The New World tarantula-hawk wasp genus Pepsis Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae). Part 1. Introduction and the P. rubra species-group

The genus Pepsis is diagnosed and described, and its taxonomic and natural history reviewed. The following are newly synonymized under this genus: the genera Abripepsis Banks, 1946 and Brethesia Schrottky, 1909; and all the existing subgenera of Pepsis, viz. Chrysopepsis Haupt, 1952; Cirripepsis Banks, 1945 & 1946; Deropepsis Banks, 1946; Dinopepsis Banks, 1945; Dinopepsis Haupt, 1952; Giganteopepsis Lucas, 1919 of Pate, 1946; Gigantopepsis Lucas, 1919; Nannopepsis Banks, 1945 & 1946; Ovatopepsis Haupt, 1952; Stenopepsis Banks, 1945; Titanopepsis Haupt, 1952; and Trichopepsis Banks, 1945. The Pepsis rubra species-group, with 18 species, including the type-species of Pepsis, is defined and described; keys to both sexes are provided. In this group, 3 species-names are newly proposed: P. cooperi, P. inbio, and P. roigi; and the following 32 names are newly synonymized under the names indicated: P. albocincta Smith, 1855 = P. abrupta Brèthes, 1908; = P. ameghinoi Brèthes, 1908; = P. annaeerdmuthae Lucas, 1919; = P. chrysothorax Brèthes, 1908; = P. copelloi Brèthes, 1914; = P. echeverriai Brèthes, 1908; = P. ichesi Brèthes, 1908; = P. lycaste Banks, 1946; = P. nutrix Brèthes, 1914; = P. pertyi Lucas, 1895; = P. prixii Brèthes, 1908; = P. rubescens Lucas, 1895; = P. ruficornis Lucas, 1897 (not Fabricius, 1781); = P. staudingeri Enderlein, 1901; = P. sulcata Brèthes, 1908. P. caridei Brèthes, 1908 = P. pampeana Brèthes, 1908. P. chrysothemis Lucas, 1895 = P. lucasii Fox, 1898. P. decorata Perty, 1833 = P. incompleta Brèthes, 1908; = P. opposita Banks, 1946. P. foxi Lucas, 1897 = P. flaminia Brèthes, 1914; = P. gemella Banks, 1946. P. heros (Fabricius, 1798) = P. atrata Lepeletier, 1845; = P. magnifica Montet, 1921. P. mexicana Lucas, 1895 = P. messerschmidti Lucas, 1895. P. pallidolimbata Lucas, 1895 = P. smithi Hurd, 1948. P. rubra (Drury, 1773) = P. papiliopennis (Christ, 1791); = P. stellata (Fabricius, 1793). P. sericans Lepeletier, 1845 = P. decepta Banks, 1928; = P. domingensis Lepeletier, 1845; = P. ignicornis Cresson, 1865. P. thisbe Lucas, 1895 = P. sayi Banks, 1926. P. vinipennis Packard, 1869 = P. insignis Mocsáry, 1885. A single name, P. albocincta Smith, 1855, is revalidated. The name P. inca Banks, 1946 [Abripepsis], does not belong in the P. rubra-group, but is here synonymized under P. chiliensis Lepeletier, 1845 [Pepsis] because of its new generic status.