xxvi Proceedings. \January ijth, igo2. 



so that Scolobates varipes Sm. sinks as a synonym of Bassus 

 Icetatorius. Scolobates intrudens Sm. remains yet to be cleared up. 

 It is evident enough that it is not a Scolobates and is probably a 

 Lissonota, or it may be a Meteorus (Braconidae). In any case the 

 genus Scolobates may safely be deleted from the New Zealand 

 fauna. 



As regards Bassus Icetatorius, it is now found in most parts 

 of the world, and its geographical range appears to be spreading. 

 It is now found in Australia, the Chatham Islands, Hawaii, 

 North and South America, &c. It can hardly be looked upon 

 as a beneficial insect, inasmuch as it is a parasite on those 

 Syrphidae, which are so beneficial in destroying, during their 

 larval life, the destiuctive plant lice (Aphides). The occurrence 

 of Bassus Icetatorius in New Zealand is long prior (1874) to its 

 being found anywhere else outside Europe, e.g., in Hawaii. 



I received this spring, from Mr. F. v. Hilgendorf, lecturer 

 on science, Christchurch, New Zealand, a species of Braconidce, 

 which he had reared from a mined leaf of the European sow-thistle 

 {Sonchus oleraceus). The species is a Dacnusa, a genus which 

 appears to confine itself mainly to preying on the leaf-mining 

 Diptera — Phytomyza, Agrotnyza. The Dacmtsa I have not been 

 able to identify to my satisfaction, owing to the specimens being 

 mounted in balsam, but I have no doubt that it is an introduced 

 species, as is also the case, probably, with the Dipterous miner 

 on which it preys. The food-plant is probably also an in- 

 troduction.* It would be interesting to rear the maker of the 

 mines, so that its identity could be established. 



There is one group whose position as a member of the New 

 Zealand fauna appears to me to require verification. I mean 

 the family Thynnidse. It is included on the authority of de 

 Saussure, who describes, in " Hymenoptera der Novara Reise," 

 p. 112, Rhagigaster novarce from New Zealand. No species of 

 Thynnidae has been recorded or found by anyone else in New 

 Zealand, and I have come to the conclusion that R. novara is 



* This plant, according to Benthara and Hooker, may be truly indigenous 

 ill New Zealand. Il was found lliere by Banks and Solandcr. 



