150 G. E. J. NIXON 



Apanteles metacarpalis Thomson 



Apanteles metacarpalis Thomson, 1895 : 2265. 



?. Hind tibia reddish on basal half to two thirds. Clypeus very narrow, its apical margin 

 somewhat bent inwards ; towards sides almost rugose-punctate, the punctures very close. 

 Metacarp as long as its distance from the apex of the radial cell (Text-fig. 134). Inner spur of 

 the hind tibia very slightly shorter than the outer one. Median field of tergite (2 + 3) trans- 

 verse but obviously triangular (Text-fig. 151). Ovipositor sheath considerably widened, about 

 two thirds as long as the hind tibia (Text-fig. 155). 



Europe. 



Host : in England bred from the following :- Phthorimaea suaedella Richardson, 

 Phthorimaea seminella Pierce, Phthorimaea plantaginella Stainton, Phthorimaea 

 instabilella Douglas (Gelechiidae). 



Like most of the species in the group, metacarpalis is a very black-looking insect 

 with almost a milky tint to the wings. Among its allies it is essentially characterized 

 by the short metacarp. 



The MERULA -Group 



Lateral, polished zone of the scutellum pushed far forwards and cutting off between 

 itself and the disc a narrow, parallel-sided furrow ; the posterior margin of this 

 polished zone normally shows a sharp, raised edge (but ci.hebrus, Camilla and tedanius). 

 Vannal lobe beyond its widest part with distinctly concave edge and here without 

 fringe or projecting hairs, except in tedanius ; cubitellan cell not longer than wide. 



The form of tergite 1 is characteristic and seems to vary only within small limits 

 among the species. 



Affinity with the metacarpalis-group is close and the only reliable difference be- 

 tween the two groups is to be found in the shape of the vannal lobe but even this 

 character breaks down sometimes as in the Philippine tedanius. Some of the species 

 are rather far removed from the European merula and may well be isolated members 

 of smaller segregates within the larger group. 



World-wide but apparently not rich in species. 



Key to Old World Species 

 Females 

 (For reasons of convenience, the N. American etiellae Muesebeck is included in the key.) 



1 Head having a characteristic sooty dullness, the face, vertex and temples closely 



reticulate-punctate ; vannal lobe not concave, its edge with weakly indicated 

 fringe. 



Propodeum completely dull, rugose, with a percurrent keel. Philippines 



tedanius sp. n. (p. 163) 



- Head at most faintly dull and finely roughened ; vannal lobe distinctly concave, its 



edge free from hairs ........... 2 



2 Stigma pale, sometimes almost colourless and with at most a darker border . . 3 



- Stigma dark brown to blackish with at most a paler cloud or spot at base . . 11 



3 Propodeum with a median, longitudinal keel (sometimes weak and broken anteriorly 



in myeloenta) ............ 5 



