PSENINI FROM NEPAL (HYMENOPTERA, SPHECIDAE) by J. P. VAN LITH Rotterdam ABSTRACT The Psenini collected by the Canadian Nepal Expedition in 1967 are discussed. The following new forms are described and illustrated : Psen nitidus himalayensis ( 9 ) ; Psen lobicornis ( $); Psenulus orinus ( ? $ ) ; Psenulus chillcotti ( $ $ ) ; Psenulus godavariensis ( $); and Psenulus bir-ganjensis ( $ ) . Of Psen rujoannulatus Cameron and Psen rufiventris Cameron the males are de-scribed for the first time. Through the kind mediation of Dr. Carl M. Yoshimoto I had the opportunity to study the Psenini collected by the Canadian Nepal Expedition of the Entomology Research Institute, Ottawa. The material belongs to the Canadian National Collection in Ottawa; a few duplicates are in the author's collection. So far only Psenulus bic'mctus Turner (1912) and Psen nepalensis Van Lith (1968) were recorded from Nepal, collected by the Bishop Museum, Honolulu (Van Lith, 1972) and by the East Nepal Expedition 1961-1962 of the British Museum (Natural History), respectively. The fresh material consists of 12 species and one subspecies, of which five species and the subspecies are new; Psenulus bicinctus was not represented on this occasion. Most of the material was collected in Malaise traps. Dr. W. R. M. Mason, the hymeno-pterist of the expedition, kindly supplied me with most of the notes on the collecting localities and the habitat of the Psenini; a few data originate from G. W. Byers (1971). a. Adhabhar, near Simra, 600 ft, and b. Lothar, near Birganj, 450 ft; Simra and Birganj are in the lowlands of the Terai (S Nepal), grazed sal forest (Shorea robusta, a large gregarious tree) typical of the region. Fourteen specimens were collected here in August and September. c. Godavari, a village about ten miles SE of Kathmandu. The greater part of the material, viz. 25 specimens, were collected here at an altitude of 5000 and 6000 ft, in July and August, one male of Psen rujoannulatus in mid April. d. Pulchauki, 8000 ft, a mountain about ten miles SE of Kathmandu. Psen rufiven-tris was collected here early July. e. Patibhanjyang, near Kathmandu, a mountain district of steep pastures and terrace cultivation, a little above the limit of rice cultivation. A second male of Psen rujoan-nulatus was taken here at an altitude of 6000 — 7500 ft, in July, along the trails through the mountain pastures. f. Bhurumche, about 20 miles N of Kathmandu at an altitude of approximately 9000 ft, the last Sherpa village on the road to Gosaindkunde. The surroundings are cut over forest of the evergreen oak Quercus semicarpijolia. There is much secondary Rhododendron forest and many clearings are used for pasture. Psen lobicornis was collected here early in July. 123
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