CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE BRITISH BRACONID^. 57 



the two differ widely ; indeed, the Sigalphidce in some respects 

 more^iearly approach the Calyptidce. 



These insects have two cubital cells on the fore wings, 

 radial cell ovate, not reaching the apex of the wing and rather 

 larger than the stigma ; abdomen sessile, subovate, usually with 

 the sutures fairly well marked, and terebra exserted, in some 

 cases equalling the body in length. Our British species may be 

 divided into two genera as follows : 



Five abdominal segments visible from above, second 

 longer than third, and cell divided by an indistinct 



transverse nervure Allodorus. 



Three segments only visible from above, second 



shorter than third, anal cell undivided Sigalphus. 



Allodorus, Forster.* 



Although separated from Sigalphus by Forster, the genus was 

 first described by Marshallf from a single male, presumably of 

 A. lepidus. 



Forster made a type of the Neesian species seminigosus, 

 which insect Marshall doubtfully recorded in his catalogue, 

 though afterwards he considered it " too dubious to be retained 

 as a British insect." Writing in 1888,1 however, he tells us he 

 has discovered several previously misnamed specimens in his 

 own collection, some taken in Mar Forest by himself and others 

 by G. C. Champion in the Highlands. 



Our only other British species is A. (Triaspis) lepidus, Hal,§ 

 which seems to be rare. 



I am unacquainted with both, and nothing whatever appears 

 to be known of their life-histories ; it is probable, however, that 

 they have habits similar to those of the members of the next 

 genus. 



Sigalphus, Lat. |! 



Contains the great majority of our species, several of which 

 are known to be parasites of the larvse of Coleoptera {Curcidio- 

 nidce), and it is quite probable that all have the same habit. I 

 am aware that the breeding of one species from a leaf rolled by 

 a larva of the lepidopteron, Halias quercana, has been recorded, 

 but in this case it is probable that the leaf had also been tenanted 

 by a larva of an Orchestes, and the same may apply to Van 

 VoUenhoven's record of the rearing of S. caudatus from Tortrix 

 hypericana. One cannot so easily dispose of Curtis's observation 



' Vei-h. pr. Khein.,' 1862, p. 242. 

 t ' Traos. Entom. Soc.,' 1885, p. 103. 

 + Ibid., 1889, p. 160. 

 § ' Ent. Mag.,' iii, p. 12.5. 

 II ' H. N.,' iii, p. 327. 



