MONTEZUMIA. ] 1 1 



gradually, is funnel like, pediculate or sessile, at times cam pan u- 

 late, but when the pedicle exists it only occupies the anterior 

 part of the segment and does not compose the entire segment ; 

 it carries above, near the extremity, a longitudinal groove or a 

 rounded excavation. 



Most of these insects have an appearance very easy to grasp, 

 thanks to their fusiform abdomen of which the first segment is 

 funnel-shaped. Their principal distinctions are found in this form 

 of the abdomen, combined with the length of the mandibles and 

 the reduced number of the articles of the palpi. The mandibles 

 are long and form a beak as with the Eumenes, although less 

 sharp; in the females these organs have four teeth or lobules; 

 in the males the inner edge is more entire or with three notches. 

 The elypeus, in general more long than wide in the females, 

 recalls the Eumenes also, but its narrow extremity has a trian- 

 gular notch, separating two triangular teeth ; in the males it 

 offers the polygonal form, a quite different type, which by the 

 separation of its terminal teeth has a sort of analogy to the 

 Zethus. The head and body are almost equally and always 

 strongly punctured ; the abdomen is also wholly punctured, but 

 less strongly. All the body moreover is covered with a velvety 

 pile which often conceals the sculpture. The anterior border of 

 the prothorax is subconcave, but the angles, although at times 

 distinct, are never spinose as with certain Zethus. 



The form of the abdomen recalls, in the normal types, the torm 

 of Polistes; it is also fusiform, the 1st segment being funnel 

 shaped, much narrower than the second ; but the first segment 

 being larger, and always convex (not completely funnel shaped) 

 suffices always to distinguish this genus, even though the head, 

 with its long mandibles and elypeus, should be wanting. Also 

 the strong puncturing of the thorax and the always short, chubby 

 and wide metathorax assist in marking its differences. 



The genus Montezumia also includes several types and 

 numerous forms which are slight marks of distinction. 



The first segment of the abdomen is often narrow, campanulate 

 and strongly bossed, in such case presenting the form which 

 appears in certain Odynerus, having tin 1 pediculate abdomen; 

 or, even the thorax becomes wide and Battened ; the metathorax 



