i88 

 ASTATUS STIGMA PANZ. IN YORKSHIRE. 



W. J. FORDHAM, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., F.E.S. 



Among some Hymenoptera (mainly Ichneumonidce) recently 

 determined for me by Mr. Claude Morley, F.Z.S., is a specimen 

 of A status stigma Panz $, which was captured in flight on 

 August I2th, 1917, in a sandy field on Brayton Barff. near 

 Selby (V.C. 64). Saunders {Hymen. Acul. pp. 78-79) says ' on 

 sandy commons, etc., July, August; very rare,' and gives 

 nine localities, all in the South of England except Wallasey 

 and Southport. He notes that the species is so rare that 

 nothing is known of its habits. Smith and Shuckard both 

 record the prey of the allied A. boops Schr. (which is not rare, 

 but local) for the sustenance of its larvae to be the larva of a 

 species of Pentatoma, but Smith has also observed it carrying 

 home specimens of Oxybelus. Since Saunders' work was 

 published in i8g6, the species has been found in a few other 

 places and Mr. Rosse Butterfield possesses specimens from the 

 New Forest, but the range has not been extended, as the most 

 northerly new stations recorded are North Wales* on the West 

 and Skegnessf on the East. 



Nothing definite has been ascertained as to its life history 

 by these recent observations, but on two occasions (Wallasey, 

 1891J and Criccieth, 1900), || Mr. Willoughby Gardner has 

 found it in proximity to Pompilus phimbeus colonies and sug- 

 gests that there may be some connection between the two 

 species and it may be noted that the specimen taken by Pro- 

 fessor Carr at Skegnessf was in a patch of sandy ground where 

 P. plumbeus swarmed, together with a few P. gibbiis. 



On the other hand Saunders records it in numbers at Little- 

 hampton§ (the ^ most numerous), but he could not observe 

 it to prey on anything, though the larvae of several species of 

 Lygceidce were present. A fly Scopolia carbonana Pz. also 

 occurred with it and resembled the Fossor greatly at first sight. 

 At present therefore the prey is in doubt, but bearing in mind 

 that A. boops captures both bug larvae [P entatomida) and a 

 fossor [Oxybelus) it is quite possible that our species may do 

 the same with Lygceidce and Pompihis. Several of the new 

 records extend the time of appearance of the species to include 

 June. It is to be hoped that Yorkshire hj^menopterists will 

 keep a sharp look-out for this interesting species during the 

 coming season, from June to August. Pompilus plumbeus is 

 recorded for the county and several species of Lygceidce are 

 commonly obtained. 



* Nevinson, Ent. Mon. Mag., 1900, 62. 



t j- W. Carr, Ent. Mon. Mag., 1900, 15. 



I Willoughby Gardener, Ent. Mon. Mag., 1892, 23. 



II Willoughby Gardner, Ent. Mon. Mag., 1900, 242. 

 § E. Saunders, Ent. Mon. Mag., 1898, 213. 



