374 Tachinidae. 



and mentions it in our country as bred from Vanessa io and urticae, 

 Brotolomia meticulosa and Cucullia lychnitis. There is generally only 

 one but up to four parasites in each host; more than one yearly 

 brood. Besides from the named hosts I have seen it from Smerinthus 

 ocellatus^ Cucullia scrophulariae, Plusia moneta (Weis) and Cucullia 

 umbratica, the Smerinthus and Plusia not earlier known as hosts 

 for it. 



Geographical distribution: — A widely distributed and every- 

 where common species; all Europe; towards the north to northern 

 Sweden and Lapland. Likewise widely distributed in North America. 



Remarks: I think that erythrura Meig. is only a variety which 

 has less red on abdomen, generally the abdominal bristles well deve- 

 loped, and perhaps the bristles of the hind tibial row slightly longer; 

 such specimens Stein has had from me and determined them as 

 erythrura ? 



4. W. xanthogastra Rond. 



1859. Eond. Dipt. Ital. Prodr. III, 107, 2 (Chaetolyga). — 1862. Schin. 

 F. A. I, 452 (iVemoraea). — 1907. Kat. palåarkt. Dipt. III, 233. — 1921. Baer, 

 Zeitschr. f. angew. Ent. VII, 141. — Nemoraea analis 1862. Schin. F. A. I, 453. 



Male. This species is similar to the preceding. Shape and colour 

 of head the same. Antennæ with third joint relatively longer, nearly 

 twice as long as second. Thorax broader than in quadripustulata, 

 less pale pruinose, but with five distinct stripes, the three middle 

 of equal breadth and equally distinct. Abdomen likewise rather 

 broad, red or brownish red, with the base and a broad middle stripe 

 black, the stripe is a little dilated towards the sides at the hind mar- 

 gins; it doesnot reach the apex, so that fifth segment is red all round 

 the margin; abdomen is somewhat whitish or pale yellowish pruinose, 

 especially towards the front margins and most broadly at the sides, 

 but shifting according to view; a narrow, black middle line present, 

 widened on third segment. The black hairs on abdomen are fmer 

 but denser than in quadripustulata; there is generally a pair of mar- 

 ginal bristles on second and third segment, but they are not strong. 

 Legs black; anterodorsal bristles on hind tibiæ rather dense, without 

 longer bristles. 



Female. Quite similar to the male as abdomen has the same 

 colour. Frons broader than the eye ; two or three upper frontal bristles 

 reclinate. Antennæ with third joint broader than in male. Bristles on 

 abdomen stronger. 



