Illustrated Key to the Genera of Pompilinae of Northeastern North America

[Illustrations Coming Soon]

III. Key to the tribes and genera of Pompilinae of Northeastern North America

 

1A    a. Males....................................................................................................................................................................................2

1B    a. Females..............................................................................................................................................................................15

 

2A    a. Anterior wing with two SMCs.

        b. SMC2 receiving one r, r2 received by Cu beyond tCu2 (Aporus Spinola).......................................Aporus niger (Cresson)

2B    a. Anterior wing with three SMCs -OR-

        b. If with two SMCs, both recurrent veins are received by SMC2 (rarely r2 is interstitial with tCu2, and occasionally r2 is absent completely)..................................................................................................................................................................3

 

3A    a. Two SMCs present.

        b. tM of posterior wing leaving A at an angle, short and straight, reaching M well before the origin of Cu.

        c. A very small species, generally not over than 4 mm..............................................................Allaporus pulchellus (Banks)

3B    a. Three SMCs present.

        b. tM and A not differentiated, forming a continuous arc that meets M.

        c. Slightly larger to much larger species, generally 5 mm or greater.........................................................................................4

 

4A    a. Propodeum bearing distinct, more or less conical processes posterolaterally....................................................................14

4B    a. Propodeum lacking conical processes posterolaterally.........................................................................................................5

 

5A    a. Postnotum arcuately broadened on each side of the median line, then constricted again opposite the propodeal spiracles.

        b. A of the posterior wing meeting M beyond the origin of Cu -OR- if not:

        c. possessing a scale-like pubescence on T1 and sometimes the propodeum.........................................................................6

5B    a. Postnotum a band of variable width, with nearly parallel anterior and posterior margins, or broadened at the midline, or practically absent.

        b. A of posterior wing usually (not always) meeting M at or before the origin of Cu.

        c. NEVER with scale-like pubescence......................................................................................................................................8

 

6A    a. Tarsal claws dentate.

        b. Wings showing no tendency to fold longitudinally.

        c. Metasoma very slender..........................................................................................................XVII. Sericopompilus Howard

6B    a. Tarsal claws bifid.

        b. Wings showing a strong tendency to fold longitudinally.

        c. Metasoma generally not as slender......................................................................................................................................7

 

7A    a. Propodeum and T1 with appressed, scale-like pubescence.

        b. Color predominantly black with limited white or yellow markings, if any........................................XVIII. Episyron Schiodte

7B    a. Propodeum and T1 completely lacking scale-like pubescence.

        b. Species marked with extensive yellow, black, and red.........................................................XIX. Poecilopompilus Howard

 

8A    a. Possessing a blunt tubercle just above the antennal sockets.

        b. Coloration mainly dark red with black markings (Tachypompilus Ashmead)..............Tachypompilus f.  ferrugineus (Say)

8B    a. Lacking a tubercle on the face as above.

        b. Coloration not as above, red markings (if present) limited mainly to the abdomen...............................................................9

 

9A    a. r2 on anterior wing arising on SD much more than half the distance from the base of SD to the outer wing margin.

        b. Small, slender species with slender appendages; all black in our species...............................XVI. Agenioideus Ashmead

9B    a. r2 on anterior wing arising on SD about or slightly less than half the distance from the base of SD to the outer wing margin.

        b. Size, color, and appendages variable.................................................................................................................................10

 

10A  a. Anterior margin of clypeus convexly rounded.

        b. Clypeus rather narrow, not more than 1.7X  as wide as high.

        c. Propodeum with slope rather flat in front, abruptly declivous behind and often prominent on the sides of the declivity.

        d. Pronotum rather long, often as long as or longer than the mesoscutum, its posterior margin weakly arcuate to nearly straight.

        e. Antennal segments very short, first flagellomere less than 2X as long as thick..............................XIV. Psorthaspis Banks

10B  a. Anterior margin of clypeus truncate to emarginate, in any case not as above.

        b. Clypeus broader, usually more than 1.8X as wide as high.

