38 
Psyche 
[Vol. 94 
the long, narrow stigma and the shape of the submarginal cells. The 
forewings of other sceliphrin genera ( Chalybion , Podium, Trigo- 
nopsis) are somewhat similar, but the 3rd submarginal cell is gener- 
ally longer, and the shape of the 2nd varies. All of these wasps 
(except Trigonopsis) have long setae on the head and thorax. The 
hindwing venation of Hoplisidea is similar to the basic sceliphrin 
pattern: the media diverges at or very close to crossvein cu-a. The 
large, slender body of Hoplisidea and its sickle-like mandibles also 
agree with the character states of the Sceliphrini. The inability to 
discern the nature of the abdominal petiole is disconcerting, but it is 
clear that the petiole was short, about the length of the hindcoxa. 
The petiole is longer than the hindcoxa in most of the sceliphrin 
genera discussed above. On the other hand, in the most primitive 
members of the tribe such as Stangeella and Chlorion, the petiole is 
about as long as the hindcoxa. But the shape of the forewing sub- 
marginal cells in these genera is different from Hoplisidea. The 
preponderance of evidence suggests to use that Hoplisidea is most 
likely a sphecid wasp whose affinities are with the tribe Sceliphrini, 
rather than a tiphiid, but it does not appear to represent a living 
genus. 
We thank Frank Carpenter, Museum of Comparative Zoology, 
Harvard University, for lending the type specimen of Hoplisidea for 
study; and Ronald Hodges, Systematic Entomology Laboratory, 
U.S. Dept, of Agriculture, and R. M. Bohart, Univ. of California, 
Davis, for commenting on the manuscript. 
Literature Cited 
Bohart, R. M. and A. S. Menke. 1976. Sphecid wasps of the world. Univ. Calif. 
Press, Berkeley, ix + 695 p. 
Cockerell, T. D. A. 1906. Fossil Hymenoptera from Florissant, Colorado. Bull. 
Mus. Comp. Zool. 50 : 33-58. 
Evans, H. E. 1966. The comparative ethology and evolution of the sand wasps. 
Flarvard Univ. Press, Cambridge, xviii + 526 p. 
MacGintie, H. D. 1953. Fossil plants of the Florissant Beds, Colorado. Carnegie 
Inst. Washington Publ. 599 , Contri. Paleont. 198 p. 
