Vol. 1] Bradley. — The Taxonomy of the Masarid Wasps 379 



Key to the Subfamilies of VESPIDAE2 



Transverse median vein (M3) of the hind wings straight or curved, not 

 angled; the discoidal vein (m) usually wanting, or vague, in which latter 

 cases the median vein, the submedian and the cubitus and the discoidal 

 veins (m, M4, M;„ and m-cu) meet at a common point (Euparagia), or the 

 discoidal vein is Completely formed, arising from the cubitus far apicad 

 of the transverse median vein (GayelJa) ; only in Gayella are the discoidal 

 vein and the apical sections of radius, cubitus and the anal vein (Us, 

 E4+5 + Ml, m and M2, and 1st A) all distinctly formed veins. In all other 

 cases one of these is entirely wanting and the rest are usually only indi- 

 cated as traces. Forewings with two or three submarginal cells, in the 

 latter ease the second and third each receiving a recurrent vein (veins 

 Mo and M;;+4 arising oj^posite cells E4 and E3, respectively). Anal lobe of 

 the hind wing always present, but the preanal excision absent or indistinct. 

 B. Anal lobe of the hind wing elongate, more than one-half the length of 

 the submedian cell (Ms + Cu + Cui). Second discoidal cell of the 

 forewing (cell M3) of irregular shape, not pointed at base, its apex 

 greatly produced above toward the apex of the wing; the section of 

 the discoidal vein between the 1st recurrent and the subdiscoidal veins 

 (M3 cephalad of m) almost longitudinal in position, longer than the 

 first recurrent vein (M3+4) and forming an angle of more than 180° 

 with its section caudad of the subdiscoidal vein (with M.i caudad of 

 M) ; the transverse median vein of the forewings (M4 -f Cui) a long 

 crooked vein, longer than the first transverse cubitus (r-m and Rs) ; 

 three submarginal cells present in the front wing. In the hind wing 

 a trace of the discoidal vein (m and M„) may be seen, arising from 

 the point of union of the cubital, median, and transverse median veins, 

 but there is no trace of the apical section of the anal vein; only a few 

 (9 or 10) costal hooks present. Forewings without a distinct pre- 

 axillary excision. Antennae of the male composed of 13 distinct seg- 

 ments. Mouth parts primitive, without an elongate retractile tongue, 

 with 6 segmented maxillary and 4-segmented labial palpi.... Euparagiinae. 

 BB. Anal lobe of the hind wings a small circular or oval flap, much less than 

 one-half the length of the submedian cell (cell M.., + Cu + On,). Tn 

 the forewings the second discoidal cell (M^,) wedge-shaped, narrowed 

 or often pointed at base, its cephalo-distal angle not greatly produced 

 toward the wing apex; the section of the discoidal vein between the 

 1st recurrent and the subdiscoidal veins (M3 cephalad of m) transverse 



- This key does not distinguish between the subfamilies Zethinae, Eumeninae, 

 Stenogastrinae, Epiponinae, Rhopalidiinae, and Polistinae, as these groups are 

 not treated in the present paper. Their characters are stated by Bequaert in his 

 "Revision of the Vespidae of the Belgian Congo," Bull. Arner. Mus. Nat. Hist., 

 vol. 39 (1918), pp. 13-17. 



s In reality, in all the Masaridinae, it is the apical section of the anal vein 

 that is lost, and at least a trace of the discoidal vein is preserved. This, how- 

 ever, is not apparent from inspection; any one examining the wings casually 

 would take the reverse to be the ease. An explanation of the true condition is 

 to be found under the description of the wings of Masaridinae. 



