198 Mr. E. Saunders' Synopsis of 



and the number of alar hooks (five to six) ; the <? differs 

 also essentially in the short antennae, which hardly reach 

 to the base of the scutellum, the much denser grey 

 pubescence of the head and thorax, the rather less elon- 

 gate abdomen, and the form of the genitalia (see 

 pi. viii., fig. 5). 



Hah. A common species, occurring often with the 

 two preceding. 



4. Sphecodes similis, Wesm. 



Wesm., Bull. Acad. Brux. 1835, vol. ii., p. 279. 



This species is very closely allied to pilifrons, but it is 

 smaller ; the c? has the joints of the antennae more 

 swollen in front, and the antennae altogether rather 

 thicker, the thorax less pubescent, the abdomen shorter 

 and oval, and generally with a black spot on each of the 

 segments, sometimes entirely black, and the genitalia 

 differently shaped, as shown in pi. viii., fig. 4. 



The ? only differs from inlifrons in its smaller size 

 and its narrower dorsal apical valve, the margins of 

 which are more reflexed, and have an impressed line 

 within the reflexion. Length 6 — 8 mm. 



Hah. Eeigate ; Chobham ; Southwold ; Worthing ; 

 and i)robably common generally, but mixed with the 

 preceding. 



5. Sphecodes punticeps, Thoms. 



Thoms., Opusc. Ent., i., p. 99 ; Hym. Scand. ii., 

 p. 157. 



Of this species only the <? has occurred, so far as 

 I know, in England, which may be distinguished from 

 its allies by the wider 2nd submarginal cell of the upper 

 wings, which is slightly narrowed above, and by the fine 

 reticulation of the surface of the genitalia, which in the 

 other British species are longitudinally strigose ; (see pi. 

 viii., fig. 1) ; the wings also are less dusky than in most 

 of the species. The $ should (according to Thomson) 

 have the wings as in the 3' , and the dorsal apical valve 

 narrow. Length, c? 6 mm. 



Hah. I have one specimen taken at Chobham, and 

 another from Bournemouth. 



