits 

 I hope to undertake a comparative studj^ of the genitalia of the 

 males with the hope of solving some of these questions. In the 

 mean time I do not wish to express more than a tentative opinion 

 in regard to the status of such groups as Pseudomethoca, Dasy- 

 mutilla, Sphaerophthalma, Photopsis, etc. Epliuta SaA' and 

 Timulla Ashmead are on the other hand, clearlj- defined groups 

 certainly deserving of generic differentiation from the other 

 North American Mutillidae. 



The attempt made by the late Dr. Ashmead to divide the 

 Mutillidae into two subfamilies and four tribes, or any number 

 of either, is entirely untenable. With this statement I l^elieve 

 any one will agree who may base his conclusions upon a knowl- 

 edge of the characters presented bj^ the known species, rather 

 than upon an enthusiasm for a pigeon-hole system of classifica- 

 tion. 



To any one who wishes to settle for himself the validity of the 

 Ashmeadian classification I would suggest the following com- 

 parisons : 



a). Compare the shape of the petiole of loaco female and male 

 (type of Pycnomuiilla) with that of harmonia female (tj'pe of 

 Bruesia) and hexar male (pretty certainly the male of harmonia) . 

 The former are placed b}^ Ashmead in the Ephutinae character- 

 ized only by having the first segment petiolate, the latter in Mu- 

 tillinae distinguished by having it sessile. Compare carefully 

 the females of waco and harmonia, noting the shape of the head, 

 thorax, ej^es, clypeus, first segment, and character of the pvgid- 

 ium. Is there any basis apparent for their generic differentiation? 

 Compare the males of waco and hexar, noting especially the char- 

 acteristic crest of hairs on the second ventral segment. Despite 

 the short wings of ivaco is their generic identit}' not strongly 

 indicated? 



1 Color standards and color nomenclature. By Robert Ridgway 

 Washington, D. C, pul)lished by the Author, 1912. 1 p. 1., iv, 44 p. 53 col. pi. 



