178 AMERICAN HYMENOPTERA. 



witli a broad yellow borrler whicli has a median triangular indentation, the point 

 of which nearly interrupts the posterior border and with a black notch on each 

 side anteriorly; second, third, fourth and fifth segments with a broad, apical, 

 yellow border having a black spot on each side and a median triangular indenta- 

 tion ; anal segment with a large yellow spot on each side. Legs yellow, with the 

 coxse, except a yellow spot on the front, the trochanters and basal half of femora, 

 black. Wings slightly ferruginous, with the nervures brown. Length 18 mm. 



% . — Similar to the worker. Length 12 mm. 



Worker. — Differs from the female in being smaller and in having the second, 

 third, fourth and fifth abdominal segments not so broadly bordered with yellow, 

 and the lateral black spots become indentations. Length 12 mm. 



Hab. — Colorado, Nevada (Yarrow), New Mexico (Henshaw). 



V. inferiialiN Sauss. 9 • — Larger than the worker, from which it diflFers 

 by the following characters : A single linear spot behind the upper part of each 

 eye; the first abdominal segment with two spots on the anterior border and a 

 narrow band on the posterior border yellow ; the remaining segments as in the 

 worker. 



Var. A. — All the abdominal segments have a narrow apical border and two 

 yellow spots. 



Var. B. — One specimen has two spots on the postscutellum. 



Worker. — Eyes extending nearly to the base of the mandibles. Head black, 

 with the mandibles, except the tips, the clypeus, except a variable mark in the 

 center, a subquadrate mark on the front, a mark in the sinus of the eyes pro- 

 longed to the clypeus, and a stripe behind the eyes yellow : antennse black, with 

 the scape yellow iu front. Thorax black, with the posterior border of the pro- 

 thorax, a large triangular spot under the wings, two spots on the scutellum and 

 two on the postscutellum very small, sometimes wanting, yellow. Abdomen black, 

 the first segment with a broad, yellow border, which has a black dot on each side 

 and an elongated triangular mark interrupting the anterior border medially; 

 the second segment bears a broad, apical, yellow band with a deep, median, black 

 notch, from which two lateral teeth arise; the remaining segments are broadly 

 bordered apically with yellow, indented medially and bear two lateral spots; 

 anal segment with a large yellow spot on each side. Legs yellow, with the coxae, 

 trochanters and basal half of the femora black. Wings hyaline, with the ner- 

 vures brown. Length 14 mm. 

 Hab. — North America. 



"V. vidua Sauss. 9- — Eyes extending nearly to the base of the mandibles- 

 Head black, with the mandibles, except the teeth, the clypeus. except the edges, 

 and three black spots in the center, a subquadrate spot on the front, a mark in 

 the sinus of the eyes prolonged to the clypeus, and an interrupted stripe behind 

 the eyes yellow ; antennse black, with the scape yellow in front. Thorax black, 

 with the posterior border of the prothorax, border of the tegulpe, a triangular 

 spot under each fore wing, and two spots on the scutellum yellow. Abdomen 

 black, the first segment with two linear spots on the anterior and a narrow, 

 straight line on the posterior border.; the second segment with a narrow apical 

 border, slightly broadened laterally; third segment with a wider, apical, yellow 

 border, which has a broad, central, black notch, from which two lateral black 

 teeth arise, on the fourth and fifth segments these teeth become black spots in 



