vo. 2173. A REVISION OF THE BEMBICINE WASPf?— PARKER. 59 



form, and their character and distribution on certain areas are used 

 as specific characters, but such use is not wholly satisfactory. The 

 ground color is black, frequently showing iridesence. The macula- 

 tions are usually yellow but the shade of yellow varies greatly among 

 the different species, in some ahnost white, in others very dark and 

 m still others it may be tinged or replaced by ferruginous. 



Bicyrtcs differs from all related genera in the character of the pos- 

 terior surface and the lateral angles of the median segment. Further- 

 more, it differs from Bemhix in the number of segments in the palpi, 

 in the form of the ocellar cicatrices, in the character of the first 

 cubital cross vem, the eighth sternite, the apex of the labrum, and the 

 male genitalia; from Microhemhex in the number of segments in the 

 palpi, the character of the mandibles, the radial cell, and the ocellar 

 cicatrices; from Stenolia in the number of segments m the palpi, 

 the length of the maxillae, the ocellar cicatrices, and the form of 

 the male genitalia; from Stictia and Stidiella in the form of the 

 ocellar cicatrices, and the male genitalia. 



The generic synonomy given above was called to my attention 

 by Mr. Rowland E. Turner, who writes Mr. S. A. Rohwer as follows: 



Bembidula ventralis Say. A specimen in our collection is labelled "Bicyrtcs ser- 

 villei Lep. compared with type by Spinola." If this is correct Bkyrtes has priority 

 over Bembidula, but servillei will sink as a synonym. 



On receipt of this information I made a careful study of Lepeletier's 

 description of Bicijrtes servillii and am convmced that Spinola's com- 

 parison is reliable. I, therefore, feel fully justified in changmg the 

 name of the genus. 



KEY TO SPECIES. 



Males. 

 1 . Posterior coxa with tooth on inner distal margin fodiens. 



1. Posterior coxa without tooth 2. 



2. Middle femora with distinct tooth at base 3. 



2. Middle femora without tooth at base 4. 



3. Ultimate tergite black; fasciae on tergites narrow ventralis. 



3. Ultimate tergite with lateral yellow spots; fasciae on tergites relatively broad. 



parata. 



4. Mesopleura more or less conspicuously marked with yellow 5. 



4. Mesopleura black 7. 



5. Anterior wings heavily clouded in the region of the first cubital cell viduata. 



5. Anterior wings without heavily clouded area 6. 



G. Fasciae on tergites attenuated medially; the posterior one more widely inter- 

 rupted than the anterior one; sixth reduced to widely separated spots. 



quadrifasciata. 



6. Fasciae on tergites scarcely attenuated medially; the posterior one less widely 



interrupted than the anterior one; sixth almost or quite continuous, .annulata. 



7. Anterior wings with heavily clouded area in region of first cubital cell 8. 



7. Anterior wings without clouded area; infumation, if present, diffused 9. 



8. Dorsum of median segment unmarked; genital stipes as in fig. 123 gracilis. 



8. Dorsum of median segment with a more or less complete yellow fascia; stipes as 



in fig. 125 viduata. 



