BRITISH ICHNEUMONS. 6l 



creted at the vertex from those of the frons. Antennae not white-banded, 

 fuscous, sometimes paler with the scape often flavidous below. Thorax 

 somewhat elevated in front, black, and generally with the apex of the 

 scutellum and sometimes also the usual lines near the radix flavidous ; 

 upper metathoracic areae sub-complete ; areola sub-transverse and semi- 

 lunar, its apex slightly emarginate. Abdomen black or blackish, thyridii 

 and incisures of the anterior segments always rufescent ; post-petiole 

 broader than long, aciculate-alutaceous ; second segment punctate, some- 

 what scabrous towards the base, longer than broad ; gastrocaeli nearly 

 wanting, but the thyridii distinct, sub-transverse, not rotund ; abdomen 

 becoming smoother posteriorly. Legs red, coxae and base of trochanters 

 black, generally with the hind tarsi and apex of tibiae infuscate. Stigma 

 usually pale testaceous ; areolet narrowed above ; radial nervure a little 

 inflexed at the extreme apex. Length, 10-14 ^'i''"''- 



This is an exceedingly variable insect, and for years C. annulaior was 

 supposed to be the genuine ? , till Holmgren pointed out good and 

 constant differences in /. curvinervis. The c^ may have the coxae with 

 white marks, the antennae entirely black, the abdomen castaneous or even 

 red with the base only black, or the hind femora may be apically or 

 entirely black, which last is the form /. impugnator, Wesm. The ? varies 

 less, though the apex of the scutellum is sometimes entirely pale, which, 

 with a white face, constituted I.fiihnpes, Ste., or, at others it has two pale 

 spots ; the second and third segments may be paitly red, or the whole 

 abdomen castaneous, with the base only black ; and examples have been 

 known with a pale mark on the seventh segment ; lastly, both sexes may 

 have the antennae entirely red towards the base. 



The type of Stephens' /. maculifrons in the British Museum differs 

 from the $ $ ol the above species only in having the face purple and its 

 facial orbits, pale above ; the clypeus has pale lateral spots ; the labrum is 

 entirely white, and the mandibles and hind coxae are piceous. In his 

 description, however, he says " face pale yellowish .... coxae black." 



Some of its forms are extremely like other species, and great care is 

 necessary to satisfactorily differentiate it, especially from the next-described 

 species. The c^ may be known by the flavescent line at the external 

 orbits, which is nearly always present ; the absence of an antennal band 

 and the generally white apex of the scutellum, as well as by its very short 

 cheeks, the breadth of the post-petiole and the linear thyridii. The 5 

 may be known by its posterior coxae, which bear on their inner side large 

 scopulae, extending from the middle to beyond the apex ; the more 

 strongly arched thorax and sub-quadrate areola ; the breadth of the post- 

 petiole, which is centrally aciculate, and the shining transverse thyridii. 

 The apex of the radial nervure is in both sexes moreover only slightly 

 incurved. 



It is a common species throughout Britain, occurring in woods and 

 meadows, from May to August ; Bignell has reared it from Taeniocavipa 

 popukti ; it has been bred, among a large number of other hosts, from 

 Orgyia pudihunda^ Macaria /iturata, Notodonta dromedarius, Axyiia 

 putris. Trachea piniperda, and Cymatophora or. The ? is said to hibernate 

 among moss. Parfitt says /. maculifrons is very rare in Devon, b'Jt that 

 an example with the antennae basally immaculate was taken near Exeter, 

 in April ; the var. albifrons is recorded, together with the type form, from 

 Essex. 



