Vol. 1] Bradley. — The Taxonomy of the Masaiid Wasps 375 



THE MEDIAL AND CUBITAL REGIONS OF THE FOREWING 



Coincident with the longitudinal plaiting of the wings of many 

 Vespidae there has been a shifting and realignment of the veins in the 

 central part of the wing, through which 1st A and Cuo -|- 1st A, M4, 

 M3+4, Mj^o, R5 + ^1+2) and R- + ^1 together form a more or less un- 

 broken straight bar obliquely across the wing. The plaiting occurs 

 just caudad of this bar. At the same time M^ -(- Cu^ is greatly short- 

 ened, and is situated much farther basad than usual ; m-cu is inserted 

 basad of M^ -|- Cu^ and the intervening section of Cui is deflexed to- 

 ward 1st A and Cu,. The cell M3 is triangular, elongated basally, and 

 pointed, the apex truncate. The condition just described is exemplified 

 by the wing of Misdiocyttarus. "While varying in detail it is the gen- 

 eral condition throughout the subfamilies having longitudinally plaited 

 wings. 



In the Masaridinae it is evident that the same tendencies of special- 

 ization have been operative, but they have not proceeded in any case 

 to so high a degree of perfection. Of the genera figured, Paragia, 

 Celonites, Ceraniioides, Geramius, and Trimeria approach the condition 

 most nearly. In each M^ -|- Cui is situated apicad of m-cu, the inter- 

 vening sector of Cu^ being deflexed. In these genera the cell M3 is 

 narrowed or pointed at base (Paragia), and triangular (Paragia, 

 Celonites, Trimeria), or somewhat triangular (Ceramius and Parace- 

 ramius) in form. In Masariella, Masaris, and Pseudomasaris M^ -f- Cu^ 

 is longer than in the other genera, and is opposite m-cu (Masariella) , 

 somewhat basad of it (Masaris), or its own length basad of m-cu 

 (Pseudomasaris) . Consequently, in these genera, the cell M3 is less 

 narrowed (though still unusually narrow) at base, and less triangular 

 in form ; and the veins Cu and Cu^ instead of 1st A and Cu^ + 1st A 

 form a straight bar with M^. In other words, these genera are in this 

 respect more primitive than others, and show different stages in the 

 type of specialization that goes hand in hand with longitudinal 

 plaiting of the wings, and culminates in the venation exemplified by 

 Misdiocyttarus. 



The apex of the cell M3 is closed by the vein M3, which may be 

 straight, or slightly curved, as in all wasps with longitudinally plaited 

 wings (see fig. 98, of Mischocyttarus) , as well as in some Masaridinae 

 (Paragia, Celonites, Trimeria, Masaris, Pseudomasaris) ; or it may be 

 angled at the point of receiving m and M.^, the angle being (on the 



