Psyche 
[September 
1 68 
sion; metanotum rather long, but postnotum not visible; propodeum 
with smooth contours, posterior rim well developed; mesopleurum 
strongly convex, undivided by grooves; mesosternum simple; middle 
coxae contiguous; coxae subconical; front femur simple, elongate. 
Wing venation as figured. Metasoma sessile; tergite i convex, 
forming a weak constriction at junction with tergite 2; sternite I 
nearly flat in profile, hind margin nearly straight, thin, slightly 
overlapping base of sternite 2, which has a narrow basal constriction 
beyond which it is strongly convex [apical third of metasoma miss- 
ing]- 
Type-species. — - T aimyrisphex pristinus, new species. 
Remarks. — • This is an exceedingly generalized aculeate, without 
noteworthy features that would assign it unequivocally to any ma- 
jor group. I assign it tentatively to the Sphecidae (in the broad 
sense), largely on the basis of the rounded posterior lobes of the 
pronotum, which lie slightly below the tegulae and do not quite 
reach them. The wing venation is not inconsistent with that of a 
generalized sphecid, and is more generalized than that of Archisphex 
(Evans, 1969) with respect to the position of the recurrent veins. 
The venation might also be that of a generalized scolioid, although 
the lack of a constriction between the first two metasomal segments 
and of a crease beneath the stigma (1 r) would exclude it from 
most living families of Scolioidea. The general form of the prono- 
tum is suggestive of a pompilid, and the venation would not exclude 
it from that family, but there is no evidence of a transverse suture 
on the mesopleurum. Since we know from other evidence that the 
family Sphecidae was well represented in the Cretaceous, it seems 
best to assign T aimyrisphex to that family, at least tentatively, until 
such time as further pieces can be added to the puzzle. 
Taimyrisphex pristinus, new species 
Length about 4 mm; fore wing about 2.5 mm. Color dark brown, 
pronotum apparently with a pair of dorsal pale spots, first metasomal 
Fig. 1 . T aimyrisphex pristinus, n. sp., wings of type. Fig. 2. Same speci- 
men, oblique-dorsal view of body, wings mostly omitted. Fig. 3. Mandible 
of Cretabythus sibiricus, n. sp. type. Fig. 4. Same specimen, body and wings. 
Fig. 5. Pittoecus pauper, n. sp., type, portion of fore wing. Fig. 6. Same 
specimen, front leg. Fig. 7. Same specimen, hind tibia. Fig. 8. Same speci- 
men, ventral surface of abdomen. Fig. 9. Protamisega khatanga, n. sp., 
type, lateral view of head. Dashed lines in Figures 4 and 5 indicate parts 
not clearly visible in specimens. 
