74 G. E. J. NIXON 



highly reduced areolation of the propodeum. This might cause the species to be con- 

 fused with members of the eublemmae-subgroup, except that these have a dull 

 appearance, whereas sagax is essentially a shiny looking species. 



$. Hind femur dark brown to black ; hind tibia whitish or yellowish on about basal quarter. 

 Wings markedly hyaline. 



Antenna rather short with the preapical segment about one and a quarter times longer than 

 wide. 



Sculpture of mesoscutum fine and indefinite, with the lines of the notaulices showing as duller, 

 rugose bands, each of which terminates behind as a zone of delicate striate-punctation, though 

 the striate element is far from distinct. Propodeum rather long ; areola of propodeum in the 

 form of an indistinct V, the surface on each side of which is strongly shining and more or less 

 smooth. Metacarp about four times as long as its distance from the apex of the radial cell. 



Tergite i and median field of tergite (2 + 3) (Text-fig. 40). Ovipositor decidedly thick (Text- 

 fig- 49) 



Length: 2 2-2 -5 mm. without ovipositor. 



Tropical Africa. 



Type in the British Museum (Nat. Hist.). 



Host : A gregarious parasite of Sylepta derogata Fab. (Pyraustidae). 



This species is only distantly related to the other African species parasitizing 

 Sylepta derogata, A . syleptae Ferriere, which has complete propodeal areolation and 

 a rugose scutellar disc. 



Apanteles ater (Ratzeburg) 



Microgaster carbonarius Ratzeburg, 1848 [nee Wesmael, 1837] : 52. 

 Microgaster ater Ratzeburg, 1852 : 56 [n.n.]. 

 Apanteles ater (Ratzeburg) Wilkinson, 1945 : 197. 



$. A dark-legged species ; the hind tibia becomes faintly paler on basal half. Stigma very 

 pale brownish yellow with faintly darker border ; sometimes merely pallid with yellowish tint. 



Face shining, smooth but often with faint satin-like sheen. Frons above and the vertex 

 between the ocelli and the eye-margin smooth but slightly dull. Antenna shorter than the body, 

 rather thick with at least segments 15-17 only very slightly longer than wide. 



Mesoscutum somewhat shiny but duller and more finely, more sharply punctate in front; a 

 distinct zone of fine striate-punctation at the posterior end of the notaulic courses. Disc of 

 scutellum polished. Areolation of propodeum reduced ; costula at most feebly indicated but a 

 more or less distinct oblique keel lies behind the spiracle. Spines of the outer side of the hind 

 tibia weak, sparse, hardly differentiated into two types ; front tarsal segment 5 with a distinct 

 spine (Text-fig. 20). Metacarp about four times as long as its distance from the apex of the 

 radial cell. 



Tergite 1 always distinctly narrowed behind, its horizontal surface dull and rugose but not 

 strongly so (Text-fig. 45). Ovipositor sheath about three quarters as long as the hind tibia. 



Length: 2-2-2-7 mm - without ovipositor. 



Europe. 



Host : Cacoecia podana Scopoli (Tortricidae) ; Hyponomeuta malinellus Zeller 

 (Hyponomeutidae). Notocelia uddmanniana L. (Eucosmidae). Cheimatobia bru- 

 mata L. (Geometridae). A gregarious parasite. 



The small spine on the front tarsus is a very important feature of this species and 

 a sure aid towards its recognition. I have not come across a similar spine in any 



