HYMENOPTERA 271 



Family IcHNEUMONiOffi 



Ryssa semipunctata, Kirby {Lissopimpla semipunctata). 

 Dark-winged Ichneumon 



In 1883 Mr P. Cameron obtained this species from specimens 

 received from Greymouth. Writing in 1899 he sa5rs: 



Captain Hutton informs me that his belief is that the species has been 

 introduced into New Zealand from Australia. The evidence undoubtedly 

 is that it was rare in New Zealand thirty years ago, while now it is not at 

 all rare. At Greymouth the late Mr Richard Helms took it commonly. 

 In 1882 it was taken by Mr Hudson in Nelson, where it was fairly 

 common. Mr Howes reports it from Wanganui and New Plymouth, 

 and Mr D. Miller (1919) states that it is common in the Auckland 

 provincial district. The wasp is parasitic on the subterranean grass- 

 caterpillars (Porina umbraculata and P. cervinata), and upon the array- 

 worm (Cyrphus unipunctata). It also attacks the N.Z. Flax grub 

 (Xanthorce prcef aetata), as well as native locusts. 



Bassus lactatorius, Fabr. {B. generosus, Cameron) 



Introduced from Australia. This is not a useful species, for it 

 is parasitic in the larvae of the syrphidae or hover flies, which them- 

 selves destroy great quantities of aphides. It was first reported by 

 Hudson in 1883. 



Dacmisa sonchivorus, Cameron 



This ichneumon was identified from N.Z. in 1902 by Cameron. 

 It is parasitic on Phytomyza albiceps, the caterpillar which bores in 

 the leaves of sowthistle, cineraria and other composites. It appears 

 to be a common species. (Cameron does not record this as an intro- 

 duced form.) 



Eulophus albitarsis, Ashmead 



A European and North American species which was recorded 

 from Chatham Island by Mr P. Cameron in 1902. I am not aware 

 of its having been, met with in either the North or the South Island. 



Pleurotropus (Entodon) epigonm. Walker 

 Sir James Hector (in 1894) recorded this parasitic wasp as occur- 

 ring at Marton in 1888. It was introduced from England by the 

 Agricultural Department in 1893, as the natural enemy of the Hessian 

 fly. Mr T. W. Kirk reported in (1895) as follows on this introduction : 

 In last year's report I mentioned having succeeded in rearing from the 

 parasitized "puparia" of Hessian flies, received from England, a large 

 number of the ichneumon fly, known as Semiotellus nigripes, which were 

 liberated in the various districts where the crops had suffered from the 

 attacks of the Hessian fly. One place selected as a depot was the farm of 

 Mr J. Hessey, of Masterton. This gentleman took a great interest in the 



