12 U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 209 



in males; brush on inner side of hind tibia broad, without a distinct 

 subapical constriction; last segment of tarsi short, with or without 

 preapical spinelike bristles]^beneath, these when present arranged in 

 a short irregular pair of rows, often the basal bristles displaced toward, 

 or on the midline; tooth on tarsal claws variable. 



The genus Chirodamus appears to be one of the most primitive of 

 the family, as evidenced by the lack of specialization in the venation 

 and leg bristles, and by the general scolioid habitus. Its distribution 

 is of the Marsupial type. The Nearctic species divide into two species 

 groups, which together form a genus amply distinct from others in 

 our region, but some of the species in the Nootropic and Australian 

 regions approach the more primitive members of Priocnemioides and 

 other genera of Pepsini, and in these areas a clear generic separation 

 is difficult. 



The species show diversity of structural characters to a degree that 

 in other parts of the family has called for generic distinctions. One 

 can see by the extensive generic synonymy that some authors have 

 used these as generic characters in the present group also. While 

 recognizing that there are some well marked species groups in the 

 complex, I am not convinced that there should be more than one genus 

 used. This is another of the generic problems with which the family 

 is replete, but recent progress has demonstrated that much of the 

 haziness of generic limits is subjective and may be clarified with study. 

 It is hoped that Chirodamus will prove to be another such case. The 

 critical species are mostly in southern South America and in the 

 Australian region, areas in which North American collections are not 

 strong. 



Besides the genotype species mentioned in the synonymy, the fol- 

 lowing extralimital species should be referred to Chirodamus. Crypto- 

 cheilus manni Banks 1928, Calopompilus fraternus Banks 1946, C. helas 

 Banks 1946, C. erebus Banks 1946, C. parvulus Banks 1946, Reedimia 

 infernalis Banks 1946, Anacyphonyx rosasi Banks 1946, and A. 

 metallica Banks 1946. These are all Nootropic species which have 

 not previously been referred to Chirodamus. I have studied their 

 types in Cambridge, Anacyphonyx metallica being represented there 

 only by the paratype. 



Keys to the Nearctic species of Chirodamus 



MALES 



1. Anal lobe about 0.55 as long as the submediella; subgenital plate either ligulate 

 with a raised margin, or with a deep and broad apical semicircular emargi- 

 nation; outer claw of fore tarsus with a short erect tooth; pubescence of body 

 and head rather sparse, that on the abdominal tergites sparse enough so 

 that the tergites appear shiny, albopilosus group 2 



