RECLASSIFICATION OF MICROG ASTERINI 23 



widest part straight and here with distinct hair-fringe. Borneo. Philippines 



merope-group (p. 139) 



31 Claws finely pectinate (Text-fig. 230). 



Pubescence of flagellum unusually long (Text-fig. 232) ; propodeum almost 

 smooth ; postscutellum laterally with a small forwards pointing projection on its 

 anterior margin (Text-fig. 127) ; ovipositor sheath two thirds as long as the hind 

 tibia ; tergites 1 and (2 + 3) (Text-fig. 231). Europe . . validus- group (p. 199) 



- Claws not pectinate or if so (a rare exception in the oclonarius-group) then the 



ovipositor sheath very short . . . . . . . . .32 



32 Median field of tergite 2 transverse, weakly rectangular (Text-fig. 233), with the 2nd 



suture either markedly sinuate or if less so, then the ovipositor sheath yellow. 



Ovipositor sheath widely exserted. Europe. N. America falcatus- group (p. 184) 



- Median field of tergite 2 usually markedly triangular ; if somewhat rectangular, then 



the ovipositor very short. 



Ovipositor almost always very short, though often projecting as a short, sharply 

 pointed dagger ; only in a few species of the vitripennis-group does it project freely 

 beyond the apex of the gaster but in these species the hypopygium has no lateral 

 longitudinal creases and other characters of the group apply 33 



33 1st abscissa of the radius and the transverse cubitus distinctly angled at their 



junction ............. 34 



- 1st abscissa of the radius and the transverse cubitus forming a weak, even curve at 



their junction (Text-fig. 157). 



Propodeum, tergite 1 and the median field of tergite 2 tending to be smooth, 

 highly polished ; edge of vannal lobe beyond its widest part more or less straight 

 and virtually without a hair-fringe ; median field of tergite 2 never bordered with 

 fine aciculation or striation as often occurs in the closely related vitripennis-group. 

 World-wide in distribution ...... ocfonarius-group (p. 186) 



34 Tergite 1 usually broad, more or less parallel-sided to where it turns over and thence 



distinctly, roundly narrowed to apex ; median field of tergite 2 transverse and 

 varying from subrectangular to subtriangular, its lateral sulcus directed towards the 

 lateral margin, or posterior corner, of the tergite. 



Apical segment of the front tarsus always with a distinct spine and opposite to it 

 an emargination of the tarsal segment (Text-fig. 144). Europe. N. America 



popularis-group (p. 135) 



- Tergite 1 on the whole long, gradually narrowed from base to apex ; median field of 



tergite 2 clearly and usually conspicuously triangular and its lateral sulcus directed 

 towards the 2nd suture. 



Edge of vannal lobe with well developed fringe of hairs throughout 35 



35 Antenna very short, thick, only the first and last segment of the flagellum being 



obviously longer than wide ; phragma of the scutellum completely concealed. 

 Very small sp., ca. i-6 mm. with coarsely rugose propodeum. New Zealand 



demeter- group (p. 196) 



- Antenna never short and thick, all the segments of the flagellum being obviously 



longer than wide ; phragma of the scutellum always clearly visible. World-wide 



vitripennis- group (p. 187) 



36 Tergite (2 + 3) without a delimited median field, tergite 2 being evenly rectangular, 



about two and a half times as wide as medially long, more or less equal in size to 

 tergite 3 and strongly rugose all over ; tergite 3 with longitudinal rugosity 

 covering most of its surface. 



Coarse sculpture of the scutellar disc extending right to posterior tip and inter- 

 rupting the posterior, polished band of the scutellum ; metacarp about one and a 

 quarter times longer than its distance from the apex of the radial cell. N. America 



terminalis- group (p. 131) 



