RECLASSIFICATION OF MICROG ASTERINI 21 



longer than the submediella (except in some species of the metacarpalis-gvoup but 

 these do not have the ovipositor sheath longer than the hind tibia) ; or the 

 ovipositor is very short (formosus-group) . . . . . . . .21 



21 Propodeum divided by keels into two large dorsal areas that are almost as long as 



wide and a short, posterior, almost vertical surface that is strongly transverse and 

 is not divided medially by the anterior keel (Text-fig. 142). 



Antenna of female with white medial band. S. Africa . . comma-group (p. 131) 



- Propodeum rarely thus divided by keels (insolens-group) and then the dorsal areas are 



strongly transverse . . . . . . . . . . .22 



22 Propodeum with transverse keel as well as a complete, longitudinal keel ; the 



transverse keel situated far anterior to middle and cutting off on each side of the 

 propodeum a strongly transverse area. 



Mesoscutum bright reddish-yellow ; face strongly, almost coarsely punctate ; 

 cubitellan cell of the hind wing twice as long as wide ; ovipositor sheath about 

 three quarters as long as the hind basitarsus. S. Africa . insolens-Qroup (p. 132) 



- Propodeum without the combination of a transverse and a longitudinal keel . . 23 



23 Hypopygium as evenly sclerotised along the middle line as elsewhere and never with 



creases along each side of the middle line ; ovipositor sheath almost always short, 

 not projecting beyond the apex of the hypopygium by a length greater than that of 

 the 2nd segment of the hind tarsus and then it appears dagger-shaped and hairy 

 only at tip (but cf. hyphantriae of glomeratus -group) ; if the sheath projects freely 

 and is long (falcatus-group) then the median field of tergite 2 is triangular or sub- 

 triangular and either the anterior margin of the postscutellum does not show, 

 laterally, a small, forwards pointing projection (Text-fig. 129), or the claws are 

 finely pectinate (validus-group) ......... 24 



- Hypopygium more weakly sclerotised along the middle line than elsewhere so that in 



the dead insect it is often infolded and tightly creased here ; on each side of the 

 middle line it frequently shows longitudinal creases ; ovipositor sheath projecting 

 beyond the apex of the hypopygium by a length clearly greater than that of the 2nd 

 segment of the hind tarsus ; even if the sheath is short and approaches the length 

 of the 2nd segment of the hind tarsus, then it is hairy throughout and never 

 dagger-shaped ; cf . certain species of circumscriptus-group in which a rather short 

 ovipositor is combined with a hypopygium that is hardly or not at all more weakly 

 sclerotised along the middle line but the anterior margin of the postscutellum shows 

 laterally a small, forwards pointing projection (Text-fig. 127) .... 36 



24 Tergite 2 with an isolated, sharply delimited median field that is parallel-sided or 



widened anteriorly where it is usually narrower than the apical width of tergite 1 ; 

 further, this median field is margined on each side by a deep, smooth to rugose 

 furrow. Africa ........ mfam'e-group (p. 133) 



- Tergite 2 either without a delimited median field or, if one is present, then it is 



always wider behind than in front. 



In eucosmae (Africa), belonging to the octonarius-group, this field is virtually 

 elongate-rectangular but the ovipositor sheath projects, dagger-like, beyond the 

 strongly developed hypopygium by a distance equal to the length of the 2nd 

 segment of the hind tarsus .......... 25 



25 Side of pronotum without trace of a dorsal furrow or, if doubtfully indicated, then 



the propodeum with strong medial keel ........ 26 



- Side of pronotum with a distinct dorsal furrow (Text-fig. 125) or, if doubtfully 



present as in the aberrant New Zealand demeter, then the propodeum strongly, 

 evenly rugose and the flagellum very short and thick ..... 28 



26 Propodeum dull, rugose all over and with a strong, medial keel. 



Tergite 1 elongate and at least a little narrowed behind, dull, rugose all over ; 

 flagellum very long, thin, with the preapical segment fully twice as long as wide ; 



