RECLASSIFICATION OF MICROG ASTERINI 



199 



strong, secondary keels (Text-fig. 343). Distal end of metacarp not sharply denned ; metacarp 

 about one and a half times longer than its distance from the apex of the radial cell. 



Tergite 1 linear but dilated posteriorly ; very deeply grooved throughout. Tergite (2 + 3) 

 smooth, shining ; a faintly indicated suture separates the two parts of the tergite ; tergite 2 

 shows a hardly defined, raised median swelling that is elongate and more or less parallel-sided. 



New Britain : Keravat, io.v.1952, i£, the TYPE, labelled as bred from Hibiscus 

 Leaf Folder, (/. H. Barrett). 



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



This is a remarkable looking species, quite unlike any other known to me. It is 

 characterized by its very large size, colour and lobed claws. It is more closely 

 related to the henicopas-group, I think, than to any other group in Apanteles. Its 

 inclusion in Apanteles should be regarded as provisional. 



Monobasic. 



The VALIDUS-Gkovv 

 Apanteles validus Thomson 



Apanteles validus Thomson, 1895 : 2254. 



This species seems to be quite isolated and is largely characterized by its pectinate 

 claws (Text-fig. 280). 



o*?. Wings distinctly darkened. Hind coxa and hind femur black ; males have the hind 

 tibia as dark as the femur and pale only on about basal fifth ; in the two females examined, the 

 hind tibia is paler than its femur. The anterior, hollowed out part of tergite 1 tends to be paler 

 (almost reddish) than the rest of the segment. Flagellum (Text-fig. 232). 



The suture between the mesoscutum and the disc of the scutellum is reduced to a fine, simple 

 groove. Although no 2nd transverse cubitus is present, the areolet is somewhat sharply con- 

 tracted after the manner of some of the Microgaster group of genera. Tergite 1 and (2 + 3), 

 (Text-fig. 231). 



Length: 4 mm. without ovipositor of female. 



230 



233 

 231 232 



Figs. 230-233. Apanteles, $: 230, validus Thomson, front claw; 231, same, basal 



tergites; 232, same, apical four flagellar segments; 233, falcatus (Nees), basal tergites. 



