KNOWLEDGE OF THE BRITISH BRACONID.^i;. 259 



thirty different species of Lepidoptera. A gregarious parasite, 

 generally of the larvae of Tortricina or Tiueina. This is the 

 Rogas linearis of Wesmael/' from whose description and that of 

 Marshall t I have identified my specimens, not having seen the 

 original description of Fabricus. Marshall describes four distinct 

 varieties, and although the numerous broods that I have reared 

 in the New Forest have all been typical, I have captured the 

 var. pallipes. It is recorded that Van Vallenhoven bred this 

 variety mixed with typical specimens from the same victim, 

 which is quite contrary to my own experience, nor is it borne 

 out by the many broods from the Fitch collection which I have 

 examined. It has often been stated that the broods invariably 

 consist of one sex only, and so I had always found them until 

 July, 1914, when, from a larva of Tortrix ribeana, I obtained a 

 brood composed of a single male and eighteen females ; the male 

 appeared some thirty-six hours before any of the females. 



In some specimens I find that the striolation at the base of 

 the third abdominal segment is very faint. As a rule, the second 

 cubital areolet is open outwardly, that is, the second cubital 

 nervure is obsolete. I have a specimen of the var. pallipes, 

 however, which has the second cubital areolet distinctly closed. 



The cocoons are brown, thin, shining and enveloped in a 

 thin whitish web ; they are usually found in bunches between 

 the leaves which have been " rolled" by the hosts. A period of 

 from three to four weeks elapses between the emergence of the 

 parasite larvae from their host and the appearance of the perfect 

 insects. I have noticed that, after emerging from their host, the 

 larvae feed as external parasites for two or three days ; in fact, 

 until the edible parts of the host are entirely consumed. 



Bred from Tortrix ribeana, June 23rd, 1911 (eight females), 

 July 3rd, 1912 (twelve females), July 4th, 1912 (thirteen males) ; 

 from T. licheana, (ten females) ; from T. viridana, July 14th, 

 1912 (six females) ; from Dejjvessaria alstromeriella, July 10th, 

 1912 (four females). Harwood has two specimens (var. pallipes) 

 labelled "ex caja, W. Sherston." In Fitch's boxes are broods 

 obtained by Elisha from Depressaria nanatella and Gelechia 

 mouffetella (both broods var. imllipes) ; from Depressaria alstro- 

 meriella ; Gracilaria elongella, July 14th, 1885 ; Cerostoma 

 xylostella, July 3l8t, 1882, and Ebiilea crocealis ; also broods 

 from Ennychia octomaculalis, Sej)tember 22nd, 1881, bred by 

 W. E. Jeffery ; and from Botys verticalis, bred by G. T. Porritt.| 



M. marginator, Nees. (Fig. 1.) — This is the enemy of the 

 Sesidae, having been bred as a solitary parasite from the larvae 

 of many members of the family. It is the largest and stoutest 



-• Nouv. Mem. Ac. Brux., p. 173. 

 i Trans. Entom. Soc. 1888, p. 193. 



I Some of these broods were recorded by Fitch, Entom. xiv. 143, and 

 xvi. 68. 



Y 2 



