A. D. Imms 213 



which is an infrequent host plant for the latter. Subsequently both sexes 

 were reared from the same weevil by Nordlinger, and Ratzeberg later 

 adds (1852, p. 103) that Eeissig bred both sexes from apple blossom. In 

 1912, Catoni recorded having reared considerable numbers in the Trentino. 



As adequate descriptions of this sex are given by Schmiedenknecht 

 (1906, p. 1084) and Morley {loc. cif. p. 76), it is neither desirable nor 

 necessary to add anjiihing further so far as the female is concerned. 



Morley states that examples of this sex are one of the commonest of 

 all Ichneumonidae in Britain in the early spring. There are, however, 

 very few records apparently due to the fact that the insect was not 

 recognised as being a British insect until 1889 when Bridgman established 

 its identity. Up to the present, it is know^n from certain of the southern 

 and south-eastern counties, but further collecting and observation will 

 doubtlessly reveal its distribution to be more widely spread. 



3. THE MALE. 



Although the female is an abundant insect very little has been known 

 concerning the male. Ratzeberg surmised that an example bred by 

 Nordlinger, along with females of this species, probably belonged to it; 

 similar males and females were afterwards reared by Reissig. In 1912 

 Catoni reared a number of males from the Anthononius in Italy but 

 apparently was unaware of their seeming rarity. I know of no further 

 records concerning this sex. Ratzeberg's description is very brief and 

 inadequate but, since it was the only information available, is copied by 

 Schmiedenknecht (1906, p. 1085) and Morley (1908, p. 77). During the 

 course of the present investigation I have bred out a considerable number 

 of examples of this sex and as the result I am able to include herewith 

 a full description thereof which has been drawn up and forwarded to me 

 by Mr Claude Morley. 



Description of the Male of Pimpla {Epiurus) pomorum Ratz., 

 BY Claude Morley, F.Z.S., etc. 



Head with the face and short cheeks immaculate black; mandibles 

 and palpi pure white. Antennae filiform and not apically attenuate, 

 nigrescent testaceous and about half the length of body, pale beneath 

 with the scape and pedicellus pure white beloAv. Thorax with short white 

 humeral callosities before radices, but the collar not in this instance (as 

 is stated by Ratzeberg) pale; metanotal areae wanting, at most the basal 

 indicated; metathoracic apex impressed before a longitudinal carina on 

 either side; spiracles circular. Abdomen linear and not very strongly 



