38 G. E. J. NIXON 



Very small sp., ca. i-8 mm. without ovipositor ; costula of propodeum wanting ; 

 ovipositor sheath not longer than the hind tibia. Sumatra . schneideri sp. n. (p. 103) 



- Tergite 1 always considerably sculptured. 



Larger spp., at least 2-2 mm. without ovipositor. . . . . . 81 



81 Antenna shorter, with the preapical segments very tightly articulated and segments 



16-17 n °t longer than wide ; thicker spines of the outer side of the hind tibia short 

 and somewhat blunt. 



Vertex behind the ocelli almost smooth ; ovipositor sheath very slightly longer 

 than the hind tibia. Philippines ...... smerdis sp. n. (p. 68) 



- Antenna longer, with the preapical segments less tightly articulated and segments 



16-17 distinctly longer than wide ; thicker spines of the outer side of the hind tibia 

 longer, sharply pointed .......... 82 



82 Ovipositor sheath very distinctly longer than the hind tibia ; mesoscutum duller ; 



hind spurs longer and thicker ; temples more strongly sculptured ; areolation of 

 propodeum weak with costula poorly indicated. 



Hind tarsus infuscate throughout. India .... cerberus sp. n. (p. 69) 



- Ovipositor sheath a little shorter than the hind tibia ; mesoscutum shiny, its 



sculpture superficial ; hind spurs shorter ; temples less strongly sculptured ; 

 areolation of propodeum somewhat weaker with the costula still more poorly de- 

 fined .............. 83 



83 Stigma more or less evenly brownish-yellow ; front tarsus very short, segment 2 



being hardly longer than wide ; front tarsal segment 5 with a distinct spine (Text- 

 fig. 20) ; head less transverse ; temples more finely roughened, with dull, satin- 

 like-sheen. Europe ....... ater Ratzeburg (p. 74) 



- Stigma pellucid ; front tarsus normal, segment 2 being very obviously longer than 



wide ; front tarsal segment 5 without a spine ; head more transverse ; temples 

 more noticeably roughened. Indo-oriental region . . taragamae Viereck (p. 66) 



84 Vannal lobe beyond its widest part not in the least concave and with a complete or 



almost complete fringe of hairs, or at any rate, with a few projecting hairs (except 

 racilla) ............. 85 



- Vannal lobe beyond its widest part more or less distinctly concave and here without 



trace of a fringe of hairs or even an occasional projecting hair, except at apex. 



The vannal lobe is hardly concave in adreus but this species has strongly 

 shortened flagellum ........... 97 



85 Hind wing narrow, the length of the 2nd abscissa of the mediella about equal to the 



distance between its distal extremity and the apex of the vannal lobe (Text-fig. 15). 

 Cubitellan cell of the hind wing very distinctly longer than wide ; wings dis- 

 tinctly brownish ; median cell evenly and densely setose all over ... 86 



- Hind wing broader, the 2nd abscissa of the mediella not longer than the distance 



between its distal extremity and the apex of the vannal lobe (Text-fig. 19). 



Wings hyaline or nearly so ; vannal lobe roundly angled at its widest part ; 

 tergite 1 large, broad, not or hardly narrowed behind, densely, evenly rugose ; 

 disc of scutellum punctate towards sides ....... 95 



86 Metacarp short, between two and two and a half times longer than its distance 



from the apex of the radial cell (Text-fig. 31). 



Ocelli in a high triangle, the transverse, posterior tangent to the anterior ocellus 

 not touching the posterior pair ; mesoscutum heavily punctate, the punctures less 

 crowded and with shiny interspaces along the middle line ; virtually no trace of 

 longitudinal elements at the posterior end of the notaulic courses. Africa to 

 Australia and the Philippines ...... argiope sp. n. (p. 85) 



- Metacarp longer, at least three times as long as its distance from the apex of the 



radial cell ............ 87 



