Gamdrtds.] .BRITISH ICHNEUMONS. 285 



are black, and the sixth and seventh segments l)ear a white fascia, and the 

 eighth a small white transverse line ; the pale palpi and tarsal band of the 

 (?, its broader abdomen, which is widely red centrally, and the large white 

 mark on its sixth and seventh segments, will at once distinguish it. 



Bridgman (Entom. 1880, p. 52, et Trans. Ent. Soc. i88r, p. 154) mistook 

 this species for Hygrocryptus palustris^ Thorns., but later (lib. cit. 1882, 

 p. 143) corrects his error. 



This species, which is usually uncommon throughout Europe, is recorded 

 by Stephens in June and July as not common about London ; by Bridg- 

 man from Eaton and Brundall in Norfolk, in May and August. It has been 

 bred from Simyra ve/iosa in the middle Of June, and from Odonesiis poia- 

 toria in Devon, by Bignell ; from Bottisham Fen in 1825, Wood Ditton, 

 and bred from O. potaloria in Cambridgeshire, by Jennyns. On the 

 Continent it is also said to have emerged from Sesia formicaeformis by 

 Brischke, and Bomhyx neustria by Vollenhoven. It ap[)ears, however, to 

 mainly attack Zy^^aotae : Cravenhorst says it preys uj)on Z. ephialles, L., 

 var. Fei/ceJani, Esp. ; Yerbury has sent it to me from Z. 1 filipenditlae 

 found at Parknasilla in Ireland, in the middle of July, and emerged early 

 in August (cf. E.M.M. 1902, p. 54); Fred. Smith records it as having been 

 bred from the nests of Odynerus laevipes in bramble stems ; and I have 

 bred several females, with P. pere}^rifiator, from the cocoons of Z. tnjolii, 

 found in Oulton Broad, Suffolk, between the i8th and 27th July, 1898. 

 The parasite's cocoon is quite distinct from that of the host, which usually 

 is capable of assuming the pupal condition, though often in a distorted 

 fashion ; it is elongate, quite white and transparent, with its larva skin at 

 the anal extremity, and occupies only the anal half of its host's cocoon. 

 The parasitism, as far as I have been enabled to judge, is in this species 

 solitary. I possess a male from Dr. Capron's collection, given him, proba- 

 bly, by Bridgman. Chitty has bred it in East Kent from Z. filipenditlae in 

 August, and taken it in South Wales in Septeml)er ; Stanley Edwards has 

 captured females at St. Ives in Cornwall and Ivybridge in Devon, in the 

 latter month. 



HOPLOCRYPTUS, Thomson. 

 Thorns. O. E. v. 508. 



Head with frons and external orbits immaculate ; clypcus apically 

 depressed and dentate. Antennae of ? white-banded. Metathorax not 

 short ; coxal area distinct and complete. Abdomen elongate, of $ fusi- 

 form ; anus white-marked ; petiolar spiracles only just behind the centre ; 

 post-petiole with distinct carinae, of ^ usually margined laterally. Tarsal 

 claws not stout ; ? front tibiae inflated. \Vings with areolet large and 

 parallel-sided ; nervelet wanting ; nervellus intercepted above its centre. 



This genus has the anus, as in Spilocfyp/ns, whitemarked, but the 

 nervelet is wanting, the post-petiole not transverse, the spiracular carinae 

 distinct, and the spicula not hastate. 



In the palaearctic fauna eighteen species are with certainty referred to 

 this genus and nine others, including C. sithcittctns and C. >iii:;ripes, are 

 tentatively placed with them l)y Schmiedeknecht. All the IJriti^h kinds 

 would appear to occur but sparingly with us. 



