438 HTMENOPTERA. 



thing shorter than the twelfth. Vertex raised, completely surrounded by a hollow ; 

 behind in the middle, and clearly separated from the surrounding parts, is a hollow 

 projecting hood-like process, beneath which the prothorax is attached ; eyes bordered 

 all round. Mesonotal sutures deep, wide. In front of the scutellum is a wide trans- 

 verse furrow ; the fovea? at the base of the scutellum are longer than broad, narrowest 

 at the base, where they approach each other ; on either side of the scutellum is a 

 similar but smaller fovea. Petiole not much shorter than the second segment; a deep 

 channel in the centre, there being another channel along each side. On the head 

 behind, on the prothorax, on the metapleura, and on the underside of the petiole are 

 thick masses of white woolly hair, thickest on the head and prothorax ; the apex of 

 the abdomen bears some long hairs. Wings hairy, the apex ciliated; beyond the 

 stigma, on either side, are two somewhat triangular white fasciae ; the apex is white, 

 with a fuscous cloud at the extreme end, this cloud being sometimes united to the 

 black central part at its middle ; the basal part bears some lighter clouds. The base 

 of the flagellum is usually, and the petiole and abdomen are sometimes, more or less 

 piceous. 



The male has the antennae closely pilose, of nearly uniform thickness throughout, the 

 third joint more than one third longer than the fourth, the latter curved at the base ; 

 otherwise as in the female. 



2. Paramesius maculipennis. (Tab. XVIII. figg. 11, <? ; 12, $ .) 



Niger, pedibus piceo-rufis ; petiolo quam segmentum 2 ra dimidio breviore ; alis fumatis, albo-fasciatis. J £ • 

 Long. 6-7 millim. 



Hab. Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui 2500 to 4000 feet (Champion). 



Similar in coloration to the preceding species, but differing as follows: — The antenna? 

 arc longer and thicker, and the third joint is longer compared to the fourth ; the centre 

 of the mesonotum is raised, this raised portion being carinated towards the scutellum, 

 and there is a wide hollow on either side of it ; there is another hollow beyond and 

 external to this one ; and touching the transverse furrow in front of the scutellum is a 

 deep fovea, twice as long as broad. The foveae at the base of the antennae are wider and 

 deeper, and there is another large fovea outside them ; at the side of the scutellum 

 behind there is a large deep fovea open at the apex. The petiole is much shorter and 

 wider, and in the middle of the central channel is a ridge which extends to near the 

 middle. 



The base and the apical joints of the antennae are usually piceous-red, and the thorax 

 and abdomen are more or less tinged with the same colour. 



