oS 
Sphecoidea of Nebraska 27 
Swenk and R. W. Dawson for encouragement and suggestions 
received during the course of the work. Acknowledgment should 
also be made to the writings of Mr. William J. Fox, Mr. H. T. 
Fernald, Dr. Nathan Banks, Mr. S. A. Rohwer and Mr. J. B. 
Parker, since these writings contributed largely toward the synop- 
tic tables. 
KEY TO THE FAMILIES 
0 TESS Ege PR) glo] =) 1 a SPHECIDAE 
mA ET Se OW ATTE ETI. che Riad Mela eerastald in e''ecbhe te ea alarm sigan wStaraenaeee 2 
2. Antennae inserted close to clypeus; cheeks narrow; first abdominal 
segment not narrower than second; lower posterior margin of pro- 
podeum angled due to metathoracic pleural suture being dorso- 
ventral; no dorsal plate to mesepisternum ......... BEMBICIDAE 
Antennae inserted much above clypeus; cheeks broad; first abdominal 
segment much narrower than second; lower posterior margin of 
propodeum rounded due to metathoracic pleural suture being curved ; 
andorsal* plate to. mesepisterhitim /joccc0.c0. «sce scte CERCERIDAE 
SPHECIDAE 
KEY TO THE SUBFAMILIES 
1. Prepectal suture originating below lower margin of prothoracic tuber- 
cule, prepectus therefore wanting between tubercule and tegulae, 
NyYSSONINAE 
Prepectal suture originating posterior to prothoracic tubercule, pre- 
pectus therefore present between tubercule and tegula ......... 2 
2. Prepectus defined posteriorly by a strong carina which is angulate 
opposite prothoracic tubercule; an oblique suture from below tegula 
to sternum, where it joins prepectal carina ............essesees 3 
Prepectus defined posteriorly by a suture; no suture from below tegula 
TOMPDUEDCCED PSULTITE Peter aete re ete Slee aich ake: oid ela xicsoteis oleh onacewe raheem utes 5 
3. Antennae inserted near middle of face; mesepisternum with a dorsal 
and ventral plate; abdomen petiolate; wings with three cubital cells, 
PsENINAE 
Antennae inserted very close-to dorsal margin of clypeus; mesepi- 
sternum without a dorsal plate; abdomen sessile, or subsessile; 
WunISr NGTEL ONE: CUPILAN, COUN a pak ae uw Hel vic 0'd'cis caw xs « aaeiel ea amas 4 
4. First cubital and first discoidal cells confluent; propodeum with a . 
process at dorsal middle; metanotum with processes at sides; eyes 
with their inner margins subparallel .................. OXYBELINAE 
First cubital and first discoidal cells separate; propodeum and meta- 
notum without processes; eyes with their inner margins strongly 
cenverping Delo “2. hemout vickcak hess Wir Cak eww ats ai CRABRONINAE 
