MELITTA. (**. a.) . 47 



Truncus. Thorax nitidus, glaber. Squamulce 

 nigrae, jllis infuscatae, apice, nervisque, ni- 

 gris; anastomosi ferruginea. Pedes atri, sub- 

 pilosi, digitis rufescentibus. 

 Abdomen subovale, nitidum, segmento primo 

 basi nigro, margine, duobus intermediis totis, 

 antepenultimique basi, ferrugineis, rcliquis 

 nigris. 



The species I have now described, very strongly 

 resembles M. gibba ; but the base, as well as the 

 apex of the abdomen, is black. This part is also 

 more oval, the lip is longer and triangular, and the 

 wings have a black cloud at their tip. It is the 

 genuine Sphex gibba of Linneus, as appears from 

 the remains of the authentic specimen in the Lin- 

 rlean cabinet. 1 have excluded the synonym of 

 Scopoli(^), since it is evidently intended for a dif- 

 ferent insect, nearly related to Sphex viatica and 

 belonging to the Fabrician genus Pompilus. M. 

 sphecoides appears to be the insect figured by Chris- 

 tius under the name oi j4pis riifa. 



10. M. atra; antennis piceis, thorace longioribus ; mowiZi- 

 abdomine cmgulo ruto. 



FIG. Far.^. Tal.l.fig.Q 



MUS. Kirlij. 



Long. Corp. Lin. S^. 



-•■ • ilal. Barhaniiae, bi.s capta. 



(o) Ent. Car. n. 7^6- 



DESCR, 



