206 PARASITIC HYMENOPTERA, lii., 



The pronotum is shorter and narrowed in front as com- 

 pared with Decdfoiiuo; it also differs in the mesonotum and 

 scutellum not being umbilically punctate, in the marginal 

 vein being longer and not thickened, and the abdomen sessile, 

 not with a distinct peduncle as in Derafoviu. When the male 

 has been discovered, the species may have to be removed from 

 the Decafomini, of which it has hardly the facies. 



Cratodecatoma ruficeps, sp.n. 



Black; head, apex of pronotum, almost the basal half of 

 mesonotum, basal abdominal segment entirely and the sides 

 of the second and third, red ; antennal scape and the follow- 

 ing two joints of a paler red : legs black, tarsi rufo-testaceous, 

 their last joint black : wings hyaline, a large fuscous cloud at 

 the middle, extending from the base of the marginal to the 

 end of the postmarginal vein and enclosing the stigmal vein ; 

 it is narrowed at the costa, becomes slightly roundly widened 

 to the apex, v-.c, posteriorly, which is roundly transverse and 

 extends shortly beyond the middle. Head closely, finely 

 punctured, occiput more finely punctured than the rest. Pro- 

 notum finely, closely, transversely punctiired, mesonotum 

 more strongly transversely striated, the centre more strongly 

 than the sides. Basal half of scutellum finely, closely striated, 

 the striae broadly rounded : the apical more strongly trans- 

 versely striated, except at the extreme apex, which is smooth. 

 The raised, broadly rounded, central part of the metanotum 

 smooth, the basal lateral part aciciilated. Propleurae dis- 

 tinctly closely striated, the striae roundly curved. Meso- and 

 metapleurae smooth, at the most faintly aciculated, and shin- 

 ing. Hind coxae shining, aciculated, striated. Basal half of 

 abdomen smooth, the apical aciculated. 9. Length, 5 mm. 



Gosford, N.S.AV. Bred from galls on sheoak (Cnsiiarinn 

 sp.) ; in November (W. W. Froggatt). 



The pubescence is short and very sparse ; it is longer and 

 denser on the tibife. Ovipositor broad, obliquely directed 



