308 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. xxxi. 



Proterosphex tepanicum Saussure, iij which the greater part of the 

 first three dorsal abdominal plates has a distinct reddish, almost pur- 

 plish, shade, and as in the case of 1\ latrcilln Lepeletier of Chili 

 (extra-limital to this paper), where the thoracic pubescence is almost 

 crimson. All such cases of departure from what ma}" be termed typi- 

 cal colors seem to occur in tropical or subtropical regions, never in the 

 cooler ones. 



ANALYTICAL KEYS. 



An excellent table of the families of the Sphegoidea is given by 

 Doctor Ashmead," and those who wish to place Sphegoidea in their 

 families should consult that table. There follows below a table of the 

 sii))families of the Sphecida\ which is practically only a somewhat 

 reai'ranged copy of the one l)y Doctor Ashmead:^ 



ANALYTICAL KEY TO SUBFAMILIES. 



1. Second cubital cell receiving only the first recurrent vein; the second recurrent 



vein received by the third cul)ital cell, or at least beyond the second transverse 

 cubital. (Both recurrent veins are received by the first cubital cell in a few 



extra-limital forms) 2. 



Second cubital cell receiving both recurrent veins, or the second recurrent vein is 

 interstitial ir'dli the second transverse cubitus, although sometimes the first 

 recurrent is interstitial with the first transverse cubitus, or then received by 

 the first cubital cell 3. 



2. Antennie inserted on the middle of the face; claws with one to six teeth beneath; 



tibice strongly spinous, or at least never with Aveak or feeble spines; tarsal comb 

 in female present (except in Isodontia) ...Chlorionin.e (Sphecin.e Authors). 

 Antennae inserted far anterior to the middle of the face; claws simple, without 

 teeth, or at most with a single small tooth near the middle; tibiae smooth, not 

 spinous; tarsal comb in female never present Podiin.e. 



3. Claws simple, without a tooth beneath; tibiae more or less spinous; tarsal coml) in 



female present; abdomen most frequently very elongate, the jietiole composed 

 of 2 segments, rarely of only 1 segmetit; cubital vein of hind wings usually origi- 

 nating beyond the transverse median vein. 



Sphecinje (Ammophilin.e Authors). 



Claws with a single tooth beneath, although sometimes very minute; more rarely 



without a tooth, the claws simple; tarsal comb in female absent; abdomen 



always with a one-segmented petiole; cubital vein of hind wings interstitial or 



nearly so 4. 



4. Antenme inserted on the middle of the face; metathorax with a large U-shaped 



area above; mesopleura not longer than the height of the thorax. 



SC'ELIPIIROXIN.E. 



Antenn;i^ inserted far anterior to the middle of the face, on or just above an 

 imaginary line drawn from base of eyes; metathorax without a large U-shaped 

 area above; mesoi)leura much longer than the height (5f the thorax. .Podiin.e. 



As, according to the views of the writer, there is but one genus — 

 Chlorion — in the subfamily Chlorionina? the table above leads not only 

 to the Chlorioninse but also to the genus Chlorion. " 



"Canadian Entomologist, XXXI, p. 152. ?> Idem, p. 348. 



