226 BRITISH ICHNEUMONS. [Ltssonofa. 



and easily known by the posteriorly broad head, more obtuse vertex, 

 sessile areolet and the colouration of the ^ face and legs. From the 

 other indigenous species of the S<gnitn/a/or-^ro\\Y>, this may be known by 

 its black hind coxae, deplanate and hardly curved basal segment, which 

 is vc'r\- little narrowed towards {\w thorax, the terebra as long as the 

 whole body and the Oavous-marked J face. 



It is said not to be uncommon in central Europe and to also occur in 

 the north. It was first recorded from Britain, with no note of its novelty 

 with us, by Bridgnian in his list of Norfolk Ichneumonidae (Trans. Norf. 

 Soc. 1893, p. 631) on the strength of a doubtful example captured by 

 Atmore about Kings Lynn, in that counts*. This I am now able to sup- 

 plement by recording two females, taken by Capron at Shere in Surrey 

 and by mvself by sweeping reeds by the Littte Ouse, at Brandon, in 

 Suffolk, on nth August, 1906. 



MENISCUS, Schiodte. 

 Schiod. Guer. Mag. Zool. 1839, Ins., p. 10, note. 



Head transverse but not very strongl)- narrowed posteriorly ; clypeus 

 discreted, apically rounded and not depressed ; frons normal or exca- 

 vate or sulcate. Antennae filiform and entire, not very slender nor apically 

 attenuate, with the apical joint elongate and the preceding not discre- 

 ted. Thorax often pale-marked, notauli obsolete ; metathorax evenly 

 punctate or coarsely rugose ; base of petiolar area always, and the basal 

 area sometimes, strong ; areola never complete ; spiracles oblong or 

 circular. Scutellum sometimes convex. Abdomen subsessile and usually 

 iinmaculate black with apices of segments nitidulous ; basal segment not 

 arcuate, longer than broad ; hypopygium exserted and concealing base of 

 the usually elongate terebra ; spicula incised above before its apex. Legs 

 normal or somewhat elongate with tarsal claws internally pectinate or 

 {AUoplasta) setiferous. Areolet distinct and nearly always entire, emitting 

 recurrent nervure from near its ci'utre ; nervellus curved and intercepting 

 below the centre. 



This genus contains the largest species of Gravenhorst's Lissonoia and 

 is known therefrom by their large and stout bodies, but especially by the 

 serrate tarsal claws ; in all other respects they are extremely similar to 

 such Lissotiotae as L. femora fa and L.siilphtiriftra. The last two species 

 unquestionably belong to a distinct genus as is testified both by their 

 conformation and habits, for they prey upon Noctuae whereas all the 

 others are parasitic upon lignivorous larvae ; AUoplasta, however, "must, I 

 think, be redescribed before it can be adopted. 



