HYMENOPTEEA. 



By p. CAMERON. 



The Hymenoptera taken by Mr Stanley Gardiner in the Maldives and in the Minikoi 

 Atoll number 25, of which two are parasitic (Ichnewmonidae), the others belonging to the 

 Aculeate section of the order. The number of species captured on the Maldives is 20 ; in 

 Minikoi 10 ; 5 species are common to both groups. The known species are Indian forms 

 of wide distribution in the Oriental Zoological region ; and some of them, e.g. Ceratina 

 viridissima, Xylocopa aestuans, Polistes stigma, and P. hebraeus, extend also into Africa and 

 the Malay Archipelago. All the species, new and old, belong to genera of universal distri- 

 bution in temperate and tropical countries. The genus Megachile, for example, ranges from 

 the boreal districts of Europe and America to Australia, and few of the Pacific Islands 

 are without a representative of it. 



The Minikoi species were captured from June to September during the south-west 

 monsoon, which is usually the wet monsoon; but in 1899 during the period of Mr Gardiner's 

 visit the weather was abnormally dry, the rain not commencing until the second week in 

 August. The Maldive species were taken in November and December, which were very 

 dry months ; but in October heavy rain fell. Hulule Island was visited in January and 

 February, 1900. 



HYMENOPTERA PARASITICA. 



Fam. Ichneumonidae. 



1. Zanthopimpla appendiculata, sp. nov. 



Long. 11 ; terebra 4 mm. 



A species closely allied to the doubtful Z. punctata Fab. ; and which is certainly different 

 from Z. punctata Krieger. 



Hah. Minikoi, Laccadives. 



Scape of antennae pale yellow ; the flagellum brownish. Head yellow, except the ocellar 

 region, where there is a mark longer than broad, which extends to the end of the vertex 

 and is rounded in front. The face is strongly and closely, the clypeus less strongly, 

 punctured. The head is not much developed behind the eyes, and is roundly, obliquely 

 narrowed there. On the base of the mesonotum are three black marks touching each other ; 



7—2 



