MEIISSOBES. 115 



pubescence on the thorax and abdomen as in the female, except 

 that on the former it is entirely fulvous, and the fasciae on the 

 abdomen are narrower. 



Hah. Mexico, Oajaca. 



6. Melissodes atrata. 



Male. Length 5 lines. — Black ; the abdomen shining. The clypeus 

 with a semicircular yellow macula ; the pubescence on the head 

 white ; that on the thorax black, with a mixture of griseous on the 

 metathorax ; wings hyaline, faintly clouded and iridescent at the 

 apex, nervTires black. The abdomen with a little griseous pu- 

 bescence at the base ; the third, fourth, and fifth segments have 

 laterally a narrow line of thin white pubescence in the middle ; 

 beneath, the margins of the third, fourth, and fifth segments 

 have a thin fringe of white pubescence. 



Hah. Mexico, Oajaca. 



This species resembles the male of M. nigra, but that insect has 

 the clypeus and labrum entirely yellow and the antennae fulvous 

 beneath. 



7. Melissodes modesta. 



Male. Length 5 lines. — Black, with the labrum white. The antennae 

 longer than the body, the joints subarcuate ; a little griseous pu- 

 bescence on the sides of the face, that on the cheeks white ; the 

 thorax with pale fulvous pubescence above, beneath with white ; 

 the apical joints of the tarsi ferruginous ; the intermediate and 

 posterior legs with black pubescence ; the anterior legs with white 

 pubescence; wings hyaline at the base, their apex clouded and 

 iridescent ; the nervures fusco-ferruginous, the costa blackish. 

 Abdomen shining, the base with pale pubescence; towards the 

 apex a little thin white pubescence; beneath, the segments are 

 fringed with white. 



Hah. Mexico, Oajaca. 



8. Melissodes atropos. 



Female. Length 7 lines. — Black and shining, the abdomen with an 

 aeneous tint at the base. The face with white pubescence at the 

 sides, that on the vertex black ; there is also a little white pu- 

 bescence behind the eyes; the clypeus strongly punctured; the 

 flagellum, except the two basal joints, obscurely fulvous beneath. 

 The thorax closely punctured, its pubescence, as well as that on 

 the legs, black ; wings fuscous, with a violet iridescence. Abdomen 

 closely and finely punctured ; the fourth segment with a tuft of 



1 



