7-n 3^ 



329. 

 METHOCA ICHNEUMONIDES. 



Order Hymenoptera. Fam. Mutillidae Lat., Leach. 

 Type of the Genus, Methoca ichneumonides Lat. 

 Methoca Lat., Lea., Curt. — Mutilla Jur. 



AntenncB inserted at the base of the clypeus, longer than the 

 head, curved, nearly filiform, pubescent, 12-jointed, basal joint 

 short and very robust, 2nd the shortest, remainder oblong, 

 slightly decreasing in length to the last, which is elongate-ovate 



Labrum inserted under the clypeus, transverse oval, ciliated and 

 producing a few long bristles (2). 



Mandibles long, slender, slightly curved, bidentate at the apex, 

 clothed with many long bristles (3). 



MaxillcE small, terminated by a minute semilunular ciliated lobe. 

 Palpi long, pilose, 6-jointed, basal joint rather the shortest, 4th 

 the longest, 2nd and 3rd a little stouter than the others (4). 

 Mentum convex oblong, rounded before. Lip none, or very mi- 

 nute. Palpi rather long and pilose, inserted on each side the 

 mentum close to the fore-part, 4-jointed, 1st joint slender at the 

 base, terminal one a little the longest (5)* 

 Head large subglobose. Eyes lateral oval. Ocelli 3 in triangle on the 

 crown. Trunk nodose, formed of 3 segments, the 1st or prothorax 

 obovate, the 2nd or mesothorax smaller and oblong bearing aji ovate 

 scutellum, the 3rd or metathorax ovate, not larger than the meso- 

 thorax. Wings none. Abdomen ovoid, attached by a short pedun- 

 cle, acute at the apex which is slightly incurved, and armed with a 

 sting, 2nd and 3rd segments very large. Legs strong. Coxae large. 

 Thighs a little robust. Tibiae ; anterior with a long pectinated spine 

 at the apex. Tarsi long, 5 -jointed, basal joint very long, 4th small- 

 est. Claws bent and acute (8). 



Ichneumonides Za^. Hist. Nat.v.\3.p.269. — Curtis'sGuide,Gen.666. 

 — formicaria Jur. pi. 13. 



Female. Bright ochraceous, shining with scattered punctures and 

 pubescence. Antennae fuscous towards the apex. Head and 

 abdomen black, the latter ochreous and hairy at the apex. Legs 

 hairy, base of the thighs and tips of the tarsi rather piceous. 



In the Cabinet of the Author. 



