554 Mr. E,. E. Turner on Fossorial Hymenopterat 



apex. The basal joint of the fore tarsi has four long spine's 

 on the outer margin ; the tooth near the middle of the tarsal 

 ungues is small. The dark apical border of the fore wing 

 reaches the first transverse cubital nervure. First abscissa 

 of the radius as long as tlie second and third combined, the 

 two recurrent nervures very near to each other on the cubitus. 



Hah. Offi, N. Nigeria {Uiscock). 



This species is very near liroides, Turn., and may prove 

 to be a western subspecies of tiiat insect. It differs in the 

 broader pygidial area, in the shape of the anterior ninrgin of 

 the clypeus, in the reddish- biown margin^ of the abdominal 

 segments, and in tlie darker and some^vhat broader marginal 

 band of the fore wing. 



Tlie superficial resemblance to Liris kcemorrhoidalis is 

 very striking. 



Key to the Australian Species 0/ Tachysphex. 



1. Two basal segments of abdomen red .... T. trunccUifrons, Turn. 

 Abdomen wholly black 2. 



2. Tibise, tarsi, and apex at least of the 



femora ferruginous or testacc' ais brown. 3, 

 Tibine and femora wholly black, tarsi 

 usually black, sometimes testaceous 

 brown towards the apex 4. 



3. Legs ferruginous, liind and intermediate 



femora wholly ferruginous T. adelaida:, Turn. 



Legs testaceous brown, hind and interme- 

 diate femora black except at the apex . T. imbellisy Turn. 



4. Wings fuscous or dark fusco-hyaliue .... 5. 

 Win^s hyaline 7. 



5. Pygidial area distinctly though not very 



closely punctured ; comb of the fore 



tarsi black and long T. stimulator, Tura. 



Pygidial area smooth and shining ; comb 

 of the fore tarsi shorter and fusco- 

 ferruginous G. 



6. Wings dark fuscous ; mesonotum, scu- 



tellum,and abdomen highly polished. . T. persistans, Tarn. 

 Wings dark fusco-hyaline ; mesonotum, 



scutellum, and abdomen subopaque . . T. hypoleins, Sui. 



7. Dorsal surface of median segment rugose- 



reticulate or longitudinally striated .. 8. 

 Dorsal surface of median segment smooth 

 or minutely punctured 9. 



8. Median segment longitudinally striated; 



third abscissa of the radius longer than 



the second T. icalkeri, Turn. 



Median segment rugose-reticulate ; second 

 abscissa of the radius at least twice as 

 long as the third T. rur/i lorsntm, Torn. 



