CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR KNOWLEDGE OF BRITISH BRACONID^. 105 



Dr. D. Sharp at Dartford many years ago and now in the Cam- 

 bridge University Museum. The only specimen known to have 

 been bred was obtained by Bignell from a larva of Larentia 

 viridaria. 



Marshall, who first described the male, afterwards expressed 

 doubt as to the correctness of his association of the sexes, and 

 certainly the wide difference in the shape of the first abdominal 

 segment seems to point to distinction. 



Calceatus, Hal.* 



Is easily distinguished from the last by the absence of a 

 longitudinal carina on the metathorax — indeed, in this species, 

 in place of a carina, there is usually a depression. The areolet 

 is open outwardly, though a magnification of two or three 

 diameters will often show a distinct trace of the second trans- 

 verse cubitus. 



A common insect in the New Forest, where I have very fre- 

 quently bred it, as a solitary parasite, from larvse of Thera 

 variata and T. obliscata, in May and October, in company with 

 Apanteles pinicola. Major Robertson has also obtained it com- 

 monly from the same hosts at Chandlers Ford. 



Cocoon bright straw coloiu', usually placed at the extreme tip 

 of a pine needle. This position is determined by the host which, 

 before the parasite larva emerges from near the anal extremity, 

 takes up a position, facing inwards, along a pine needle. My 

 experience in breeding this species seems to show that in numbers 

 the males considerably exceed the females. 



Circmnvectus, sp. nov. 

 Black, palpi flavescent, lateral margins of first, and sometimes 

 second abdominal segment and legs, with exception of hind coxae, 

 hind tarsi and tips of fore and middle tarsi, testaceous (occasionally 

 the hind tibiae are dark at apex). Wings hyaline, slightly clouded 

 at tips ; stigma dark fuscous, nervures fuscous or testaceous ; antennae 

 black, longer than body. Mesothorax finely punctulate, scutellum 

 more sparsely so ; metathorax punctulate, centrally irregularly strio- 

 late, in some specimens showing signs of a longitudinal medial carina. 

 Abdomen shining, segment one longer than broad, sides almost 

 parallel, rounded behind, almost smooth ; two as long as three with 

 two shallow, parallel, longitudinal depressions, between which is an 

 obtuse central ridge, suturiform articulation concave posteriorly ; 

 three smooth, often centrally slightly striolate and showing a trace 

 of a longitudinal medial channel. Hind coxae large punctulate. 

 Terebra short, scarcely reaching apex of abdomen. Spurs of hind 

 tibijE pale, slightly longer than half the metatarsus. Length, 

 3-3| mm., expands 7-7f mm. 



Described from six males and two females. Very similar in 

 appearance to D. calceatus, but easily distinguished therefrom 

 by the absence of a longitudinal depression on the metathorax 



* 'Ent. Mag.,' ii, p. 241. 



