The Subgenus Pompilinus in Mexico (Hymenoptera, Pompilidae)

Abstract

The subgenus Pompilinus of the genus Anoplius is widely distributed throughout most of the globe, but appears to be best represented in the Nearctic region, where there are about twenty species and subspecies. The group is a difficult one, the differences between the species being slight and often rather subtle, while the amount of intraspecific variation is often not inconsiderable. I believe that future refinements in the systematics of the group will come from comparative ethological studies. However, additional distributional data are also of value, and for this reason a review of the Mexican fauna of Pompilinus is presented at this time. Mexican records were omitted from the writer's recent revision of this group (Evans, 1951, pp. 277–325) for the simple reason that material from that country was then unavailable. The greater part of Mexico is a legitimate part of the Nearctic zoogeographical region, and in fact the Mexican highlands have played an important role in the distribution patterns of many North American Hymenoptera.