24 PROCEEDINGS OP THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 68 



pleurae brownish-orange, though the pale color may be more or less 

 extensive in individual specimens. The characters listed in the key 

 may be amplified as follows: The propodeum is glossy above, usually 

 without shagreening, and sometimes with a shallow median sulcus; 

 the mandibles have no evident angle near base; the first abdominal 

 segment is fully twice as long as its apical width; and the vein ema- 

 nating from apical costal angle is curved downward almost imme- 

 diately after leaving tlie stigma. Hypopygium as in Figure 53. 



Length, 8-10 mm. 



Originally described from Nevada and recorded from California. 

 I have before me specimens from California and Nevada. One of 

 the California specimens bears the name nigritus Fox (determined 

 by Fox), and another contiguus Fox (determined by Ashmead). 

 Bradley has suggested that nuda Fox, which he says is the same as 

 nigritus, is not specifically distinct from atratn, of which he considers 

 contiguus a synonym. I consider the names all apply to atrafa, if 

 the specimens before me are correctly identified. 



BRACHYCISTIS (BRACHYCISTIS) LACUSTRIS, new species 



Male. — Similar to atrata in color, differing essentially as stated in 

 the foregoing key to species. In addition to these characters the 

 frons in front of ocelli is more distinctly punctate, the pit in front 

 of median ocellus is larger and broader, not like a single puncture, 

 the antennae are brownish orange, and the basal segment of abdo- 

 men is shorter and higher as seen from the side. In other respectL 

 the species resemble each other. 



Length, 9 mm. 



Type.— C&i. No. 27928, U.S.N.M. SutcHffe Station. Pyramid 

 Lake, Nev., May 27, 1924, in alfalfa field (C. R. Hall). 



BRACHYCISTIS (BRACHYCISTIS) SEMIATRA, new species 



Male. — Readily distinguished from atrata by the reddish brown 

 color of basal portion of dorsum of abdomen and by the characters 

 given in the key to species. In other respects the species are very 

 similar. 



Length, 8-11 mm. 



Type and 6 paratypes. — -Ritzville, Wash., June to August, 1923 

 (M. C. Lane and R. C. Shannon); type collected August 28, 1923, 

 by M. C. Lane; one paratype, Pasco, Wash., September 11, 1904, at 

 light. 



Type and paratype.— C&t. No. 27929, U. S. N. M. 



Two specimens from Pyramid Lake, Nev., may belong to this 

 species but are rather smaller and more uniform brownish fuscous 

 in color. 



