Genus. Pepsis, Fabr. Latr. Sphex, Linn. Drury.
Pepsis Atrox. Nigra, alis fusco-diaphanis, pedibus fulvis. (Long. Corp. 2 unc. 3 lin. Expans. Alar. 3 unc. 6 lin.)
Syn. Sphex atrox, Drury, App. vol. 3.
Habitat: Sierra Leone.
Head dark brown. Jaws strong: two of the palpi are long, the other two short. Tongue dilated, and tufted at the tips. Eyes oblong, shining and prominent. Thorax and abdomen brown-black. Abdominal peduncle short. In the specimen figured the sting was exserted, curved, and furnished with two short clavate instruments at its base. Wings thin, and diaphanous. Legs yellow-brown, and furnished with a great number of short spines from the claws to the base of the tibiæ. Tibiæ with two spurs, except those of the fore-legs, which have but one.
Fabricius has described an insect from South America, under the name of Pepsis Heros, which nearly agrees with this species, with the following reference—"Sphex Securus, Drury Ins. . tab. . fig. ." It will be sufficient to observe that Drury has described no such insect, although it is probable that Fabricius, who was on terms of intimacy with our author, might have seen the unpublished figure of such insect in his possession. Mr. Smeathman informed our author that he was once stung in the finger by one of these insects, but the pain was not so severe as might have been expected from a wound made by so large a creature belonging to this genus. His method, when stung by any insects in Africa, was to open the puncture with a lancet, and squeeze out the blood and venom together, which, when effectually done, soon caused the pain to abate.
CHLORION FEROX.
Plate [XLII]. fig. 2.
Order: Hymenoptera. Section: Fossores. Family: Sphegidæ, Leach.
Genus. Chlorion, Latr. Sphex, Drury.