BASSUS. 



277 



Fig. 70. — Bassus IcBttttorius, F. 



Bassiis albocarius, Wollaston, Ann. Nat. Hist. i. I808, p. 2-3 (J). 

 JJansKs fripicficrus, Walsh, Trans. Acad. St. Louis, 187;>, p. So. 

 Scolobates varipes, Smith,* Trans. Ent. Soc. Loud. 1878, p. 3. 

 Bassus venticlus, Saussure, Grandidier, Ilist. Madagascar, Ilyui, 

 pi. .vv, fig. 23(d). 



A shining and distinctly punctate species, black, with the 

 ■scutellum and the centre of the hind tibiae white, the abdomen 



centrally and the apex of the 

 liind tibifB red. Face punc- 

 tulate, clypeus discrete and 

 apically emarginate. Mouth, 

 facial orbits, a mark before 

 the concolorous tegulje, scu- 

 tellum and post-scutelhim 

 white ; antemaaj beneath, the 

 legs and centre or base of 

 abdomen more or less broadly, 

 red ; hind tibiae basally black, 

 and black lieyond the pure 

 white central band, with the 

 apex broadly red. Metathorax 

 subrugose, with the areola 

 short, entire and subtransverse. 

 Abdomen deplanate and not 

 apically compressed, witli the first tluve segments strongly punctate 

 or subscabriculous, bearing a distinct transverse impression 

 beyond; he centre of each ; basal segment subquadrate. centrally 

 elevated and bicarinate to the apical impression. 

 Length 3^-7 millim. 



Baluchistax : Qnetta, vii. 03 (Col. Xurse) ; Kashmir, v. 01 

 (Col. ^"urse); Puxjab : Gojra (Pusa coll.), i'erozepur, 640 ft., 

 iv. 05 (E. Bnaietli — lud. Mus.) ; Eajputa^'a : Mr. Abu (Col. 

 Nurse). Cosmopolitan. 



The extent of the red on the abdomen is the only variable 

 feature of this very constant species ; usually it extends through- 

 out the second and third segments, but I possess females with the 

 whole of the four basal segments red and others with the colour 

 restricted to the extreme apex of the second. The tri-coloured 

 tibiae will instantly distinguish it from all other Bassiues. 



This is a very abundant species throughout Europe, and is one 

 of the most cosmopolitan of all Ichxeumonid.e ; Ashmead says 

 its distribution extends throughout Asia, Africa, Australia, New 

 Zealand, Chatham Islands, Hawaii, Japan, the AVest Indies, and 

 both North and South America (<;;". also Schrottky, Ann. Mus. 

 Buenos Aires, 1902, p. 93) ; in Britain it is abundant from the ' 

 Isle of Wight to Yorkshire, from the end of May to September. 

 I have taken it at artificial light ; but it is most commonly found 

 by sweeping herbage, and more especially upon horseradish, oats, 

 reeds, and the flowers of JTeraclmm, Angelica, Stafice, Achillfa, 

 and thistles ; I have also observed the females abundantly upon 



