SPHEGID^. 99 



tlie ? tlie second aubmarginal cell is wider, and tke second 

 abdominal segment is scarcely constricted at the base. 



L. 7-8 mm . 



Rare. Chobbam. Wallholnie, E. Cumberland ; (Bold). 

 Glanvilles Wootton, Dorset; [Dale). Wotton-under-Edge, 

 Gloster; (Perkins). Chippenham, Wilts; (R. C. L. Per- 

 kins). Rugby; (Morice). Ireland; (Halidaj/). Hastings. 



MIMESA, Shuck. 



Allied to the preceding genera by the character of the 

 petiole of the abdomen, which is formed of the ventral 

 plate only of the basal segment. This is elongate as in 

 Pemphredon, from which the neuration of the wings 

 separates it at once, these in this genus having three 

 submarginal cells ; posterior wings, with the median 

 nervure forked, the transverse nervure connecting the 

 posterior nervure with it, joining beyond the fork. Tho 

 antennae in the ? are somewhat thickened at the apex, and 

 in the c? oi M. atra are apparently only twelve-jointed. 

 The vertex of the head is transverse, and much rounded 

 posteriorly at the sides ; the propodeum is short, rounded 

 posteriorly, with a more or less defined ba?al area ; abdomen 

 elongate elliptic, apical ventral valve of the (^ terminating 

 in an elongate upturned process, apical dorsal valve in the 

 $ with a distinct pygidial ai'ea. The species are closely 

 allied, and often difficult to distinguish apart ; they make 

 their nests in holes in wood, straws, or in the ground, and 

 provision them with Aphides or other Ho^noptera. We 

 have six British species. Andre records twelve from 

 Europe and Algeria. 



(6) 1. Abflomen black and rel. 



(o) 2. Petiole of the abiiomen wide and flat, widen- 

 ing posteriorly in both sexes ; third seg- 

 ment in the ? entirely black . . . SuucKlBDi, 



(2) 3. Petiole of abdomen not widening posteriorly 

 in the (J. Third segment in the ? more 

 or less red. 



(5) 4. Mesonotum and mcsopleurx finely an^l re- 

 H 2 



