CEPHUS PUSILLUS. 123 



In this country it has never been reported as a very 

 injurious insect. When the larvse do appear in great 

 numbers in a field the most effectual plan to eradicate 

 them is to root up and destroy by burning or otherwise 

 the roots of stubble in which the larvae are pupating. 

 On the Continent the species has been known to do 

 very great injury. 



Pachymerus calatrator, Gr., is the parasite. 



The flies appear in June, frequently being found on 

 umbelliferous plants. 



Common in the South, rare or absent in the North. 



Continental distribution : Sweden, Germany, Hol- 

 land, Switzerland, France, Spain, Italy, Russia, Syria. 



9. CEPHUS PUSILLUS. 

 PI. Ill, fig. 6, ? . 



Cephus pusillus, Ste., 111., vii, 107, 11 ; Kirby, List of Hym., i, 

 358, pi. xiv, fig. 6. 



Black; mandibles, palpi, apex of anterior four femora, tibiae and 

 tarsi, yellowish-testaceous ; apex of hind tibia3 and the apices of tarsal 

 joints fuscous ; the fourth and sixth segments broadly at the sides, the 

 apical segment, and the basal half of sheath on lower side, yellow. 

 Antennae distinctly clavate, brownish at the apex. Wings hyaline, 

 costa and stigma testaceous, nervures fuscous. 



The $ has the yellow abdominal bands broader, and there is a broad 

 yellow stripe on the side of the seventh ; the antennas are more brownish 

 at the apex. 



Length 2^ 3 lines. 



This species differs from pygmseus in being smaller, 

 the antennae are lo'nger and brownish towards the 

 apex, there are only two yellow bands on the abdomen 

 in the ? , and the posterior tibiae and tarsi are yel- 

 lowish-testaceous ; the costa and stigma are lighter in 

 colour, the transverse radial nervure is received nearer 

 the apex of the second cellule, which is shorter com- 

 pared to the third. The ^ is readily known from that 

 of pygm&us by the breast and pleurae being quite black. 

 The $ resembles the $ of pallipes, but its abdomen 

 is shorter and broader, and has not so many nor such 



