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The 13 South American members of the Oxybelus emarginatus group are keyed, new species described, and illustrations given. New species are: cinemucro (Argentina), genisei (Brazil), mendozae (Argentina), schlingeri (Venezuela), schusteri (Galapagos), slanskyae (Peru), stangei (Argentina), vardyi (Peru), and wasbaueri (Ecuador).
The gibba group of Chrysis occurs in many parts of the world. It is characterized in part by a lengthened clypeus. Other features are the usually long malar space, micro-ridging on the scapal basin, a frontal carina (when developed) with a broad M-shape and partial posterior rami (broadly biconvex in one species), tergum II apicolaterally obtuse, and tergum III with 4 teeth or lobes. American forms in the male, and to lesser extent the female, have long whitish hair beneath the head and on the opposing surface of the forecoxae. Other legs are also quite hairy, especially in males. Sternum VIII has ,the posterior one-half poorly developed and membranous.
Australian Chrysis form three closely related groups in addition to a few wide-ranging and apparently adventive species. The latter are lincea Fabricius, schiodtei Dahlbom, fuscipennis Brulle, and fossulata F. Smith. The remaining 23 species, including those presently described, appear to be endemic in the Australia-New Guinea area. Recently, Linsenmaier (1982, Entomofauna 3: 323-349) described a number of new species from Australia. Some of these I have been able to recognize and they are included in the key. Others that I am unable to place, possibly through lack of material, are curtisensis from Queensland and dentifrontis from South Australia. I have seen types of nearly all the species in the key. Institutions and individuals who have provided specimens of the new species herein described are given below.
Praestochrysis Linsenmaier contains those species of Chrysidinae with five teeth on the posterior margin of tergum III, first flagellomere (F-I) less than 3 times as long as broad (often much shorter), and clypeal length below antennal sockets (subantennal distance) not more than diameter of the midocellus (MOD). The genus is widespread in the Old World, but a majority of the known species are in the Ethiopian Region. Host records are rather few, but it is likely that nearly all species attack moth larvae and emerge from their cocoons. Praestochrysis shanghaiensis (F. Smith) is a well known parasitoid of the silk moth in the Far East.
The names of previously described South American species of Oxybelus are listed, annotated, and synonymy given. Nomenclature changes are: brethesi is a new name for interruptus Brethes 1913; decipiens Brethes 1913 and pamparum Brethes 1913 are synonyms of catamarcensis Schmttky 1909; fritzi is a new name for modestus Brethes 1913; agnitus Brethes 1913 is a synonym of marginatus F. Smith 1866; joergenseni Brethes 1913 is a synonym of paraguayensis Brethes 1909; and tarijensis Brethes 1913 is a synonym of platensis Brethes 1901. Neotypes are established for platensis and catamarcensis, and lectotypes for americanus, argentinus, modestus, marginatus, and tarijensis.
Twenty-four of the larger species of Oxybelus occurring in South America (except Chile) are recognized. Akey is given and illustrations are provided of the critical thoracic projections: metanotal squamae and propodeal mucro. New species described and their type localities are: aganis (Paraguay), cyaneus (Colombia), decoris (Brazil), fraternus (Argentina), frontis, (Argentina), huae Wcuador), napoensis (Ecuador), osteni, (Argentina), peruensis (Peru), peruvicus (Peru), plaumanni (Brazil), roraimae (Brazil), scutellatus (Argentina), tartagalae (Argentina) and willinki (Argentina).
The 37 recognized Oxybelus of Central America and the Caribbean are listed, a key given, and the critical thoracic projections figured for many of the species. New species are coloratus (Mexico), irwini (El Salvador), jamaicae (Jamaica), melanitus (Mexico), morrisoni (Puerto Rico), propodealis (Honduras), rhodopyga (Mexico), and romingeri (Hispaniola). New synonyms of mexicanus Robertson 1889 are frontalis Robertson 1889, bugabensis Cameron 1891, and longispina Cameron 1891.
Bicyrtes is a moderate-sized bembicine sand wasp which is restricted to the New World. The 27 known species include 4 new ones: B. brasiliana (Brazil), B. chilicola (Chile and Peru), B. paranae (South America), and B. venezuelae (Venezuela). Some characters not previously used are found in the descriptions and the key to species, amplified by 46 illustrations.
Megapterocheilus is an endemic North American subgenus of Pterocheilus. It contains 15 described species, one of them, nevadae, new. P. nevadae occurs in desert areas of Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico. Since the most recent key to species is 55 years old, an up-to-date key is given. Four species names are newly placed in synonymy: peninsularis R. Bohart = aritonicus R. Bohart, bimaculatus Provancher = biplagiatus Cresson, inyoensis R. Bohart = nigricaudus R. Bohart, oregonensis R. Bohart = quinquefasciatus Say.