186 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
Writing of congestus, Rheinhard* mentions that when the 
insect inhabits larve of Melitea the cocoons are without an 
external covering. It seems possible, therefore, that he was 
acquainted with simulans, but did not suspect it to be distinet 
from congestus, though, judging from the host, he may have bad 
specimens of vestalis before him. 
Rubecula, Marsh.t 
A robust species, seemingly very near to solitarius, but 
differing therefrom in having infumated wings. A solitary 
parasite bred from young larve of Hemaris fuciformis, August 1st, 
1903, and July 18th, 1911; also bred August 8th, 1911—in this 
case I found the cocoon attached to a cabbage-leaf. Bignell 
bred two from small larve of Pierts rape.t The larva of this 
parasite completes its metamorphosis within the cocoon in a 
period of seven or eight days. The cocoon is pale cream colour 
smooth, and somewhat wrinkled longitudinally; it is firmly 
affixed to a leaf of the food plant. I have known the host larva 
(7. fuciformis) to remain by the side of the cocoon, living but 
moribund, until some days after the emergence of the imago of 
the parasite. 
Prepotens, Hal.§ 
A rather large species, distinguished by the short antenne 
of the female (shorter than the body) and subexserted terebra 
and ventral valve. Length 2-3} mm., expands 6-8 mm. 
In 1835 Haliday described the species as prepotens, and, in 
1837, Wesmael, as brevicornis.|| We must, therefore, accept 
Haliday’s name, though that given by Wesmuel seems to fit the 
species the better. Marshall appears to have confused it with 
sericeus, Nees, owing probably to an unfortunate error made by 
teinhard (see under juniperate). Haliday knew only the female, 
his description being as follows: 
“Thorace subtillissime punctulato; tibius ferrugineis, posticis 
apice fuscis; alis limpidis ; aculeo perbrevi. JM. glomerato major et 
adhue robustior, antennis brevibus crassioribus ; palporum et pedum 
coloris fere quales M. iiricato, letiores modo; alw late apice 
rotundate (uti MZ. glomerato), limpidie, stigmate crasso nigro-ferru- 
gineo, nervis disci nonnullis ut in illo interrupte ferrugineis, reliquis 
decoloribus, costa interius flavicante; squamule nigra; thorax 
nitidus subtilissimé punctulatus; scutellum leve; metathorax 
brevissimus punctato-reticulatus; segmenta 2 anteriora ut in 
sequentibus latitudine subequalia, aciculata ; aculeus magis exertus 
quam illis.” 
* * Berl. ent. Zeit.,’ 1880, p. 369. 
+ ‘Trans. Entom. Soc.,’ 1886, p. 176. 
t ‘Trans. Dev. Ass.,’ xxxili, p. 670. 
§ ‘Hint. Mag.,’ ii, p. 252. 
| ‘ Nouv. Mem. Ae. Brux.,’ 1857, p. 50. 
