Aplochares imitator (Smith 1864)

Aplochares imitator (Smith)
Pompilus imitator Smith, 1864, Jour. Ent., 2: 267 [Type: 2, Brazil: Ega,
Amazonas (BMNH, no. 19, 701)]. Aplochares imitator Banks, 1944, Zoologica, 29: 111. — Banks, 1947, Bull.
Mus. Comp. Zool., 99: 412.
This species is aptly named, for it is strikingly colored for a pompilid, having the body and wings blackish, the apices of the fore wings abruptly whitish, exactly like several social Vespidae which occur commonly within its range (e.g. Parachartergus apicalis Fabr.). Species of Hoplisoides (Sphecidae) and Leucospis (Chalcidoidea) belong to this same mimetic complex.
Female. — Length 11-14 mm. Black, except mandibles largely ferruginous, legs fading to dull ferruginous apically; pubescence brownish, with obscure bluish reflections on the abdomen, reflecting golden on the middle and hind coxae; wings wholly infuscated except apex of fore wing contrastingly whitish (the amount, intensity, and shape of the white is rather variable). Emargination of clypeus sharply defined. Front very narrow, MID .46-. 50 X TFD; UID .80-.86 X LID; POL subequal to or slightly exceeding OOL; third antennal segment 1.15-1.25 X UID. Front basitarsus with three slender comb spines (rarely a weak fourth), the apical one about half as long as second tarsal segment. Marginal cell separated from wing tip by about .8 its own length; SMC3 narrowed above by half to two-thirds.
Male. — Unknown.
Distribution. — This species ranges from the Amazon basin north to British Guiana, Venezuela, Colombia, and Honduras. For South America records, see Banks, 1947. (Map 26.)
Central American specimens examined. — 2 2 9. Costa Rica: 1 2, Turrialba, 31 May 1944 (F. Schrader) [USNM]. Honduras: 1 2 , Corocito, 3 April 1924 (JB) [MCZ].