124 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol.75 



fasciae of the tergites, the maculated sixth tergite, and the absence of 

 maculations on the sides of the mesothorax and propodeum. From 

 nubilipennis the male of this species maj?^ be distinguished by the 

 absence of lateral processes on the sixth sternite and the female by 

 its clear wings. 



SPECIMENS EXAMINED 



Arizona: Oak Creek Canon (Augnst, F. H. Snow). 



Mexico: Federal District (October 7 and 8, C. F. Baker). 



New Mexico: High Rolls (June 12. 1902) ; White Oaks (August 2, 19<)3). 



BEMBIX COMATA Parker 



Bembix comata Parker, Proc. U. S. Nat Mus., vol. 52, 1917, p. ICK). 



Typical forms of this species, both males and females, have the 

 fasciae white in color and the terminal tergite maculated. The pu- 

 bescence on the head, thorax, propodeum, and base of abdomen is 

 much better developed than in the case of sjn7iolae, being long, dense, 

 and white. Recent collections by C. L. Fox indicate that this species 

 also appears with yellow fasciae instead of white. It differs from 

 pmnaaestate in the absence of conspicuous maculations on the sides 

 of the thorax and propodeum, but among the numbers collected by 

 Mr. Fox are some specimens that stand on the border line between 

 these two species, not agreeing with typical forms of either species, 

 yet showing some characteristics of both. A brief study of the 

 nesting habits of comata showed that this species in rearing its 

 3'oung constructs a burrow in which it provides several brood cham- 

 bers, one for each egg deposited. In this respect it differs from 

 spinolae^ which species constructs a new burrow for each egg depos- 

 ited ; that is, rears only a single young in each burrow. 



SPECIMENS EXAMINED 



Califobnia: Claremont ; Los Angeles County (Coquiilett) ; San Francisco (July, 

 1925, J. B. Parker). 



Nevada: Reno (August 30, 1889, F. H. Hiilman). 



NE^v Mexico. 



Obejgon: Forest Grove (July 21, 1918, M. C. Lane) ; Van Sickle Canyon (.Sei>- 

 tember 13, 1904, E. S. G. Titus) . 



Washington: Kahlotus (August 18, 1920, M. C. Lane) ; Lake McElroy, Poha 

 (July 20, 1920, I\L C. Lane) ; Spokane (July 7, 1924, J. M. Aldrich) ; Strat- 

 ford (September 3, 1920, M. C. Lane). 



BEMBIX PRIMAAESTATE Johnson and Rohwer 



Bemhex prlmauestatv Jounsoa and Rohweb, Ent. News, vol. 19, 190S. p. 37S. — 



RoHWEB, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 41, 1912, p. 466. 

 Benibix primaacstate Pakkee, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 52, 1917, p. 101. 



This species seems to be intermediate between the eastern spinolae 

 and the western comata. The females must be separated from 



