192 [August, 1908. 



graph belong (sec. Konow) to Thrinax or Stromboceros. Of Strongy- 

 lo(j aster, ua defined by Konow, we seem to have the same three species 

 which occur in Scandinavia and in Germany, viz., cingulatus, F., 

 a very common species, and xanthoceros, Steph. (= geniculatus, 

 Thorns.), and Jilicis, Kl., which are both apparently very rare. All 

 occur on ferns in early summer, aud I have taken both sexes of all 

 three species in one day while collecting with Herr Konow in 

 Mecklenburg. In this country I have only found cingulatus, both 

 sexes of which I have taken pretty abundantly in the New Forest and 

 elsewhere, though both Smith and Cameron speak of the $ £ as 

 extremely rare. Xanthoceros ? I have received from Mr. Donis- 

 thorpe (Sherwood Forest, June, 1907), and another specimen was 

 sent to me for identification in 1907 by Mr. C. Morley. The only 

 British record for filicis known to me is that given in the Monograph 

 " a (J taken by Mr. James Hardy at Wooler in Northumberland"; 

 but according to Herr Konow the Tenthredo atricomi< of Stephens 

 "found near London, but rarely, in Juue " is probably to be referred 

 to jilicis. The Monograph, however, makes atricornis an aberration 

 of cingulatus, and xanthoceros also. But there can be no doubt that 

 the latter = geniculates, and both Thomson and Konow regard its 

 differences from cingulatus as specific. 



The above species form Thomson's Sectio I of Strongylog aster. 

 When once known they may be distinguished at a glance from those 

 of his Sectio II {Thrinax and Stromboceros) by their much greater 

 size and different style of coloration. They are also more punctured 

 and less shining, and are further separable by the mesotliorax being 

 without " praesterna discreta" (Ent. Mo. Mag., 1903, p. 1 L5, fig. 9). 



SYNOPTIC TABLE OF BRITISH STRONGYLOGASTER Spp. 



1. Claws not bifid. Humeral area in fore-wing divided not far from the apex by 

 a transverse almost perpendicular nerve. Tegulse black. Abdomen quite 

 black in $ , red (more or less black on the dorsum) in the ? without dis- 

 coloured bands at the apices of the segments. Puncturation of abdomen 

 above very coarse and rugose making the surface quite dull and opaque... 



Jilicis, Kl. 



Claws bifid. Humeral area without cross nerve. Tegula? white. Abdomen of 



cJ entirely or largely reddish-testaceous ; that of ? black with at the apex 

 of each segment a conspicuous discoloured band whose tint gradually shades 

 away from obscure red through orange and yellow into clear white at the 

 actual apex. Puncturation of abdomen shallow and indistinct, its surface 

 more or less shining 2. 



