November iSgS.] 



PSYCHE. 



283 



hind; abdomen short, above subglobose, 

 beneath flat; body covered with a short dense 

 fine downv pubescence resembling mold ; 

 abdominal segments 2-5 ornamented at their 

 apical margins with a peculiar series of brown 

 triangular emarginations impressed upon 

 the densely pubescent surface; labial palpi 

 3-jointed, the first joint stout, longer than 

 joint 2-3 united; claws with a tooth within. 

 Type Melecta maculata Cresson. 



This genus comes apparently very close to 

 Leiopodus Smitli, but differs decidedly in the 

 venation of front wings ; in the shorter abdo- 

 men with its peculiar emarginated or zigzag 

 ornamentation, which is quite unique in the 

 group; in having the labial palpi 3-jointed 

 not 4-jointed ; and by the claws having a 

 strong tooth within. 



An examination of the type of Mr. Cres- 

 son's genus Coelioxoides, last December, has 

 convinced me that it has nothing to do with 

 the subfamily Coelioxinae and that it should 

 be placed with this family. 



Family STELIDIDAE. 



Subfamily I, Stelidinae. 



Melanostelis n. g. 



Differs from the four other genera belong- 

 ing to this family, namely, Protostelis Friese, 

 Stelidomorpha Morawitz, Stelis Panzer and 

 Parevaspis Ritsema, by having the second 

 submarginal cell receiving both recurrent 

 nervures. 



In the genera mentioned, the second re- 

 current nervure is received be/ti/idihe second 

 transverse cubitus, or it is interstitial. Its 

 other characters are : Mandibles tridentate ; 

 maxillary palpi 2 jointed; abdomen black or 

 blue-black, with white bands, the last dorsal 

 segment compressed into a carina at apex, 

 while the last ventral segment is tridentate 

 at apex. Type M. beikeli n. sp. 



Melanostelis betheli n. sp. — $ . — Length 

 9 mm. Black, clothed with sparse black 

 hairs, the face with a few grey hairs inter- 



mixed with the black hairs; abdomen above 

 with subapical white bands on first four 

 segments, those on the first and second 

 extending all across the back to the lateral 

 margins, the one on the third much abbre- 

 viated, while the one on the fourth is reduced 

 to an oblong white mark; legs black, but 

 the tibiae and tarsi have a piceous tinge in 

 certain lights ; tibiae at apex produced out- 

 wardly into a strong angulated process; 

 basal joint of hind tarsi much thickened; 

 tibial spurs long, strong. 



Hab. — Olympia, Washington. 



Described from a single specimen, received 

 from Mr. L. Bethel, captured June 2, 1S97. 



The genera of the Stelidinae now known, 

 may be tabulated as follows :— 



Genera of the Stelidinae. 



Second recurrent nervure received behind 

 the second transverse cubitus or inter- 

 stitial 2 



Second submarginal cell receiving both re- 

 curi'ent nervures. 



Abdomen black or blue-black, with white 

 transverse bands; mandibles tridentate; 

 maxillary palpi 2.jointed ; last ventral 

 segment tridentate, $ unknown. 



Melanostelis Ashm. 

 2. Abdomen black or rufous, sometimes 

 ornate with white or yellow spots ; max- 

 illary palpi I or 2 jointed (rai'ely wanting) ; 

 labial palpi 4-jointed. 



Scutellum without lateral teeth behind. 

 Head as wide as the thorax ; clypeus 

 not lengthened, well rounded ; 

 maxillary palpi i or 2 jointed; 

 abdomen semiglobose, the seg- 

 ments broadly banded with 3ellow 

 or white as in Anthidium, $ with 

 the anal segment entirely rounded; 

 $ ending in a strong thorn. 



Protostelis Friese. 



Head as wide as the thorax; clypeus 



lengthened and deeply eraarginate; 



maxillary palpi i jointed; abdo- 