        c. Other characters c-e various................................................................................................................................................11

 

11A  a. Mid and hind claws bifid.......................................................................................................................................................12

11B  a. Mid and hind claws dentate.................................................................................................................................................13

 

12A  a. Labrum fully exserted, semicircular.

        b. Malar space fairly long, at least as long as antennal pedicel.

        c. Antennae strongly crenulate or subserrate in profile.

        d. Posterior slope of propodeum with dense, erect pile (Paracyphononyx Gribodo)....Paracyphononyx funereus Lepeletier

12B  a. Labrum at most partially exserted, usually completely hidden.

        b. Malar space practically absent (at most half as long as the antennal pedicel).

        c. Antennae filiform, occasionally weakly crenulate in profile.

        d. Propodeum not as above......................................................................................................................XX. Anoplius Dufour

 

13A  a. Antennae short, the first flagellomere less than twice as long as thick and distinctly shorter than the second flagellomere.

        b. Pronotum arcuate (rarely weakly angulate), nearly as long as mesoscutum.

        c. Pulvillar pad and comb very weak...................................................................................................XV. Evagetes Lepeletier

13B  a. Antennae longer, the first flagellomere more than twice as long as thick.

        b. Pronotum at least subangulate, most commonly angulate and always shorter than the mesoscutum.

        c. Pulvillar pad and comb stronger..................................................................................................XXI. Arachnospila Kincaid

 

14A  a. Antennal segments short, first flagellomere less than 2X as long as thick......................................XIV. Psorthaspis Banks

14B  a. Antennal segments longer, third segment greater than 2X as long as thick...................................XXII. Aporinellus Banks

 

15A  a. Pronotum with the collar not well differentiated from the disc, collar nearly on the same plane as the disc.

        b. Pronotum longer than the mesoscutum on the midline, sometimes nearly twice as long.

        c. Streptaulus absent medially.

        d. Never with a tarsal comb (Aporini).......................................................................................................................................16

15B  a. Pronotum with the collar well differentiated from the disc, the collar on a much lower plane and the disc sloping sharply upward.

        b. Pronotum shorter, rarely about as long as the mesoscutum along the midline, usually much shorter.

        c. Streptaulus complete.

        d. Very often with a tarsal comb..............................................................................................................................................18

 

16A  a. Anterior wing with three SMCs.

        b. Anterior femora not incrassate.

        c. Mandible with a strong fimbriate groove on its underside.

        d. Clypeus forming a bridge medially with the frons.

        e. Strongly patterned with orange and black, wings light yellowish and banded.................................XIV. Psorthaspis Banks

16B  a. Anterior wing with two SMCs.

        b. Anterior femora incrassate.

        c. Mandible without a fimbriate groove.

        d. Clypeus not forming a median bridge with the frons.

        e. Not patterned as above.......................................................................................................................................................17

 

17A  a. SMC2 receiving two recurrent veins, or occasionally r2 is absent leaving D3 open.

b. Eastern specimens with the abdomen and at least the posterior femora red........................Allaporus pulchellus (Banks)

17B  a. SMC2 receiving one recurrent vein.

        b. Entirely black with deeply infuscate, slightly violaceous wings........................................................Aporus niger (Cresson)

 

 

18A  a. Propodeum bearing sharp, conical processes posterolaterally.

        b. Postnotum concealed dorsally.

        c. Often with two SMCs.......................................................................................................................XXII. Aporinellus Banks

18B  a. Propodeum lacking conical processes.

        b. Postnotum a band of variable width, in any case not concealed dorsally.

        c. Most commonly with three SMCs........................................................................................................................................19

 

19A  a. Postnotum arcuately broadened on each side of the median line, then constricted again opposite the propodeal spiracles.

        b. A of posterior wing meeting M beyond the origin of Cu -OR- if not:

        c. Possessing a scale-like pubescence on the propodeum and T1.........................................................................................20

19B  a. Postnotum a transverse band with parallel margins, or broadened at the midline, in any case not as above.

