316 Annals Entomological Society of America  [Vol. V, 
Scolia bicincta Fabricius. 
Scolia bicincta FaB., Syst. Ent., 1775, p. 356, n. 6. 
Location of the type not known to the writer. 
Saussure and Sichel have recorded size for the species as ranging 
between 20 and 25 mm. in length. In the specimens that the writer has 
personally examined the females range between 15 and 18 mm. in length 
and the males between 12 and 16 mm. 
The body of this species is black except for yellowish white markings 
on the abdomen varying somewhat in different specimens. The wings 
are uniformly fuliginous with metallic reflections, blue at some angles, 
purplish at others. The nervures are black. This is a medium sized 
species. 
The typical examples of this species are described by Fabricius as 
being black with two broad ferruginous bands at the base of the second 
and third segments of the abdomen. There are variations from this 
however. Burmeister in his work describes the spots as yellowish 
white instead of ferruginous and describes a specimen which has white 
markings on the first segment of the abdomen and the band on the third 
segment broken into spots. 
Saussure and Sichel in their catalogue describe several specimens 
differing from the typical form. One of these has a yellowish white spot 
on the first abdominal segment, another has the bands interrupted 
forming spots and another has a yellowish band on the first segment and 
two yellowish white spots on the ventral part of the second segment. 
The specimens that the writer has personally examined agree quite 
well with Fabricius’ description except a few specimens which have the 
usual bands interrupted, forming spots; a few which have a narrow band 
of yellowish white across the dorsum of the first abdominal segment, 
others which have a small yellowish white mark on the postscutellum 
and some which have two oval spots on the ventral part of the second 
abdominal segment and two very small yellowish white marks on the 
dorsum of the fourth segment. 
This species is recorded by Saussure and Sichel from boreal 
America. The writer has seen specimens that were collected 
from points that show its distribution in the United States from 
Texas to Massachusetts. Probably it does not occur much 
farther north than the latter state. 
The Insect Book by L. O. Howard (plate I, No. 3), gives a 
good illustration of this species. 
