CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR KNOWLEDGK OF THE BRITISH ]5RAC0NID^. 185 



Microdns linfiuarius, Nees.* 



A fine robust species ; seemingly rare, though Morley tells us 

 that Butler has taken it commonly at Abinger Hammer. Dis- 

 tinguished by the very long terebra (three times as long as the 

 abdomen) and the rufo-testaceous second abdominal segment, 

 which has an isolated central black patch. The first abdominal 

 segment is striolate and but little longer than its apical width ; 

 mesothorax broad, with the sutures very distinct. 



In the Fitche Collection is a female labelled — " Given to me, 

 British ? " 



Microdus tumidulus, Nees.t 



Probably the commonest species we have. A small robust 

 insect having the legs rufous, with the exception of the coxte, 

 upper trochanters, bind tarsi and hind tibiae at the apex ; meta- 

 thorax rugulose with traces of two medial, longitudinal carinas 

 and a smooth space on either side at the apex ; second cubital cell 

 triangular, radial cell very small, radius straight or almost so ; 

 antenna? usually 28-jointed ; terebra slightly shorter than ab- 

 domen and thorax combined. Marshall gives the length as 3-4|^ 

 mm., but I have seen none less than 4 mm., the size mentioned 

 by Nees. Marshall's "var. 1," which has the hind coxae rufous, 

 seems to be rare, the only example I know being in the Cam- 

 bridge University Museum ; it was taken by F. Jenkinson at 

 Cambridge in 1907. There are two females in the Dale Collection, 

 one marked " G.W." and the other " B.O." On the Gog 

 Magog Hills, near Cambridge, and also at the Fleam Dyke it is 

 common, and I have many times taken it when sweeping, my 

 earliest date being August 5th and latest September 7th. 



Microdus elausthalianus, Eatry.j 



Very near tumididus ; indeed, Marshall says — " Probably the 

 size of this species and colour of the squamulae are the only real 

 means of determination." The squamulae are said to be black 

 instead of rufous or piceous as in tumididus, but this character 

 is inconstant and of little value. Nevertheless, the two are no 

 doubt distinct. Clausthnlianus has the terebra quite as long as 

 the body, while in tumidulus it is slightly shorter. A female in 

 the British Museum has a very distinct rufous spot on either 

 side of the second abdominal segment, and this marking is 

 present, though not so noticeable, in two of the three specimens 

 in Dale's Collection. A fine female in the University Museum, 

 Cambridge, was taken at Wicken, July 26th, 1891. In Fitche's 

 Collection is a female bred from either Ephippiphora scutulata 



* ' Mon.,' vol. i, p. 149. 

 f ' Mon.,' vol. i, p. 147. 

 1 ' Ich. d. Forst.,' vol. i, p. 58. 

 ENTOM. — AUGUST, 1920. R 



