TACHTTES. 



185 



Genus TACHYTES. 



Sphex, pt., Fahr. Ent. Syst. n, p. 21-5 (1793). 



Pompilus, pt., Fahr. Ent. Syst. Siippl. p. 2ol (1798). 



Larra, pt., Fabr. Syst. Piez. p. 221 (1804). 



Tachytes, Panz. Krit. Revis. Fmm. Beutschl. ii, p. 129 (1806). 



Lyrops, pt., Latr. Gen, Crust. Ins. iv, p. 71 (1809) 



Type, T. j^omjnliformis, Panz. 

 Range. Both hemispheres. 



Head wider than the thorax ; mandibles with a narrow incision 

 on their outer margin close to the middle ; the inner margin 

 bidentate ; clypeus and face always densely pilose or pubescent ; 



antennae stout, and generally shorter 

 than in the genus Tachysphex ; eyes, 

 especially in the c? , strongly con- 

 vergent towards the vertex, but 

 never quite meeting as in the 6 of 

 Astata • the ocelli are placed on a 

 convexity on the front, the anterior 

 ocellus round, the posterior elongate, 

 almost reniform, slanting, flat, and 

 less distinct ; pronotum depressed 

 beneath the level of the mesonotum ; 

 pygidial area distinct, in the $ triangular, in the c? generally 

 trapezium-shaped, but in both always pubescent, in the 5 set 

 with dense, short, stiff hairs, in the c? with sparser pubescence. 

 AVings stout, ample ; fore wing with one radial and three cubital 

 cells, the radial cell lengthened and acute at apex, and only feebly 

 truncate, showing in consequence only an indistinct appendicular 

 cell. Legs — the tibiae and tarsi of all the legs more or less spinose, 

 the tarsal combs altogether much shorter and stouter than in 

 Tachysphex. 



Tachytes contains some of the most beautiful of the species of 

 sand-wasps. Many of the Oriental forms are black, or black and 

 red, richly decked -with golden or silvery pubescence and pile. All 

 the Indian species whose habits I have been able to investigate 

 nest in the ground, and store their nests with the larvae of 

 Orthoptera. 



Key to the Species. 



Fig. 41. 

 Tachytes saundersii, § . 



Abdomen red, or red and black. 

 I. Transverse pilose bands on abdomen golden. 



a'. Fore wing with a subapical fuscous fascia. 



b'. Fore wing witli no subapical fascia .... 

 I. Transverse pilose bands on abdomen silvery. 



a'. Fore wing with apex broadly dark 



fuscous 



b'. Fore wing with no apical fuscous border. 

 «■■'. Femora, tibiie, an(l tarsi of legs red . . 

 b^. Femora, tibiae, and tarsi of legs black . 



T. yfivburyi, p. 186. 

 T.fervida, p. 186. 



T. conspmia, p. 187. 



T. erythropodUf-^.l 87. 

 T. tarsata, p. 188. 



