132 SMITH ON HYMENOPTEEA OF AKU ISLANDS. 



Catalogue of Hymenopterous Insects collected by Mr. A. E. 

 Wallace at the Islands of Aru and Key. By Fbedeeick 

 Smith, Esq., Assistant in the Zoological Department, British 

 Museum. Communicated by W. W. Saunders, Esq., r.E.S., 

 V.P.L.S. 



[Read December 3rd, 1858.] 



This Collection of Hymenoptera is the most important contribu- 

 tion which has been made to the Aculeata through the exertions 

 of Mr. Wallace ; in point of geographical distribution, it adds 

 much to our knowledge. In the Aru, Key, and neighbouring 

 islands, we meet with the extreme range of the Australian insect- 

 fauna ; and as might be expected, it is found amongst the Yespi- 

 dious Gi-roup, and in one or two instances in the EormicidsB. 

 The latter, being frequently conveyed from one island to another, 

 can perhaps scarcely be considered indicative of natural geogra- 

 phical distribution. Of the forty-six species of the Eormicidous 

 Grroup, only six were previously known to science. Of the genus 

 JBodomyrma here established, one species only, from Adelaide, was 

 previously known ; it is one of the most distinct and remarkable 

 genera in the family. The Pompilidce are species of great beauty, 

 some closely resembling those of Australia in the banding and 

 maculation of their wings ; amongst the Vespidce will be found 

 some of the most elegant and beautiful forms in the whole of that 

 protean family of Hymenoptera. 



Earn. ANDEENID^. 

 Gen. Peosopis. 



1. Prosopis malachisis. p. nigro-cseruleo-viridis, nitida et deHca- 

 tule punctata ; aUs hyalinis. 



Female. Length A\ hues. Deep blue-green, with tints of purple in cer- 

 tain lights, particularly on the head, the clypeus with a central longi- 

 tudinal ridge, its anterior margin slightly eraargiuate ; the flagellum 

 rufo-piceous beneath, the ocelli white. Thorax : the wings hyaline 

 and brilliantly iridescent ; the legs dark rufo-piceous with a bright 

 purple tinge. Abdomen delicately punctured, the head and thorax 

 more strongly so ; the latter with a semicircular enclosed space at its 

 base, which is smooth and shining. 



Hah. Key Island. 



Gen. NoMiA. 



1. NoMiA ciNCTA. iV. nigra, capite thoraceque punctatis, pedibus 



ferrugineis ; segmentis abdominis apice fulvo-testaceo late fasciatis. 

 Female. Length 6 lines. Black : the two basal joints of the flagellum, 



