38 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
Mémoires ; this species is well figured by Ratzeburg and Vollen- 
hoven; it is parasitic on various fossorial Hymenoptera (Pelo- 
peus, Ammophila, Trypoxylon, &e.), and, according to Giraud, on 
an Osmia. M. maurus, Marsh., is shortly described at Ent. Mo. 
Mag., ix. 241, from five specimens in the British Museum from 
Heysham’s collection. Several species of Mesostenus are recorded 
as bred from old wood, sticks, &c., where they were parasitic on 
various aculeate Hymenoptera, or xylophagous Coleoptera. ‘The 
life-history of M. obnoawius, bred from year-old cocoons of Zygena 
jilipendule, has already been fully referred to (Entom. iv. 125; 
xiii. 17). It has since been bred from these cocoons by many 
correspondents; while Brischke has bred it from Z. /ilipendule, 
trifolit and Ephialtes*, and Giraud from Z. carniolica (onobrychis).* 
Gravenhorst says that De Block bred many males of M. ligator 
from Bombyx neustria, Brischke bred it from Zygena trifol and 
Cimbex amerine, and Giraud from Acronycta rumicis. This is 
not the only recorded instance of sawfly parasitism in this genus, 
as Goureau bred a species (drapes) from the globular, Nematus, 
willow galls. 
NeEMATOPODIuS, Grav. 
A. Black; thorax partly red; extreme margins of segments, scutellum, 
mouth, face, orbits and marks on thorax white; femora, front tibize 
and tarsi red ; front coxee and trochanters white. (Male and female.) 
1. formosus, 34—6 lines. 
B. Black ; legs pale red; hind tibiz and tarsi fuscous. (Male and female.) 
ater, 24—83 lines. 
Gravenhorst says this genus is intermediate between Cryptus 
and Hehthrus, while 'Vaschenberg remarks on its resemblance to 
Ischnus. N.formosus is given by Marshall as reputed British ; we 
only know the single specimen in the National Collection. This 
species is well figured in Vollenhoven’s ‘Schetsen’ (pt. i., pl. i., 
fig. 24). Taschenberg says, ‘“‘In June and July of every year I 
find this beautiful species on a barked oak stump” (Hym. 
Deutsch., p. 58); this was at Halle. N. ater, Brischke, is alluded 
to as British at Trans. Ent. Soc, Lond., 1882, p. 145; it has 
since been bred in some numbers from Hmphytus cinctus by Mr. 
T. Wilson, of York. 
