I04 



3- Halicfophagiis (Bnicsia) stciwdt's, sp. nov. 



Female. Head narrow, subelongate, sides not strongly 

 rounded, more parallel-sided, piceous, shining, opening of the 

 brood-chamber near the middle of the head, the surface slightly 

 convex. Otherwise agreeing generally with the preceding. 

 Length about ^ mm. 



(Plate III, fig. 2). 



Hab. Cairns, Queensland. One female, parasitic on a small 

 seed-like brown Jassine of the genus Paradorydiuin. I also 

 took one bearing a male piipariiiiii. 



? Halictophagits Curtis. 



The species, which I provisionally assign to this genus, differs 

 from the male of the subgenus Bniesia in that the five apical 

 antennal joints are not all of thin laminate form throughout, 

 but the basal ones of these are of more normal form, and the 

 branches are less thinly laminate. The face, as far as I have 

 been able to examine it, appears to be of simple form, the middle 

 part not much separated from the lateral elements, nor deeply 

 immersed beneath the latter, and the palpi to be much more 

 slender than in Bnicsia. The general form of the metathorax, 

 tarsi, and genital segment is the same as in that subgenus. 



The unicjue specimen described was originally mounted on a 

 slide in balsam and much distorted, the prothorax and front legs 

 being so displaced as to overlie and conceal the head, while one 

 crumpled wing concealed the body. It was therefore removed 

 from the balsam, cleaned, and relaxed, so far as was possible, 

 the one wing was removed and the prothorax was put more or 

 less into its proper place. 



It is most probable htat this insect is not true Halictophagiis, 

 hut possibly it may be included in Bnicsia, wdien the lattei" 

 ranks, as I have little doubt it will, as a good genus. In Wesr- 

 v/ood's figure of Halictophagiis, the metathorax is very differ- 

 ent, as also is the terminal abdominal segment, in which the 

 Australian forms closely resemble one another. In the an- 

 tennae however the present species is intermediate between 

 Halictophagiis and Bnicsia. (See Westwood Int. Mod. Class. 

 Ins. II, fig. 94, lo and 14). 



4. Halictophagiis^ schivaraii, sp. nov. 



Black, clothed with extremely delicate sericeous pubescence, 



