Descriptions of New Species of Parasitic Hymenoptera. 47 



slightly suffused with fuscous ; the base, and the basal half of the 

 hind wings in front hyaline. ? . 



Length 11 mm. ; terebra 2^ mm. 



Cape Colony. Hex Eiver ; Worcester Distr. 



Head smooth, face sparsely covered with black hair ; palpi black, 

 the apical three joints of the maxillary rufous. Centre of middle 

 lobe of first abdominal segment stoutly longitudinally striated ; the 

 second segment and the wide suturiform articulation stoutly longi- 

 tudinally striated ; the basal furrows on the third and fourth 

 segments are widely crenulated, those on their apex smooth. On 

 the middle of the second segment is a distinct keel, which reaches to 

 the apex ; its apex narrowly dilated and striated : the lateral depres- 

 sions wide, shallow. Hind coxae broadly black at the base above. 

 Eecurrent nervure interstitial ; the costa and stigma scarlet-red ; the 

 other nervures black. 



The Group of I. pictus, Be. 



Vemiilion-red, either entirely or with the head and thorax spotted with black; 

 the abdomen ovate, not much longer than the thorax, the basal two to four 

 segments closely, strongly longitudinally striated ; the area on base of second 

 segment not clearly defined, only indicated by stronger strife. Wings dark 

 fuscous, with or without some small hyaline clouds ; the costa and stigma 

 bright vermilion-red. 



This is an easily recognised group from the bright red colour of 

 the entire body. The limit of the species is not well defined from the 

 great variation in the amount of black on the head, thorax, and 

 abdomen. The bright vermilion colour with some of the forms 

 shows an approach to red, testaceous or ferruginous. With the 

 material at my command at present I am unable to define properly 

 the limits of some of the species. The sculpture of the abdomen 

 appears to vary in its strength. Whether the group consists of 

 numerous species or of one protean species of great variability is a 

 point in regard to which I can come to no definite conclusion from 

 the somewhat limited material at my disposal. 



Iphiaulax pictus. Be. 



In the collection are a good many specimens which agree with the 

 description of I. pictus, B6. (Hymen., iv., 426), of incisiis, Be. {I.e. 

 427), /. sirjnatus, B6. {I.e. 430), and with wahlhergi, Holm. In 

 the typical p)ict7is the head is black, except round the mouth ; 

 others have the face without black, the upper part of the head black ; 

 and still others have only the middle of the front and vertex blacks 



