HYMENOPTERA. 57 



11. Bemhex handlirschi, sp. nov. 



Long. 11 mm. (/"• 



Hah. Hulule, Male Atoll, Maldives. 



This is one of the smallest of the Oriental species. It belongs to the group of Orientalis. 



Antennae entirely black ; the seventh and eighth segments are dilated towards the 

 apex on the underside ; the ninth has a small sharp spine ; the tenth and eleventh are 

 hollowed ; the tenth is narrowed at the base. Head black, thickly covered with white 

 hair; the clypeus, except at the base, and the apex in the centre, the outer orbits, the 

 labrum, the mandibles, except at the apex, two small central and a longer, pyriform mark 

 outside below the ocelli, pallid yellow. Thorax thickly covered with white pubescence ; two 

 narrow lines on the centre of the mesonotura and probably a transverse apical one, a 

 narrow line on the pronotum, the base and apex of the propleurae, a curved line on the 

 upper half of the mesopleurae in the centre ; this line becoming dilated gradually, but 

 not very much, towards the centre, a small mark on the base of the metapleurae, a large 

 oblique one, narrowed at the base, on the apex and extending on to the apical slope of 

 the segment ; the apex of the scutellum and postscutellum and a broad curved interrupted 

 line on the apex of the basal slope of the median segment, pale yellow. Legs coloured 

 like the body ; the coxae, trochanters, the base of the femora narrowly and the upper 

 part broadly and the lower parts of the anterior pair and the hinder knees, black ; the 

 middle femora are serrate, but not strongly ; the joints of the fore tarsi are slender and 

 not much dilated towards the apex ; the spines are long and pale. The basal black band 

 on the first abdominal segment is broadly and roundly dilated in the middle at the apex ; 

 there are two black marks, broader than long, on the base of the second, two less distinct 

 ones on the third ; the apical bands are dilated backwards in the middle ; the band on 

 the fifth is united by a narrow line to the base ; the 6th and 7th segments are entirely 

 black. There is no spine on the second ventral segment ; the last is broadly depressed 

 on the either .side of the middle ; the outer edge is curved and narrowed towards the apex. 

 Wings clear hyaline ; the costa and stigma testaceous ; the nervures darker. Tegulae black, 

 lined with black on the inner side. 



Fam. Vespidae. 



12. Polistes hebraeus Fab. 



Hab. Hedufuri, Mahlos Atoll, Maldives. 

 The Maldives form is macaensis Fab. 



13. Foliates stigjna Fab. 

 Hah. Minikoi, Laccadives. The common Indian variety. 



14. Rhynchium Maldivense, sp. nov. 



Long. 11 — 13 mm. 



Hah. Hulule, Male Atoll, Goidu, Goifurfehendu Atoll, Maldives. Minikoi, Laccadives. 

 G. 8 



