62 SYNERGUS MBLANOPUS. 



There are five other species of this group, namely, 

 8. evanescens, Mayr, from galls of Andricus gemmae 

 and other Continental species ; 8. pallidipennis, Mayr, 

 from galls of Gynips lignicola and G. conifica, G. tinc- 

 toria, and G. coriaria ; 8. flavipes, Htg., from galls of 

 Dryophanta macroptera; 8. Hayneanus; Htg., from 

 galls of Gynips tinctoria and 0. lignicola ; and 8. 

 ruftcornis, from galls of Andricus globuli. All the 

 species overwinter in the galls. 



1. Synergus melanopus. 

 PI. XII, fig. 5, ? . 



Synergus melanopus, Htg., Germs. Zeits., iii, 1841, 347 ; Mayr, 



Yerh. z.-b. Ges. Wien, xxii, 695. 

 Biplolepis rufipes, Fonsc, Ann. Soc. Nat., 1832, 193 (nee Fal.), 



partim. 



Synergus orientalis, Htg., 1. c, 347. 



— socialis, Htg., 1. c, iv, 413. 



Black ; the head rufous, the vertex and occiput in the centre, black ; 

 legs rufous, the coxae for the greater part, the front femora slightly at 

 the base, the intermediate to the middle (generally), the greater part ot 

 the posterior and the greater part of the hind tibise, blackish, or fus- 

 cous ; abdomen more or less brownish to ferruginous ; antennae 

 rufous, the apical half more or less infuscated. Front rugosely punc- 

 tured; mesonotum coarsely and rugosely transversely striolated, the 

 space between the striae smooth or nearly so, the striae interrupted by 

 the parapsidal and central furrows. Petiole strongly punctured 

 behind; second antennal joint about as long as broad. Frontal 

 laminae straight, reaching to the hinder ocelli ; facial keel obsolete ; 

 apex of second segment of abdomen closely and distinctly punctured. 



The (J has the second antennal joint shorter than broad, the third 

 thickened and curved. I have seen males with the femora without any 

 black. 



Length 2 — 5 mm. 



The best character to distinguish typical examples 

 of this species from 8. Reinhardi is to be found in the 

 longer second antennal joints of the latter. The 

 rufous colour of typical Melanopus is characteristic, 

 but on the other hand the head may be entirely 

 black. The length of the second antennal joint in the 

 male and female is not constant, and may take the 

 proportion it has in Reinhardi; the legs may be 



