ART. 17 WASPS OF THE GENUS TIPHIA ALLEN AND JAYNES 13 



from the species in the groups in which the basitarsal groove is 

 markedly lacking, they may not be closely enough related to each 

 other to comprise a separate group. There are marked differences 

 between the two species in vestiture and density of punctation on 

 the front and the pronotum. 



The Tufonnandibiilata group is characterized by a uniformly taper- 

 ing major calcarium of the hind tibia and by the basitarsal spines 

 typical of those species lacking the basitarsal groove. The propodeal 

 areola does not differ much from the generalized popUliavora group, 

 except in the five-carinate species hjrata. Among the four species 

 of the group in which males are known there is, in this sex, an orifice 

 on either side of the fifth sternite, a character not found in any of 

 the other species listed above in which males are known. It should 

 be noted, however, that in singularis and sternodentata the radial 

 cell much exceeds the second cubital cell, while it is scarcely equal 

 in the other species. The females of singvlaHs and sternodentata 

 are not known, and these species have therefore been associated only 

 tentatively with this group. 



The koreana group is more sharply defined than any of the others. 

 Both males and females have a deep, overlapped groove on the pre- 

 apical dorsum of the first tergite, preceded by dimpled punctures. 

 Although several species in this group have been described previously, 

 this character seems to have been overlooked, probably because the 

 overlapped edge of the groove has been confused with the apical 

 margin of the tergite. The groove can readily be identified by trac- 

 ing the edge laterally to a point where the groove opens from under 

 the overlapping portion, somewhat anterior to the true apex of the 

 segment. Some, but not all of the species, have peculiar, short, dense, 

 erect, brown pile on the abdomen, which may or may not be present 

 in both sexes and on both tergites and sternites. 



The relationships between the Asiatic Tifhia and the species native 

 to eastern North America where introductions are being made have 

 not been thoroughly worked out. The authors point out, however, 

 that they have not yet seen any native Tiphia resembling those of 

 the km^eana or the hicannata groups^^ and that most of the species 

 introduced from the Orient have denticles or orifices plainly visible 

 on the fifth sternite in the male, while very few of the native species 

 are thus equipped. The sternal denticle in the male is a useful point 

 in making preliminary determinations of individuals recovered in 

 the field. The presence of a groove on the hind basitarsus of the 

 female and the variation in elongation of the radial cell of the male 

 occur in local TipJiia to about the same extent that they do in the 

 oriental forms. 



