BV ALAN P. DODD. 445 



blow-Hies,* and, iis only about half a dozen specimens have been secured, it is 

 not of much economic importance; yet, as it is evidently a primary parasite, it 

 is well worth noticing." 



The Diapriidae appear to conliue their activities to Dipterous host*;, but so 

 far this record of their breeding is the first in Australia. 



The species is somewhat \ariable in tlie relative length of the pedicel and 

 first flagellar joint, and in the foveae at the base of the seutellum. One 

 female has a consnieuous thick protuberance at the apex of the abdomen; this 

 process is very p()ssil)ly retractile, which would account for its absence in the 

 other specimens. 



The types and cotypes are in the collections of Mr. W. W. Frog-gatt ; one 

 cotype i.s in the author's collection. 



Family BELYTIDAE. 



This family does not seem to be well represented in Australia, sixteen spe- 

 cies having been recorded. The species described below differs considerably from 

 all the Australian forms, falling in the group in which the seutellum is more or 

 less spiued or toothed, and containing four South American species described by 

 Kieffer (Ann. Soc. Sci. Brussels, xxxiii., 1909) in four different genera, Pros- 

 oxylahls Kieffer, Monoxylabis Kieffer, Aci<Jopf<iliis Kieffer, and Odontopsilus 

 Kieffer, of which the first alone is founded on a female; the insect described 

 herewith shows some diversity in the venation from all these, but the autlior does 

 not deem it advisable to propose a new genus for its reception. 



Prosoxylabis pictipennis, n.sp. 



?. — Lciigth, 3.5mm. 



Head, thorax (except the scutum), abdominal petiole, and the legs very deep 

 red; scutum and body of abdomen bright chestnut; the first eight antennal joints 

 bright reddish yellow, the apical seven black. 



Head uoi-mal, subglobose, the antennal in-ominence \ery distinct: from lateral 

 aspect the frons triangular, covered with a dense fine golden pubescence; eyes 

 moderately small, ocelli small, close together. Antennae 15-jointed; scape slender, 

 as long as the four following joints, combined ; pedicel short, a little longer than 

 wide; funicle joint 1 distinctly longer, twice as long as its greatest width; 2-6 

 gradually shortening. 6 as wide as long; club 7-jointed' (the first club joint really 

 forms a transition between the funicle and club), its joints 1-6 somewhat wider 

 than long, the apical joint twice as long as the penultimate. Thorax about twice 

 as long as its gieatest width; pronotum not visible from above; scutum plainly 

 wider than long, covered with long fine golden pubescence, the parapsidal fur- 

 rows delicate; seutellum on either side of basal fovea with dense golden pub- 

 escence, its disc with scattered pubescence; basal fovea large, subcircular, divideil 

 by a median carina that continues along the disc to terminate in a blunt tubercle 

 or tooth ])osteriorly ; postscutellum and median seginent with a dressed sparse 

 pubescence, the latter long. Forewings long and broad, extending well beyond 

 apex of abdomen, marginal cilia short ; discal cilia very dense and rather coarse 

 very deeply embrowned, with a broad subhyaline band across the wing a little 

 before the apex, a small subhyaline area just before the marginal vein, and a 



'The two other known enemies of sheep-maggot flies are the Chalcids Nasonia brez'i- 

 coniis Oirault ami Saunders, and Cha/cis calliphorae Froggatt. 



