British Braconidce. 167 



Segment 1 twice as long as broad, with parallel sides, truncate 

 rugulose ; 2 broader than 1, as long as 3, narrowed anteriorly, also 

 rugulose ; the rest smooth and shining. Terebra exserted, very 

 short. Ventral valve somewhat surpassing the anus. Hind coxae 

 above rugulose, bristly. ^ ? . Length, 1:^ ; wings, 2^ lin. 



Sometunes the apical half of the hind femora is infuscated. The 

 abdomen of the J is acuminate, with the terebra visibly protruding. 

 The 3d segment is occasionally margined with rufous at the apex, 

 or there are two rufous spots at the hind angles ; examples of both 

 have been taken by Bignell. 



Common ; gregarious. Bred by Bignell in May from 

 Leneania Uttoralis, Cur. ; and Sept. 7tli, from Spilosoma 

 mentJuistrl, Esp., 24 specimens, which remained in pupa 

 10 — 14 days. By Eaynor from Leuvania jpalhns, L., 

 28 on a card, of which only 3 are males. In Fitch's 

 collection is a card of 9 from ColUx sparsata, Hiib., others 

 from Agrotis prcecox, L., by Porritt, and bred by himself 

 from Diloha ccsndeocephala, L. Cocoons white, irregularly 

 piled, connected by a web of filaments more closely woven 

 than that of tetricus. 



entirely in accord with those of Eatzeburg, to which we shall refer 

 under Apanteles fidvijjes, Nees (see note, ijifra). The caterpillar 

 observed by Goureau, after noi;rishing 60 parasites, and having been 

 pierced with 60 holes, retained a languishing vitality for 8 — 10 days 

 more, almost without power of motion. A post-mortem inspection 

 shows in such cases that the holes made by the emerging maggots 

 are marked each by a black speck. The specks are arranged on 

 either side along the side of the spiracles, only 5 — 6 out of 60 

 occurring elsewhere, as in the back or the belly. This fact indicates 

 that the maggots live in the \dcinity of the tracheae, probably 

 because the au' there obtainable is necessary for their imperfect 

 respiration. The lateral tubercles above mentioned are organs 

 whose function is temporary, being limited to the few moments 

 during which the maggot is wriggling through the skin of the 

 victim. Having forced a hole, and exserted the fore part of its 

 body, it bends either to the right or left, exposing by that action a 

 set of tubercles (2 — 5 in number) on the convex side, while the 

 same number disappear on the concave side. The exserted tuber- 

 cles rest upon the edge of the hole, and serve as a •point d'appui 

 for the elevation of the body on the opposite side. The same action 

 is then reversed, and so on alternately, until the whole body is 

 disengaged. After the appearance of the perfect parasites, Goureau, 

 having observed the union of the sexes, introduced among them a 

 lepidopterous larva, with portions of a cal)bage upon which it was 

 feeding. They refused, however, to deposit their eggs in this 

 caterpillar, which perhaps was not of a species which they would 

 naturally attack. They showed a fondness for the cabbage, which 

 they bit and sucked with avidity, proving that it is not contrary to 

 their habits to take food in the imago-state, 



