84 MISCUS CAMPESTRIS. 



Genus 2. MISCUS. 



Miscus, Jurine, Hym. i. 130 (1807). 



Ammophila, pt., Latr. Gen. Crust, et Ins. iv. (1809). 



The characters of this genus are precisely those of A mmophila, 

 with the exception of the anterior wings having the third sub- 

 marginal cell petiolated. 



1. Miscus campestris. 



M. niger ; metathorace in medio depresso et a latere oblique 

 striato ; abdominis segmento secundo et tertio ferrugineis. 



Ammophila campestris, Latr. Nouv. Diet. i. 450. 



St. Farg. Ency. Meth. x. 453. 3. 



Curtis, Brit. Ent. xiii. t. 464 ? . 

 Miscus campestris, Van d> Lind. Obs. i. 92 $ $ . 



Shuck. Foss. Hym. 80. 1. 



St. Farg. Hym. iii. 386. 1. t. 30. f. 5. 



Dahlb. Hym. Europ. i. 7. 9. 



Steph. Illustr. Mand. vii. Supp. 15. t. 41. f. 4. 



Wesm. Hym. Foss. Belg. 70. 1. 



Female. Length 7-8J lines. Black ; head finely punctured 

 and pubescent ; an impressed line in front of the anterior 

 stemma extending to the insertion of the antennae. Thorax 

 transversely and finely striated on the disk, intermixed with 

 distinct punctures in the middle, in front a longitudinal impressed 

 line terminating in the middle of the disk; the metathorax 

 with a shield-shaped space above, which is obliquely striated on 

 each side from the centre ; the sides and apex densely covered 

 with sericeous pile ; the hinder margin of the tubercles, a patch 

 on each side of the pectus, and another on each side of the 

 insertion of the abdomen, of silvery pubescence ; the wings 

 fusco-hyaline, the nervures black; the anterior tarsi ciliated, 

 the legs spinose. Abdomen : the first and base of the second 

 joint of the petiole black, the remainder red, the second seg- 

 ment and base of the third red. 



The Male differs in having the face, below the antennae, densely 

 covered with silvery pubescence ; the petiole black above, arid 

 having a black patch on the first segment ; sometimes entirely 

 black above. 



This insect in habit is an Ammophila, the only difference 

 between it and that genus being the petiolated third submarginal 

 cell; whether this be regarded as of generic value or not, it 

 forms a very distinct and convenient division of an extensive 

 section of fossorial insects : a third division is made by St. Far- 



