146 t*^""^' 



sheath. The plants containing the insects did not present any external 

 signs, such as swellings or decayed leaves ; and the insects could only 

 be found by pulling the plants asunder. Although so perfectly con- 

 cealed, they were yet very badly infested with a Dipterous larva, so 

 much so that I was unable to find but very few unparasitized indi- 

 viduals. Nearly all the specimens found occurred in isolated plants 

 growing in warm, dry situations. 



It is like B. corynefhori, Sign. (Essai, p. 369, pi. xvii, figs. 1 & 1«), 

 in not constructing an ovisac, or having waxy appendages to its body. 

 It differs, however, in the structure of the antennae, form and colour. 

 It cannot be confounded with any species hitherto described ; its 

 curious habitat is quite unique. 



ElPERSIA TOMLINII, Yl. sp. 

 ? adult. Dull orange-yellow, elongate-oval, slightly narrowed in front, convex 

 above and below ; this applies to the restored specimens only ; the specimens when 

 received were still living, but much shrivelled. Antennae (fig. 6) of seven joints, of 

 which the 3rd is the longest ; the 2nd, 5th and 7th shorter ; 4th and 6th shortest 

 and equal ; all with rather long hairs, basal joint with a very short spine ; rostrum 

 biarticulate, with equidistant hairs at apex ; rostral filaments extending very little 

 beyond insertion of anterior legs. Legs (fig. 6a) short, with many fine short hairs ; 

 coxa and trochanter each with a longer one ; tibiae half as long again as the tarsi, 

 and furnished at the apex with two spines ; tarsi without dilated digitules ; claw 

 with two slender digitules ; anal ring with six long thick hairs, anal lobes nearly 

 obsolete, each with one long and one short hair ; extending inwards on the ventral 

 surface are three or four short spines. Eyes (fig. 6b) in the form of a truncated 

 cone. Long, 2 — 3 mm. ; wide, 1"25 — 2 mm. 



Sac of the ^ globose or ovate, composed of close, white, waxy material, very 

 compact on the inside ; one specimen is almost glassy, and much thinner than the 

 others. Elongate forms, 1"50— 3 mm. long ; wide, 1 — 2 mm. 



Grlobular forms, about 3 mm. in diameter. 



Larva pale orange-yellow, almost covered with meal, very elongate. Antennae 

 (fig. 6c) of six joints, of which the 6th is longer than the Ist and 2nd together ; 3rd, 

 4th and 5th shortest and equal ; all with short hairs ; rostrum biarticulate, and 

 furnished with hairs as in the female ; rostral filaments extending beyond insertion 

 of intermediate legs. Legs with fine hairs ; two fine digitules to claw only ; anal 

 ring of six long hairs ; anal lobes normal, and furnished with hairs as in the adult. 



Ova pale yellow at first, become darker immediately prior to hatching. 



Male unknown. 



Hab. : on grass roots in ants' nests, Moulin Huet, Guernsey. 

 September, 1891. 



In every respect this species agrees with the genus Bipej^sia, ex- 

 cepting as to the number of joints to the antennae, which should be 

 six. Possibly the last joint is a " false joint ;" it certainly has the 



