116 TEIG0NASP1S megaptera. 



ripe. The insects are very difficult to rear, and are 

 very irregular in the length of time which they take to 

 reach maturity. As Giraud has pointed out (1. c), 

 the galls inhabited by the gall-maker become black, 

 regular and ovoid in shape ; while those tenanted by 

 parasites retain the irregular shape and the fresh 

 colour. 



The only British inquiline is Synergus thaumacera, 

 but on the Continent 8. varius, Htg., has been bred by 

 Mayr ; 8. vulgaris by Griraud ; Hartig mentions 8. 

 tibialis, Htg., as having been reared by him, and 

 Brischke 8. ruficomis and 8. pallicornis. 



Giraud bred Mesopolobus fasciiventris, West., Galli- 

 mome fuscicrus , Gir., and von Schlechtendal a <$ Tory- 

 mus. Brischke records Pteromalus Samesenii, Pleuro- 

 tropis cyrriphidum, and Mesopolobus fasciiventris. 



Sexual Form. — Black, very shining; the abdomen bright reddish- 

 yellow, darkened at the apex ; the legs yellowish-red, paler in tint than 

 the abdomen, the coxa? at base infuscated; antennae dull reddish-brown 

 at the base, the apex darker ; wings large, clouded at the base of the 

 radial cellule and before the cubitus, the nervures dark fuscous ; vertex 

 shagreened ; pronotum obliquely striolated, scutellum irregularly cori- 

 aceous, depressed in the middle above ; pleurae shining. 



The $ similar, with the third joint distinctly curved. 



Length, $ 3*5 to 4'5 mm., <$ 2'5 to 3 mm. 



Gall. — Roundish, oval, or ovoid, of rather variable 

 form and size; soft, smooth, succulent, white or 

 creamy-white with reddish cheeks, sometimes almost 

 entirely red ; the central cavity small. Length from 

 3 to 8 mm. When old they shrivel up and become 

 wrinkled. They are found at the roots or on the 

 trunks of old oaks at a distance of I to 3 feet from the 

 ground, and arise from small buds, not from the bark, 

 as might be supposed from a cursory examination. 

 They are found either singly or in masses, and are 

 frequently hidden by moss. They appear in May. 



The inquilines are Synergus thaumacera and Syner- 

 gus erythrocerus according to Hartig, and 8. facialis 

 and 8. pallicornis according to Brischke. 



As parasites it possesses Syntomaspis fastuosa; 



