March, 1917. TJic Irish Naturalist. 37 



SO:\lE IRISH ICHNEUMONIDAE. 



BY REV. W. F. JOHNSON, M.A., F.E.S., M.R.I. A. 



Last year was not at all favourable to the pursuit of 

 Ichneumon Flies. These insects like to fly in the sunshine,, 

 and its absence makes them lethargic, so that ver\' few are 

 met with ; they are also more partial to the morning hours 

 than the afternoon. As last year was anything but noted 

 for sunshine and had more than its share of rain and dull 

 weather, it will easily be realised that m^^ captures were 

 not so num.erous as usual. However by taking advantage 

 of what sunshine there was I managed to pick up some 

 specimens here througli the spring and summer ; I also 

 got some specimens at Coolmore where I spent September, 

 and ^Ir. J. J. F. X. King, F.E.S., allows me to record some 

 Irish captures of his. 



I ^^■as ver}^ 8^^^ ^o take IcJnieiinion inilitaris (jrav. again, 

 for as I pointed out in my last paper' there had been some 

 doubts about this species ^Ahich my capture cleared up. 

 I give /. eiiiancipatus Wesmi. with reserve, as I am not quite 

 satisfied as to its identity. It is very interesting to observe 

 these insects searching for their prey. They will ahght 

 on a leaf and instantly run to underside, then on to the 

 next, up the stem and down the stem, antennae quivering 

 and the whole creature instinct with a hunter's eagerness. 

 So active are they in their movements that it is very hard 

 to follow them and often as I have watched I have never 

 yet seen one strike its victim, but I hope some day to see 

 and observe this action. ^ 



ICHNEUMONINAE. 



Cratichneumon annulator Fab.— Coolmore at flowers. 

 Barichneumon anator Fab. — Coolmore on the wing, a male. 

 B. ridibundus Gr. — Coolmore among sallows, a male variety with head, 

 meso- and metathorax and hind femora except extreme base, black, 

 B. incubitor L. — Poyntzpass in fields in June and August. 



-'• Irish Nahiralist, vol. xxv., 1916, pp. 18, 19. 



