ART. 17 WASPS OF THE GENUS TIPHIA ALLEN AND JAYNES 61 



23. TIPHIA NERVIDIRECTA, new species 



Female. — Vertex strongly shagreenecl ; primary punctures of sec- 

 ond-degree density between the ocelli, but elsewhere of third-degree 

 density, with an area just jjosterior to ocellar triangle not more 

 densely punctate than area on either side ; sparse secondaries on lat- 

 eral vertex. Front strongly shagreened, with very regular, round 

 punctures; groove interrupted; primary punctures barely of first- 

 degree density on the anterior half, where they are not denser 

 medially, of third-degree density above, without symmetrical im- 

 punctate areas. Clypeal extension with its impunctate margin half 

 as long as the clypeoantennal distance, Pronotum shagreened; pri- 

 mary punctures in the well-defined discal band and in a small medial 

 patch of first-degree density, those on lateral disks of sparse third- 

 degree density ; secondary punctures sparse apico-medially, not pres- 

 ent on disks; punctate area medially much narrower than the im- 

 punctate. Side of pronotum with a pronounced groove across the 

 center. Metanotum with numerous primary punctures nearlj' as 

 large as those of the scutellum. Legs with the major calcarium of 

 the hind tibia widest at the bend near the middle; hind basitarsus 

 with groove, on oytside with row of three long spines, one of which 

 is apical. Tegulae faintly shagreened. Propodeal areola shaped like 

 the cross section of a biconcave lens, two and one-quarter times as 

 long as wide; carinae bordered by crenulate grooves interrupted 

 by many transverse ridges ; median carina extending to lowest tenth 

 of areola; enclosed areas conspicuously shagreened. Lower portion 

 of sides of propodeum polished, striate, with dense, minute hairs 

 on posterior half. Posterior aspect of propodeum with median 

 carina on lower half bordered and capped by coriaceous sculpturing. 

 First tergite with its preapical band consisting medially of a single 

 row of very regular punctures, expanded laterally without coales- 

 cence of punctures. First sternite with lateral grooves on posterior 

 half having small, shallow punctures anteriorly. Tergites 2 to 4 with 

 impunctate margin slightly wider medially, where it is three to four 

 times the width of adjacent primary punctures. Pygidium reticulo- 

 punctate on upper three-fifths, rather sparsely so toward middle; 

 impunctate apical section plainly shagreened and wrinkled longitu- 

 dinally and about the posterior margin. Length, 9 mm. 



Male- — Not known. 



Distribution. — Chekiang, China. 



Type.—C^t. No. 41792, U.S.N.M. Female, Hangchow, China, July, 

 1925 (Jaynes). 



Par'atype. — One female, from the same lot as the type, in the collec- 

 tion of the Japanese Beetle Laboratory. 



