212 E. T. CUESSON. 



Sphex texana, n. sp. 



-J, 9'^Black, clothed with silvery pubescence: face nnd clypeus with 

 dense pale golden pubescence, the clypeus of 9 "lore or less denuded on apical 

 middle; upper posterior margin of prothorax, the sides of inesothorax and post- 

 scutellum of %, tubercles, a sjiot behind, an oblique line on each extreme side 

 of metathorax and a duplex spot at apex, all of dense silvery or pale golden 

 pile; metathorax of % with rather dense fine whitish sericeous pubescence, 

 more obvious when viewed from behind; wings hyaline, apical margins 

 dusky, darker in %; logs black, sericeous; abdomen elongate ovate, pale seri- 

 ceous, especially in 'J,, the first and second segments except apical margin of 

 the latter, and sometimes a narrow interrupted band at base of third segment, 

 orange-ferruginous; remainder black ; petiole short, black. Length .85 — .95 

 inch. 



Five % 9 specimens. (Bclfrage ; Boll.) A very common species, 

 found on Solidago flowers in September and October. 



Spliex Belfragei, n. sp. 



'^ J. — Black, with sparse black pubescence, more dense on head; clypeus 

 subconvex, densely, rather coarsely punctured, with a small fovea near apical 

 middle; proihorax subemarginate above; mesothorax shining, with a slight 

 opaline iridescence, s])arsely and finely punctureil ; scutellum shining, deeply 

 impressed centrally; metathorax with a short dense, erect black pubescence, 

 upper surface densely transversely striated; wings yellow-hyaline, subviola- 

 ceous, apical margins broadly fuliginous; legs black, iibia3 brown sericeous 

 within; abdomen shaped much as in ie.rawa, yellow-ferruginous, shining, apex 

 more or less obfuscated, sometimes blackish, petiole black. Length .75 — .90 

 inch. 



Four % 9 specimens found on Sumach flowers in August. (Bel- 

 fras;e.) This has the same form as tcxana, from which it is at once 

 distinguished by the yellow wings and by the absence of all silvery 

 markings. 



Spliex ianta, n. sp. 



<^ . — Velvety-black, covered with a very fine pale golden sericeous pile, 

 more obvious in certain lights; head with rather long golden pubescence; face, 

 clypeus, spot on cheeks, upper posterior margin of prothorax, broad lateral 

 margin of mesothoi'ax, connected posteriorly by a narrow line, postscutellum, 

 upper surface of inetathorax entirely, au oblique line on each extreme side, the 

 tubercles and a spot immediately bcliiud, bright golden ; teguljB black; wings 

 yellowish-hyaline, apical margin broadly fuliginous ; legs black, with a pale 

 sericeous pile, anterior femora beneath with a stripe of golden pubescence, 

 tibife brown-sericeous within; abdomen elongate-ovate, fuscoferruginous, 

 pale sericeous in certain lights, petiole very short, stout, black, with pale 

 golden pubescence. Length 1. — 1.15 inch. 



9 var. — Abdomen entirely black. 



Five specimens ibund on Sumach flowers in August. (Belfrage; 

 Boll ; Heiligbrodt.) This magnificent species closely resembles La- 

 nicrii, Guer., which, however, has red legs and paler abdomen. 



