The following species of Mutillidae, parasitic wasps commonly known as “velvet ants” or “cow killers” were collected during the period September. 1928, to July, 1930, while the writer was stationed at the Pink Bollworm Laboratory at Presidio, Texas. Presidio County with Brewster County on the east and Jeff Davis County on the north, forms the little known area called the “Big Bend” region of Trans-Pecos Texas.

Phyciodes tharos var. arctica Dos Passos. This recently described Newfoundland race (1935, Can. Ent. LXVII, 87) was differentiated from the typical form largly on the strength of the more orange coloration of the underside, especially of the hindwings, the author stating it to be “zinc orange” as compared with the “naples yellow” of tharos proper.

This group includes four black species which have the size moderate or large, the antennae strongly serrate, and the apical antennal segment constricted. All of the species are well characterized and can be recognized without much difficulty. The three western species, cribrosus, maurus, and colossus were confused together by Van Dyke in his recent synopsis (1932, Proc. Cal. Ac. Sci. 4th ser., XX, 408). Dr. Fall (1934, Jour. N. Y. Ent. Soc. XLII, 32) has given reasons for rejecting Van Dylie's arrangement, and I am in full accord with his conclusions.

Three of the species of Ablautus Loew described here have been on hand for several years and, as no additional material has become available, there seems to be no reason for delaying their description longer. These small robber flies inhabit the more arid regions of the West and Southwest and seem to prefer sandy localities in the sage brush. Osten Sacken commented on the fact that Ablautus mimus O. S. was associated with Lestomyia sabulonum O. S. on sandy soil and seems to mimic it; and Melander says, regarding Cyrtopogon ablautoides Mel., “The species presents a curious superficial resemblance to Ablautus mimus O. S., with which it is associated in the sandy desert region.”

In the course of my studies of this interesting group of flies, some new species have been described which I wish to record at this time.

Sciara townesi sp. n.

Male. Length 3½ mm. Shiny in appearance.

Head black, palpi brownish. Antennae black, covered with silvery pubescence. Thorax black. Pteropleurite slightly lighter. Legs yellow, ventral surface of trochanters black. Fore tibia with one spur, meso and metathoracic tibia with two spurs. Prothoracic basitarsus shorter than tibia. Wing, length 3 mm. Costa extends about 4/5 distance from Rs to M1+2. Hypopygium (fig. I) brownish black.