CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR KNOWLEDGE OF BRITISH BRACONIDiE. 131 



Kugnlosus, Nees.* 

 A large stout species having the first three abdominal 

 segments noticeably rngulose. In the female the abdomen is 

 apically dusky rufous, while in the male it is entirely black- 

 Also rare ; Marshall knew but two or three from the collections 

 of Fitch and Desvignes, Morley records one only, and Bignell 

 makes no mention of the species. I have seen fom- males and 

 tliree females taken by Dr. D. Sharp in the New Forest, in June, 

 1902, and now in the Cambridge University Museum. 



Genus 7. — Microplitis, Forst.t 



Distinguished by the very short hind tibial spurs, which are 

 scarcely one-third as long as the metatarsus. Solitary or gre- 

 garious parasites of the larvae of lepidoptera. Mostly robust, 

 black insects, with more or less infumated wings and a notice- 

 able, smooth, and shining tubercle at the apex of the first 

 abdominal segment. I have examined the larvae of several 

 species and find them to difi'er in appearance from those of 

 Apanteles and Microgaster, being covered with purple blotches, 

 while the intestinal canal shows as a dark purple line ; the 

 lateral protuberances on segments 4-10 are very pronounced. 

 Cocoons stout, smooth, often t-tn-coloured or greenish, and in 

 one or two cases deeply fiuted and much resembling caraway 

 fceeds. 



XantJioims, Ruthe-t 



Only one British specimen appears to be known — tiamely, 

 that mentioned by Marshall (' Trans. Entom. Soc.,' 1885, p. 231) 

 as being in Bridgman"s collection. This insect is now in the 

 possession of Mr. B. S. Harwood, and bears a label " Microplitis 

 xanthopus, Pithe " in Marshall's handwriting. Unfortunately, 

 the specimen is much dilapidated, having lost all the abdomen 

 with the exception of the first two segments, portions of both 

 antennae, and the greater part of four legs ; it is, however, still 

 quite recognisable. The card bears the number 189 on the 

 back. 



Distinguished by the testaceous hind tarsi and broad, trun- 

 cate first abdominal segment which is much narrowed towards 

 the base. 



Ocellatce, Bouche.§ 



A robust, shining, black species, well known as a common, 

 gregarious parasite of the hawk-moths, Smerinthus ocellatus and 

 ;S'. poyidi. It is, perhaps, strange that I have never reared or 

 captured this insect in the New Forest, where the hosts are 

 plentiful. 



* 'Mon.,' i, p. 163. 

 t 'Verb. pr. Eheinl.,' 18G2, p. 245. 

 + ' Bed. ent. Zeit.,' 18(30, p. 147. 

 § 'Naturg.,' 1834. p. 161. 



