KNOWLEDGE OP THE BRtTISS BIIACONID.E. 26l 



sijecimens agree with Wesmael's description, except that the 

 head, thorax, and stigma are dark fuscous instead of black. 

 Very similar in shape and size to M. thoracicus, but differing in 

 that the thorax and stigma are black or blackish, the antennae 

 46-jointed, and the second abscissa of the radius not longer than 

 the first intercubital nervure. From M. infirmus it differs in 

 size, in the length and number of joints of the antennae, and in 

 many other ways ; from M. marginator in size, in the wings 

 being hyaline and not clouded, and also in the first abscissa of 

 the radius being considerably shorter than the first intercubital 

 nervure. 



M. infirmus (Nees). — Somewhat similar to M. collaris, but 

 differing in having stouter legs, a much longer terebra, and in 

 the second abscissa of the radius being as long as the first inter- 

 cubital nervure. 



In Fitch's boxes are four, one male and three females; these 

 were probably once in Marshall's collection, one card being 

 marked "St. A." (St. Albans) in his writing.* 



M. equalis (sp. nov.). 

 Fuscous, disc of mesothorax rufo-testaceous, third segment of the 

 abdomen fusco-testaceous ; palpi pale testaceous in both sexes, 

 mandibles testaceous with fuscous tips ; head fuscous except the 

 clypeus which is testaceous ; antennae fuscous, basally testaceous, 

 elongate, 39-40-jointed in both sexes, longer than the body ; meta- 

 thorax shagreened : wings hyaline, stigma and nervures testaceous, 

 the former with a darker spot of varying size. Second abscissa of the 

 radius as long as the first intercubital nervure; legs testaceous, claws 

 dark: abdominal segments one and two distinctly striolated, first 

 segment scarcely narrowed from the apex to the tubercles ; terebra 

 almost as long as the abdomen. 



Described from four males and two females. 



A gregarious parasite, the cocoons being enclosed in a felt- 

 like oblong ball which assumes the proportions of the pupal 

 chamber of the host. Both males and females in the same 

 brood. This species somewhat resembles M. collaris, but is 

 most certainly not the M. collaris described by Marshall in 

 Trans. Entom. Soc. 1888, p. 197, and Species des Hym. vol. 5, 

 p. 238 ; it agrees more closely with Wesmael's description,! but 

 as Marshall was acquainted with Wesmael's insects, no doubt he 

 was right in the synonymy of his M. collaris with Bracon collaris 

 of Wesmael; unfortunately, the latter's description lacks any 

 mention of the length of the first abscissa of the radius or number 

 of joints of the antennae. 



Among Fitch's insects is a card bearing six and a ball of 

 cocoons to which is attached a label marked " G. C. Bignell," 



■-'= Mr. Harwood also considers this to be Marshall's writing. 

 I Nouv. Mem. Ac. Brux. 1880, p. 179. 



