222 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. 



B. magdali (Cresson). 



Length 3.5-5 mm. ; black and shining ; tegulge, base of anten- 

 nae, palpi and legs stramineous ; exserted portion of the oviposi- 

 tor as long as the abdomen. 



Parasitic on the weevil (Magdalis olyra). 



Blacus Nees. 



B. lactucaphis (Fitch). Aphidius laciucaphis Fitch. 

 Male: length 1.5 mm.; castaneous and shining except as fol- 

 lows; mouth mostly stramineous, antennae and legs mostly 

 brownish; abdomen blackish apically ; propodeum and first dor- 

 sal abdominal segment rugulose or reticulated. 



Meteorus Haliday. 

 The species of this genus spin ovoid, brownish cocoons, from 

 which the adult emerges at one end by pushing off a cap that 

 sometimes remains attached as if by a hinge after the emergence 

 of the imago ; the opposite end is in some species provided with a 

 long silken thread which serves to suspend the cocoon from a 

 twig or some other support out of harm's way. 



Key to Species. 



1. First dorsal abdominal segment with a fossa on each side 



between spiracles and base of petiole; greatest diameter 

 of lateral ocellus equal or very nearly equal to ocellocular 

 line, or at least more than half as long as ocellocular line, 

 ocelli large; dorsum of propodeum with only one kind of 



sculpture 2 



First dorsal abdominal segment without a fossa on each side 

 between spiracles and base of petiole 6 



2. Lateral ocelli with greatest diameter not as long as ocell- 



ocular line 3 



Lateral ocelli with greatest diameter as long as ocellocular 

 line indagator 



3. First dorsal abdominal segment striate down middle 4 



First dorsal abdominal segment not striate down middle; 



stigma pale only at base archipsidis 



4. Narrowest part of petiole nearly parallel-sided, without a 



prominent carina along its upper margin, and mostly 



blackish 5 



Narrowest part of petiole not at all parallel-sided, with a 

 prominent carina along its upper margin, and mostly pale 



communis 



