56 NOTES ON CHALCIDI.«. 



LEUCOSPID^E. 



The Leucospidae, which include the lai-gest species of the tribe and 

 are parasites of aculeate Hyinenoptera, are comparatively few in 

 species and individuals, and are unknown in England and in the 

 more northern part of Europe. In general they do not vary much 

 in structure, colour and markings ; all those in Europe and Arabia 

 belong to one group of the genus, and this group also includes the 

 South African L. ornata, L. Sinensis, exornata and Japonica in 

 continental Asia ; L. Aruica in Am ; and L. Australia in South 

 Australia. Another group is distinguished by the contraction of the 

 abdomen at the base ; it occurs in North Africa ; and L. atra of 

 Hindostan, L. Aruina of Aru, and L. antiqua of New Caledonia 

 belong to it. In all these species there is no trace of a metallic hue, 

 and thus no blending with the general character of the other 

 Chalcidia? ; and in North America this distinction is attained also 

 by L. Shuckardi and Canadensis ; but in L. subnotata the metallic- 

 hue appears on the front. Towards the equator this lustre is general 

 on the body in L. Mexicana, Cayennensis, Tapayaua, speifera and 

 Egaia ; it does not occur in L. Santarema, but in this the black 

 ground hue of the European and Arabian species is replaced by red. 

 The Chilian L. Hopei is another type, of which the red antennae are 

 a peculiar character. There is another form of the genus in L. 

 leucotelus ; it has no metallic hue nor pale markings, and its wings 

 are black. Leucospis is parasitic on aculeate Hyinenoptera, but has 

 not followed its prey northward so far as the latter extends, and 

 being of comparatively rare occurrence it has only a slight control 

 over its victims. The genus Polistomorpha is distinguished by the 

 elongated face, by the basal contraction of the abdomen, aud by the 

 less incrassated hind femora. In the genus Marres the head is 

 deeply excavated. 



L. Japonica. Finn. Nigra; antenna? apice rufescentes, articulo 

 lo fiavo apice supra nigro ; prothorax fascia postica abbreviate flava : 

 abdomen maculis duabus basalibus quadratis iasciaque subapicali 

 llavis ; oviductus scutelli apicem attingens ; coxa? postica? rlavo 

 unistrigatre ; femora postica octodentata, fascia exteriore basali 

 arcuata flava ; tarsi rulescentes ; alffi nigricantes. 



Female. Black, very thickly and minutely punctured, with short 

 cinereous pubescence. Antenna? stout, subclavate, dull reddish at 

 the tips ; fust joint yellow, black at the tip above. Prothor&x with a 

 sli«ht transverse, smooth, abbreviated yellow ridge near the bind 

 border. Abdomen with a quadrate yellow spot on each side near the 



