130 Mr. R. E. Turner on Fossorial Hymenoptera. 



2. Recurrent nervure interstitial witli the first 



transverse cubital nervure ; wings strongly 



iridescent S. iridescens, Turn, 



Recurrent nervure received before tbe first 

 transverse cubital nervure; wings only 

 slightly iridescent 3. 



3. Second abscissa of the radius longer than 



the first transverse cubital nervure ; head 



almost smooth 4. 



Second abscissa of the radius much shorter 

 than the first transverse cubital nervure ; 

 head lougitudinally striated S. longiceps, Turn. 



4. Length 5 mm. Distance between recurrent 



nervure and first transverse cubital nervure 

 equal to half the length of the latter 



nervure 8. Jiohartia, Turn. 



Length 2 mm. Recurrent nervure received 

 very close to the apex of the first cubital 

 cell S. eleganUda, Turn. 



Sptlomena is very near Austrostigmus in some of the 

 species, especially in S. longiceps. Tlie absence of the 

 groove in front of the mesopleurse for the reception of the 

 anterior femora does not seem to be a very satisfactory 

 generic distinction in the group, the degree of development 

 showing much variation in the different species. The genus 

 has a wide range in Australia, being recorded from 

 N.. Queensland, Tasmania, and S.W. Australia. 



Key to the Species of Austrostigmus. 



1. Pronotum ferruginous red A. ruftcollis, Turn. 



Pronotum black 2. 



2. Mesonotum almost smooth 3. 



Mesonotum rugose or coar!ely reticulate . 5. 



3. Second cubital cell pointed on the radius . A. queenslandensis, Turn. 

 Second cubital cell not pointed on the 



radius 4. 



4. Second abscissa of the radius as long as 



the second transverse cubital nervure ; 



stigma fuscous A. glahrellus, Turn. 



Second abscissa of the radius scarcely 



more than half as long as the second 



transverse cubital nervure ; stigma pale 



testaceous A. npproximatus, Turn. 



.5. Mesonotum coarsely reticulate A. reticulatus, Turn. 



Mesonotum rather finely rugose A. dubius, Turn. 



The genus has a wide range, being recorded from North 

 Queensland and S.W.Australia; I have also seen specimens 

 of A. reticulatus from Port Darwin, N.T. The species 

 utilise small deserted beetle-holes in dead trees for nesting- 

 purposes. 