        b. A of posterior wing meeting M before the origin of Cu.

        c. NEVER with scale-like pubescence on the propodeum and T1..........................................................................................22

 

20A  a.  Claws bifid.

        b. A of posterior wing meeting M at or beyond the origin of Cu.

        c. T1 and propodeum with a silvery, appressed, scale-like pubescence............................................XVIII. Episyron Schiodte

20B  a. Claws normally dentate.

        b. A of posterior wing always meeting M BEYOND the origin of Cu.

        c. NEVER with appressed, scale-like pubescence on T1 and the propodeum........................................................................21

 

21A  a. Apical tarsal segments not spines beneath.

        b. Spines of the front tibiae mostly on the outer side.

        c. Wings rather large and not showing a strong tendency to fold longitudinally.

        d. Entirely black or black with orange on the basal half of the abdomen...................................XVII. Sericopompilus Howard

21B  a. Apical tarsal segments spined beneath.

        b. Anterior tibiae with a series of strong spines above.

        c. Wings of typical size and showing a stronger tendency to fold longitudinally (although not so much as in Episyron).

        d. Strongly patterned with black, yellow, and orange or red-orange.........................................XIX. Poecilopompilus Howard

 

22A  a. Malar space well developed, at least as long as the antennal pedicel.

        b. Labrum fully exserted.

        c. S6 laterally compressed, hirsute.

        d. Claws bifid.

        e. Never with a tarsal comb (Paracyphononyx Gribodo)..............................................Paracyphononyx funereus Lepeletier

22B  a. Malar space practically absent.

        b. Labrum at least partially hidden, commonly completely so.

        c. S6 not laterally compressed.

        d. Claws various.

        e. OFTEN with a tarsal comb...................................................................................................................................................23

 

23A  a. Front with a blunt tubercle between the antennal sockets.

        b. Propodeum strongly convex with a well-defined posterior declivity.

        c. Rather large species mainly dark red and black in coloration....................Tachypompilus ferrugineus ferrugineus (Say)

23B  a. Front with at most a slight elevation between the antennae, but never with a tubercle.

        b. Propodeum convex or not, with or without a posterior declivity.

c. Small to large species, mainly black; orange markings (if present) limited to the abdomen, in any case never colored as above.......................................................................................................................................................................................24

 

24A  a. r2 of anterior wing arising on SD much more than half the distance from the base of SD to the outer wing margin.

        b. Legs weakly spined.

        c. Color entirely black, wings weakly infuscate or subhyaline with a dark marginal band and submarginal band.

d. Appendages and body rather slender.......................................................................................XVI. Agenioideus Ashmead

24B  a. r2 of anterior wing arising on SD about or slightly less than half the distance from the base of SD to the outer wing margin

        b. Legs of northeastern species more strongly spined.

        c. Color various.

        d. Body various, although generally stockier than above........................................................................................................25

 

25A  a. Apical tergite provided with numerous stiff, bristly setae, which are often quite dense.

        b. Pulvillar comb strong, of from 12 to 26 strong subparallel setae.........................................................XX. Anoplius Dufour

25B  a. Apical tergite often with strong, erect setae, but these are never stiff and bristly.

        b. Pulvillar comb various..........................................................................................................................................................26

 

26A  a. Antennae very short, the first flagellomere at most 3.5X as long as thick, usually less than 3X as long as thick.

        b. Middle flagellomeres tending to be broadened and flattened on one side.

        c. Pulvillar comb of not more than seven weak setulae.

        d. Pronotum in lateral view as long as the mesonotum and having a distinct dorsal face.

26B  a. Antennae longer, the first flagellomere generally more than 3.5X as long as thick.

        b. Middle flagellomeres not broadened and flattened on one side......................................................XV. Evagetes Lepeletier

c. Pulvillar comb variable, but usually stronger and often quite stronger than above (when reduced then not having the above set of characters).

d. Pronotum shorter, usually without a distinct dorsal face.............................................................XXI. Arachnospila Kincaid