British Braconida. 87 



XV. METEORIDES. 

 The characters are comprised in those of the single genus. 



Meteorus, Hal. 



Meteorus, Hal., Ent. Mag., iii., 24. 



Pcrilitus, Sectio II., Nees, Mon., i., 33. 



Perilitus, Wesin., Nouv. Mem. Ac. Brux., 1835, p. 21. 



Maxillary palpi 6-, labial 3-jointed. Occiput margined. Antennas 

 slender, usually filiform in the ? , setaceous in the $ . Meso- 

 thoracic sutures distinct. Abdomen petiolated. Fore wings with 

 3 cubital areolets, the 2d trapeziform, the 1st separated from the 

 prsediscoidal ; radial areolet cultrate, reaching nearly to the apex 

 of the wing; radius straight ; metacarpus longer than the stigma. 

 Terebra exserted. 



Head as broad as the thorax, or broader ; occiput hardly eniargi- 

 nate behind ; eyes small, and scantily pubescent ; clypeus rounded 

 anteriorly, separated from the face by an impressed line with a 

 fovea at each end ; mandibles forcipate, bidentate. Abdomen 

 ovate or lanceolate, compressed at the apex in the ? ; segment 1 

 consisting of a true petiole (as in the Ichneumonides), linear, and 

 extending to the spiracular tubercles situated near the middle ; the 

 posterior part (condylus) is gradually dilated to the apex ; usually 

 this segment is striolated, but the petiole is sometimes smooth. In 

 the majority of cases the 1st segment presents at the apex of the 

 petiole a pair of oblong parallel apertures, separated by a ridge, 

 and descending obliquely to the spiracles; in the following 

 descriptions these are called the tracheal grooves. The remaining 

 segments are always smooth and shining ; segments 2—3 are con- 

 nate, longer and broader than the following, which decrease rapidly 

 to the anus. Second cubital areolet trapeziform, more or less 

 narrowed towards the radius, its lower and inner angle produced 

 prsebrachial areolet generally shorter than the pobrachial, rarely 

 equal to it, and only in one species longer; recurrent nervurt 

 commonly somewhat rejected, occasionally interstitial, and more 

 rarely evected; radial areolet of the hind wings divided by a 

 transverse accessory nervure in two species, and the same structure 

 faintly indicated in otherB ; wings hyaline, but in three species 

 infumated, and then exhibiting a whitish streak upon the ordinary 

 transverse fold, which commences under the stigma. The wings 

 have a strong disposition to bend at this place, which produces 

 illusions as to the direction of the recurrent nervure. The integu- 

 ments of these insects are thin, and the colours inconstant ; a 



