242 INSECTA. 



They are united by Latreille in the family of the Sphegides, a 

 name derived from that of the dominant genus, 



Sphex. 



In some the first segment of the thorax forms either a transversal 

 or longitudinal square, and the abdomen is attached to the thorax 

 by a very short pedicle ; the inner side of the posterior tibifc is usually 

 furnished with a brush. The superior wings have two or three com- 

 plete or closed cubital cells, and another imperfect and terminal. 



They now form several subgenera. 



Pepsis, Fab. 

 To which I assign the following characters: labrum apparent; 

 antennae, at least of the males, almost straight and composed of com- 

 pact or crowded joints ; maxillary palpi hardly longer than the labial, 

 projecting, and formed of but slightly unequal joints ; three complete 

 cubital cells, and the first recurrent nervure inserted near the ante- 

 rior extremity of the second. The tibiae and first joint of the poste- 

 rior tarsi are compressed in the males. 



All the species known are foreign to Europe, and most abun- 

 dant in South America and the Antilles ; they are large, and 

 have coloured wings *. 



Ceropales, Lat., Fab. 

 The labrum and antennae of the Pepses ; but the maxillary palpi 

 are much longer than the labial, pendent, and with very unequal 

 joints t- 



PoMPiLXJs, Fab. 



The Pompili, in this latter respect, resemble the Ceropales, but the 

 antennae of both sexes are curled and composed of loose or but slightly 

 compact joints ; the labrum is concealed, or but little exposed. 



According to Fabricius and the more recent systems, we must re- 

 strict this subgenus to those species in which there are three com- 

 plete cubital cells, neither of them petiolate, the mandibles are uni- 

 dentated on the inner side, and the thorax is slightly or moderately 

 elongated in comparison with its width. These Insects lay up pro- 

 visions for their larvae, consisting of Araneides, which they first put 

 to death with their sting, and then transport to the holes destined for 

 the domicil of their young. 



P. viaticus ; Sphex viatica, L; Panz., Faun, Insect. Germ., 

 LXV, 16. Deep black ; abdomen red, intersected with black 

 circles. 



The second family of the genus Misque of Jurine is composed of 

 true Pompili, but in which the third cubital cell is small and petio- 

 late %. 



That of Salius, Fabricius, Avas established on the males of certain 

 species in which the prothorax and metathorax are proportionally 



• Lat., Gen. Crust, et Insect., IV, 61. 



t Lat., Ibid., 62; Van der Lind., Obsei-v. on the Hymen, of Eur., 76. 



J See Jurine, Latreille, Van der Linden, and the Encyclopedic M^thodique. 



