222 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



of our native speedwells (F. serpyllifolia) . The larvae feed 

 between the thickened upper leaves and pupate therein. V. 

 serpyllifolia is a smooth sjDecies, so that the nidus is free from 

 the woolliness so visible in that of V. chamcsdrys. 



Fulwith Grange, near Harrogate, Aug. 31, 1882. 



INTRODUCTORY PAPERS ON ICHNEUMONID.E. 



By John B. Bridgman and Edward A. Fitch. 



No. III.— CRYPTID/E (continued). 



Stilpnus, Grav. 



A. Abdomen black; Hnteiiiise with seventeen joints. 



a. Trochanters black (female). 



Femora and tibise red ; aculeus exserted, but very short. 



2. deplanatus, 1^ line. 



b. Trochanters red (males and females). 



=;= Legs red ; coxae more or less black. - 1. gagates, 1^ — 2 lines. 

 =;'=:= Legs red. ------- 3. pavonim, 1^ line. 



B. Middle of abdomen red, sometimes black (females). 



a. Flagellum of antennae 15-jointed. - - 5. blandus, 1| — '2 lines. 



b. Flagellum of antennae 14-jointed. - - 4. dryadum, .3 lines. 



Gravenhorst, who described four species, placed this genus in 

 the Ichneumonidse, but remarked on its affinity to some of the 

 smaller species of Cryptiis and Phygadeuon, and to Hemiteles. Most 

 recent authors, following Taschenberg, have included Stilpnus in 

 the Cryptidse, although it has not an exserted ovipositor. Haliday 

 says : " This genus is more allied to Hemiteles than to any other 

 Ichneumonidse ; the males of Stilpnus, and some species of 

 Atractodes, are also very similar" (Curt., Brit. Ent., 388). In the 

 • Annals of Natural History,' Haliday described sixteen species of 

 Atractodes, and of his A. vestalis writes: "This species might 

 perhaps with equal reason be referred to the genus Stilpnus ; 

 indeed any definite line drawn between these two genera must be 

 arbitrary" (vol. ii., p. 118; 1839). Thomson carries out these 

 views when he unites Stilpnus and Atractodes in his tribe 

 Stilpnina, which follows his Hemitelina (Opusc, Ent., 468). The 

 species, which are difficult to differentiate, are not rare in Britain. 

 S. dryadum is beautifully figured by Curtis (Brit. Ent., pi. 388), 

 and is outlined in Vollenhoven's ' Schetsen' (pt. 1, pi. i., fig. 4). 

 Unfortunately but little is known of the biology of this genus. 



