N0.14.S7. NORTH AMERICAN DIGGER WASPS—FERNALD. 365 



Subgenus PKOTEROSPHEX H. Fernald. 



Sphex Kohl, Ann. natur. Hofmus. Wein, V, 1890, p. 115. 

 Proterosphe.v H. Fernald, Ent. News, XVI, 1905, p. 165. 



Type. — Ohlorum maxiUosurn Fabricius, Ent. 8yst., II, 1793, p. 208. 



Claws with two blunt teeth near the base of their inner border. 

 Median segment with a stigmatal groove except in Chlorion {Protero- 

 sphex) lucae. Stigma of the first dorsal abdominal plate in front of the 

 middle. Tarsal comb of the female present. Comb teeth of the hind 

 tibial spine not tooth-like but forming a row of closely set hairs. 

 Inner borders of the ej^es parallel or converging downward. Second 

 cubital cell of the fore wing rhombic, rhomboidal, or approaching a 

 rectangular form, at least as broad on the cubital vein as it is high. 

 Distance between the second and third transverse cubital veins on the 

 radial cell less than that between the second transvorse cubital and 

 second recurrent veins on the cubital vein. Last ventral abdominal 

 plate of the female arched. Ventral surface of the abdomen of the 

 male usually without rows of hairs and not silky sericeous. Dorsum 

 of the median segment generally transversely aciculate or rugose. 

 Petiole straight. Mandibles when closed generally reaching each to 

 the base of the other. (Plate X, tig. 25.) 



CHLORION (PROTEROSPHEX) LUCAE (Saussure). 



Sphex lucae Saussure, Reise d. Novara, Hym., 1867, p. 41. j 



Sphex helfragei Cresson, Trans. Am. VaxI. Soc, IV, 1872, p. 212. 

 Sphex lucae Kohl, Ann. natur. Hofmus. Wien, V, 1890, p. 387. 

 Sphex belfragei Kohl, Ann. natur. Hofmus. Wien, V, 1890, p. 439. 

 Sphex lucae Patton, Can. Ent., XXVII, 1895, p. 280. 



Sphex belfragei was described from "four male and female speci- 

 mens found on sumach flowers in August (Belfrage)."" Three female 

 specimens from the Bel f rage collection now in the U. S. National 

 Museum are labeled ''Type No. 1(585." One female in the collection 

 of the American Entomological Society is labeled in Cresson's hand- 

 writing as being this species. Apparently Cresson was in error as to 

 the sex of some of the specimens, as his description does not apply to 

 any of the males present in that collection, and none are labeled 

 belfragei. 



Body rather slender; the head and thorax black; the abdomen black 

 to red, the two colors variousl}" mingled in ditt'erent examples, the 

 males ))eing generally much darker than the females; wings varying 

 from yellowish hyaline with a fuliginous tinge to deep fuliginous with 

 a violet reflection; legs dark ferruginous to black. 



Female. — Head black, quite broad; clypeus quite convex, with a 

 smooth, slightly reflexed anterior margin bearing a faint notch at the 

 center, on each side of which is a slight tooth; its surface coarsely, 

 Proc. N. M. vol. XXXI— 06 24 



