INSi;CUTOR INSCITI^ M^NSTRUUS 123 



THE BEE GENUS HOLCOPASITES ASHMEAD 



By J. C. CRAWFORD 



This genus was established by Dr. Ashmead in Trans. Amer. 

 Ent. Soc, vol. 26, p. 82, 1899, but no species was included. 

 The material on which he based his description is in the U. S. 

 National Museum and bears his manuscript name H. pratti. 

 This, however, is the species described by Robertson as Philere- 

 mus illinoiensis, which species I select as' the genotype. To 

 this genus also belong Phileremus pulchelhis Cresson, P. heliop- 

 sis Robert., and Neopasites robertsoni Cwfd. as well as the new 

 species described below. 



In this genus the mandibles are not dentate, and Ashmead's 

 generic description is erroneous in stating that the pygidium 

 has a median carina. The labrum is rostriform and truncate 

 at apex. 



The venation is quite variable in this genus, the transverse 

 median vein in the same species being interstitial or received 

 beyond the basal vein ; the first recurrent vein will be either 

 some distance before the apex of the first cubital cell or ex- 

 actly at apex. In the specimen of illinoiensis from Mississippi 

 the first recurrent of the left wing is branched before reach- 

 ing the discoidal vein, making a large extra complete cell ; in 

 the right wing there is a minute stub on the recurrent at about 

 the same distance from the discoidal. In a specimen of the 

 species from Washington, D. C, the outer transverse-cubital 

 of the right wing is branched before reaching the cubitus, mak- 

 ing a minute longly petiolate third cubital cell. In the para- 

 type male of stevensi from Bismarck, North Dakota, the first 

 transverse-cubitus is missing in both wings, showing only a 

 minute stub on the marginal vein, so that there is only one cubi- 

 tal cell. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES 

 female;s 



1. Abdomen red 2 



Abdomen dark 5 



3. Last ventral segment deeply widely emarginate pulchellus Cress. 



Last ventral segment not deeply widely emarginate 3 



