158 G. E. J. NIXON 



unusually coarse sculpture of the first tergite ; in both these respects, however, there 

 is an approach to the European vindicius. 



Apanteles vindicius sp. n. 



$. This species has more in common with the African lynceus than the typical members of 

 the merula-grouQ, such as lacteoides and merula. It may be compared with lynceus as follows : 



Wings almost hyaline but lacking a milky white tint. Hind tibia infuscate on apical half, 

 becoming reddish towards base. 



Face more strongly punctate ; the punctures coarser, subconfluent ; the punctate face is 

 quite a feature of the species. Antenna longer with the preapical segment slightly longer than 

 wide. Posterior ocelli slightly further apart than in lynceus. 



Mesoscutum densely, deeply punctate, the punctures crowded and confluent along the course 

 of the notaulices and forming dull bands. Disc of the scutellum with some coarse punctation 

 along the sides. Propodeum a little shorter than in lynceus ; a lateral field slightly transverse ; 

 across the brow, the propodeum is dull, densely, almost coarsely rugose and rather thickly 

 clothed with long, stiff hairs ; posterior corners rather strongly raised, the surface between them 

 and the strong medial keel slightly hollowed out and covered with coarse, shiny rugosity that is 

 weaker medially. Inner spur of the middle tibia slightly more powerful than in lynceus and fully 

 reaching apex of middle basitarsus. 



Tergite 1 less rugose than in lynceus but more rugose than in the other species of the group ; 

 at sides where it turns over, the surface shows deep, contiguous punctation ; elsewhere the 

 horizontal surface is dull, finely rugose but with a coarser patch medially. Ovipositor sheath 

 very slightly shorter than the hind tibia. 



Length: 3-2 mm. without ovipositor. 



Europe : Italy, Laguna Veneta, 1 $, the TYPE, (G. Soika). 

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



No other species of the group has the anterior part of the propodeum so coarsely 

 rugose. The densely punctate mesoscutum is also important for the recognition of 

 the species. 



Apanteles detrectans Wilkinson 



Apanteles detrectans Wilkinson, 1928a : no. 



$. Hind tibia infuscate on less than apical half ; towards base becoming clear yellow. 

 Wings hyaline ; most of the venation colourless ; stigma pale yellow without noticeably darker 

 border but the metacarp brownish. 



Face impunctate. Antenna shorter than the body, very slightly tapered towards apex ; 

 preapical segment about one and a quarter times longer than wide ; flagellar pubescence hardly 

 noticeable. Distance between posterior ocelli distinctly greater than the distance between one 

 of them and the eye-margin, 5:3. 



Mesoscutum finely, rather indistinctly punctate. Disc of scutellum shiny and with faint traces 

 of punctation. Propodeum short, with medial keel ; otherwise shining and almost smooth. 

 Abscissa 1 of the discoideus as long as 2 ; nervellus of hind wing straight ; cubitellan cell slightly 

 higher than wide. 



Horizontal part of tergite 1 shining, almost smooth. Median field of tergite (2 + 3) (Text- 

 fig. 161). 



Length : ca. 3 mm. without ovipositor. 



India : Pusa (type locality). Africa : Sudan, Gureir, ii-iii.1939, 3 $$, bred 

 from caterpillar on Senna (Cassia). 



