14 Psyche [Vol. 93 
Relationships 
Compsocryptus displays close affinity to Trachysphyrus, Aelio- 
potes, Joppidium, and Lanugo . Superficially, in color, size, habitus, 
and many details of geographic distribution, Lanugo especially 
parallels Compsocryptus. However, the phylogenetic connection 
seems distant, since Lanugo has only a weak groove at the base of 
the hind coxa, the axillus vein closer to the hind margin of the wing 
than to the submediella, and the ovipositor straight and shorter than 
in Compsocryptus. The South American Trachysphyrus [now re- 
garded as including only the Imperialis group, as defined by 
Porter (1967:275-319)] seems directly associated with Compso- 
cryptus. Important characters that separate Trachysphyrus include: 
dark but never pale banded wings; body color usually metallic blue, 
green, or purple; female flagellum scarcely flattened below; notauli 
usually (not always) extending beyond the middle of the mesoscutum; 
surface of mesoscutum shining, never extensively mat; 1st gastric 
tergite without a baso-lateral expansion; and 2nd gastric tergite in 
many species smooth and polished (in numerous others mat). 
Aeliopotes paitensis (Porter, 1986) in some ways (especially the 
petiolar tooth) seems annectant between Compsocryptus and 
Trachysphyrus but in other features (epomial development) is 
aberrant and deserves generic status. Finally, Joppidium seems to 
be a direct offshoot of Compsocryptus. Joppidium is more slender 
than Compsocryptus (postpetiole at least 1.5 as long as wide), lacks 
a ventro-lateral carina on the 1st gastric tergite, and has the female 
flagellum more strongly flattened below toward apex. Some of its 
species have a baso-lateral tooth on the petiole and yellow banded 
wings, as in Compsocryptus. Joppidium also parallels its relative in 
distribution, with numerous Sonoran species, several which extend 
(but not disjunctly) into the southeastern United States, and with an 
isolated species group in subtropical Brasil and north Argentina (no 
representatives in the Peruvian Coastal Desert). 
Biogeography and Ecology 
Compsocryptus belongs to the Sonoran Biogeographic category 
(Porter 1980:25-7). Possibly the genus evolved during the last half 
