

4. 

 PELTASTES DENTATUS. 



Order Hymenoptera. Fam. Ichneumonidae Lat., Leach. 



Type of the Genus Ichneumon necatorius Fab. 



Peltastes III. — Metopius Panz., Lat. — Ichneumon Fomt., Fab., Marsh., 

 Panz., Jur. 



JntenncE inserted above the middle of the face, in 2 cavities between 

 the eyes, long, robust, straight, setaceous and attenuated towards the 

 base, composed of 60 joints and upwards (fig. 1* a). 

 Lnbrum triangular rounded and ciliated in front (2). 

 Mandibles strong, slightly arcuated, acute, bifid near the apex (3,3), 

 Maxillce terminated by 2 lobes nearly of equal size, the internal one 

 almost naked, the external very pilose and dilated (4 a). Palpi very 

 long and hairy, 5-jointed, basal and 3rd joints nearly of equal size, 2nd 

 very large, subobovate, 4th the smallest, oth long and slender (4 b). 

 Mentum oblong (5 a). Palpi short, hairy, composed of 4 nearly equal 

 joints (b). Lip large, membranous, striated, sides recurved (c). 

 Head rather small, transverse ; face scutiform sometimes acuminated between 

 the antennae {I*). Eyes oblong. OceWi 3 in a depressed triangle. Thorax 

 short globose. Scutellum quadrate, the sides reflexed and produced at the 

 angles. Abdomen almost sessile, the basal joint being scarcely narrowed 

 at its attachment, long, somewhat ovate and depressed, concave beneath ; 

 composed of 8 joints in the male (7 the underside of apex); and 7 in the 

 female (6 the underside). Ovipositor nearly concealed. Wings shorter 

 than the body ,• superior vAth one long marginal and 3 submarginal cells, 

 the middle one small rhomboidal. Legs ; 4 first short and small, poste- 

 rior longer and robust. Tibiae spurred, the posterior pair with 2 spines 

 at the apex. Tarsi 5-jointed. Claws strong. Pulvilli large (8f, tarsus, 

 &;c. of a hind leg). 

 Larvae parasitic feeding upon the caterpillars of various Bombycidce. 

 Obs. the Tropin and fig. 6 are drawn from the type, and the other parts are 

 taken from P. dentatus. 



Dentatus Fab. Fnt. Syst. 2. 180. 192.— Micratorius, f'afe. Sijst., Piez.62. 

 41.— Pini Curtis Brit. Ent. ed. l.fol. 4. 



Black, deeply and thickly punctured : antennae ochraceous beneath : 

 nasus yellow. Thorax with 8 yellow spots before the insertion of the 

 wings, and 2 at the base of the scutellum, which is margined with 

 yellow behind. Abdomen with 4 yellow spots on the 1st and 2nd seg- 

 ments, the remainder margined with yellow. Wings obscure fer- 

 ruginous, stigma and nervures brighter. Legs yellow, 1st pair the 

 palest : the posterior thighs striped black inside. 

 In the Author's and other Cabinets. 



Peltastes receives its generic name from the face forming an es- 

 cutcheon or shield : like the rest of the family these insects are pa- 

 rasitic in the larva state, the females depositing their eggs in the 



