THE PHILIPPINE WASPS OF THE SUBFAMILY
SPHECINJE
By S. A. Rohwer
Honorary Custodian of Hymenoptera, United States National Museum
The wasps belonging to the subfamily Sphecinse are often
called "thread-waisted," because of the petiolated abdomen.
The habits and prey of the group vary considerably. The
Chlorionini nest in the ground and provision their nests with
Orthoptera. The Sphecini also nest in the ground but use lepi-
dopterous larvae as food for their young. The Sceliphronini
are usually called "mud-daubers," because of their habit of con-
structing mud nests which are provisioned with spiders.
The group is easily recognized by the three complete cubital
cells ; petiolate abdomen ; long propodeum, in which the spiracles
are well removed from the base ; the presence of two calcaria on
intermediate tibiae; rather large size; etc.
Key to the Philippine tribes of the subfamily Sphecinse.
1. Second and third cubital cells each receiving a recurrent vein; pro-
podeum without a U-shaped area on its dorsal surface; robust species
with a short petiole Chlorionini.
Second cubital cell receiving both recurrent veins ; slender forms with a
long petiole _ 2.
2. Propodeum without a U-shaped area on its dorsal surface; female with
a tarsal comb Sphecini.
Propodeum with a U-shaped area on its dorsal surface; tarsal claws
with an inner tooth; female without a tarsal comb Sceliphronini.
Tribe CHLORIONINI
Genus CHLORION Latreille
The species of this genus were monographed by Kohl in 1890
under the generic name Sphex and they are still often assigned
to that genus, which is however properly applied to species as-
signed to Ammophila.
Key to Philippine species of the genus Chlorion.
1. Tarsal claws with one inner tooth 2.
Tarsal claws with two inner teeth 3.
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