1987] 
Menke & Rasnitsyn — Hoplisidea kohliana 
37 
Fig. 2. Photograph of wings of Hoplisidea with veins inked in for clarity. 
After examining the type, we are struck by the similarity of its 
venation pattern and cell shape with members of the sphecid tribe 
Sceliphrini. The forewing cloud enhances this perception because 
species of some sceliphrin genera ( Podium , Trigonopsis, Penepo- 
dium and a few Chalybion ), are similarly endowed. Figure 18 B in 
Bohart and Menke (1976), which is of a species of Sceliphron, is 
quite similar to the forewing of Hoplisidea. There is congruence in 
have very stout fossorial legs; thus Hoplisidea, because of its slender 
appendages, would have to be a male. Evans pointed out that the 
hindwing venation of Anthobosca (media diverges well before 
crossvein cu-a) contradicted a relationship with Hoplisidea. To this 
we can add that Anthobosca males (as well as females) have serrate 
tibiae, but the fossil’s legs are apparently smooth, although the teeth 
would be hidden when viewed from certain angles. But more impor- 
tantly, after comparing the wings of Hoplisidea with Anthobosca 
males, we fail to see the resemblance suggested by Evans. The cell 
shape and termination point of the recurrent veins are quite differ- 
ent. On the other hand, according to Evans, there is apparently 
considerable variability of these characters within Anthobosca. 
Evans’ closing comment was “I consider it much more probable that 
it [Hoplisidea] is a tiphiid wasp not unrelated to Anthobosca. ” 
