HYMENOPTEROUS FAMILY STEPHANIO^. 733 



21. NIGRICANS (Sichel), Scblett. 



MegischtiiS tarsatus vai-. nigricans Sicliel (2), v, p. 476, 5 . 

 Stephanus nigricans Schlett,, p. 109, $ . 



5 . Face below antennae irregularly rugose reticulate, frons 

 transrugose ; occiput centrally broadly transrugulose, laterally 

 coarsely and deeply reticulate. Neck elongate, transrugose ; 

 mesonotum diffusely punctate ; scutellum centrally smooth, 

 laterally diffusely punctate ; median segment coarsely reticulate. 

 Petiole trans-striate ; terebra longer than body, broadly white- 

 banded before apex. Hind coxae trans-striate; hind femora 

 bidentate. 



Black ; tegulfe apically rufescent ; anterior legs red, front 

 femora externally black. Wings infumate, nervures fuscous. 



Length 33 mm. ; fore wings 12 mm. ; terebra 35 mm. 



Habitat : Ceylon. One $ in coll. Sichel. 



Sichel considers this a variety of S. tarsatus Sichel, which it 

 strongly resembles, but the different sculpture of face and occiput, 

 black head, and longer terebra entitle it to specific rank. 



22. NIGER Smith, 



Megischus niger Smith (4), i. p. 44; Cam. (1), p. 420, pi. xviii. 

 fig. 19, 2 • Stephanus niger Schlett., p. 135, $ . 



2 . Frons coarsely and irregularly rugose ; occiput anteriorly 

 arcuate-rugose, posteriorly transversely, laterally irregularly 

 rugose ; cheeks scarcely as long as scape. Postei-ior margin of 

 head strongly bordered. Second flagellar joint two-and-a-half 

 times as long as first, third as long as first and second together. 

 ISTeck with a distinct transverse impression, behind which it is 

 finely and sparsely rugose ; semiannular polished, with very fine 

 and diff'use punctures. Mesonotum finely trans-striate and 

 diffusely punctate, the usual central row of punctures and the 

 two lateral impressions obsolete. Scutellum smooth, with a few 

 marginal punctures. Mesopleurae smooth, with diffi'use coarser 

 and finer punctures ; metapleurae finely and irregularly rugose, 

 separated by a deep and smooth sulcus from the median segment, 

 which is diffusely and irregularly punctate, with distinct 

 marginal furrows. Petiole very distinctly trans-striate, much 

 shorter than remainder of abdomen, but nearly as long as the 

 hind coxae, trochanters, and femora together. Terebra scarcely 

 longer than body, its sheaths white-banded before apex. Hind 

 coxae trans-striate between stronger rugosities ; hind femora dull, 

 bidentate ; tibiae compressed not quite to middle. 



Black ; cheeks pale marked and the ' anterior legs with a 

 tendency to brown. Wings hyaline. 



Length 23-25 mm. 



Habitat: Panama, Guatemala. Type in British Museum. 



This species is distinguished from the similar ^S'. marginalis 

 Schlett. by the bordered but not reflexed posterior maigin of 



