256 [Novcmb 



1. EpistoiTie pourvu d'une carene trancliante non prolongee triangulaire- 

 ment en avant. Ocellee distants entre eux comme chez les autres Sphegiens... 



europaa, Gir. 



2. Epistome pourvu d'une carene tranchante, prolongee triangulairement 

 en avant. Ocelles petits, tres rapproches fasciata, J\ir. 



After comparing mj insects with the two descriptions, I am 

 satisHed that the distinctions drawn by M. Andre are unreal, and that 

 Giraud and Chevrier have both described the same species, which is 

 identical with that found by myself. 



For, first, as to the ocelli : Giraud does not say that those of his 

 europcea are " distant ;" he says only that they are '' quite distinctly 

 separated from one another." And this is strictly true of the ocelli 

 in my specimens, though it is no less true that they are — as Chevrier 

 says of the ocelli m fasciata, Jur. — " petits, tres rapproches." 



Secondly, as to the " carene :" in my specimens it ends in about 

 five tiny teeth, the central one being the longest, and the outermost 

 two the shortest, so that the general appearance is quite that of such 

 a " triangular prolongation " as Chevrier describes, while at the same 

 time nothing could more exactly agree with the expression of Giraud, 

 " le bord libre de cet organe " (^. e., the carina) "qui cache entiere- 

 ment le labre, est arme de plusieurs dents courtes et mousses." 



I feel, then, no hesitation in recording my captures as specimens 

 of Ampulex fasciata, Jur., = europcea, Gir. Being entirely black, 

 they cannot be referred to riftcoUis, Cam., the only other species of 

 Ampulex which has been recorded as European. 



Brunswick, Woking : 



September, 1896. 



Baccha elongata bred. — At the end of September Mr. RoUason (who, in con- 

 junction with Mr. Newey, is making black and white drawings of the larvse and 

 pupse of British Lepidoptera) brought me a chip box containing a specimen of B. 

 elongata and its empty pupa case attached to the side of the box. A larva of 

 Mamestra persicarice had been in the box, and Mr. Roliason was under the impression 

 the Baccha was bred from tliat. This I think cannot be so, as I am under the 

 impression that no Syrphid has yet proved to be pai-asitic on Lepidopterous larvse ; 

 probably the Baccha larva was introduced with a leaf of the food-plant. The empty 

 pupa case is pear-shaped, with an elongated base ; it is brown in colour with a black 

 band across the widest part, just where the insect breaks the case to escape. Most 

 of the genus Syrphus feed on Aphides, and from the similarity of the pupa case to 

 some in this genus, it is probable they may feed on similar pabulum. Schiner, in 

 his " Fauna Austriaca," says, " metamorphosis unknown." I should be glad to hear 

 if any one can throw more light on the subject. — Ralph C. Beadley, Sutton 

 Coldfield : October, 1896. 



