PARASITIC HYMENOPTERA. 235 



Sectio A. 

 Areolce cubitales tres in alls anticis. (Trichori.) 



(A.) a. 



Abdomen depressum rotundatum lseve : aculeus reconditus : alae 

 coloratce ; anticas areola radiali angustiore acuminata, cubitali 

 intermedia distincta : pedes postici minus elongati : calcaria 

 minuta : statura mediocris. 



Sp. 3. M. mediator. Mas et Fem. Abdomine antice pedi- 

 busque flavo-ferrugineis ; segmenti primi vitta nigra. 

 (Long. corp. .16; alar. .33.) 



Fem. — Niger, capite et thorace granulato-opacis, pallido-pubescenti- 

 bus : antennae graciles corpore longiores : palpi flavi : pedes 

 graciles flavo-ferruginei, posticorum coxae basi et tarsi nigro-fusca : 

 alae flavescentes aut ferrugineae, stigmate fusco basi determinate 

 pallido ; squamula? flavo-ferrugineas : metathorax rugulosus : ab- 

 domen obovatum planum, laeve nitidum ; segmenta l mum . 2 dum . et 

 3 tu . basis plerunque flavo-ferruginea aut fulva ; primi scutum 

 lineare elevatum, punctatum, nigrum ; 2 di . latera arcuato-im- 

 pressa. 



Variat, segmenti primi lateribus membranaceis infra scutum lineare 

 contractis, unde abdomen subpetiolatum evadat ; his etiam seg- 

 menta intermedia obscuriora ; tibiae posticas et tarsi intermedii 

 apice fusca. 



Variat, antennis subtus et pedibus totis flavo-ferrugineis. 



Variat, coxis omnibus, femoribus intermediis basi, posticis totis 

 nigro-fuscis ; alis fusco-ferrugineis ; abdominis basi obscurius 

 rufescente. 



spins the outer web over its parasites, and Goedart has written the same. 

 Madame Merian has a similar statement relative to the caterpillar of Cynthia 

 Curdui, and its Microgaster. I am more inclined, however, to place my faith in 

 the usual accuracy of Reaumur. It would be a singular fact, that the caterpillar 

 of a butterfly which, for its own transformation, produces only a few threads, 

 which fasten the tail and girt the middle of the chrysalis, should become provided 

 with this superabundant supply in consequence of its interior being nearly 

 devoured. In the case of those species, indeed, which infest the tribes of Bom- 

 byces and Arctice, it appears that the imperfect cocoon spun by the caterpillar 

 may serve for the envelope of its parasites (see M. annularis, No. 15). In 

 general they are found in Lepidopterous larvae ; but Mr. Curtis has obtained one 

 species out of that of an aphidivorous fly. 



