226 G. E. J. NIXON 



greaves). U.C. Ibadan, 3 $£> 2 3 vii.1958, 1$, 4.x. 1957, bred from Lamprosema indica 

 (G. H. Caswell). 

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



Host : Lamprosema indica Saunders (Pyralidae). 



H. helle seems to be largely characterized by the closeness of the posterior ocelli. 

 This feature, in combination with the colour pattern and the shortness of the first 

 tergite makes it easily separable from the other species belonging to the group. 



Hypomicrogaster gerontius sp. n. 



$. Head slightly paler than the thorax. Disc of the scutellum sometimes faintly reddish like 

 the posterior part of the mesoscutum. Gaster dark brown above; the sunken, basal part of 

 tergite 1 is reddish. Hind coxa yellow ; hind femur yellow but darkened apically ; hind tibia 

 and hind tarsus brown throughout. 



The position of the ocelli is somewhat variable ; sometimes the posterior, transverse tangent 

 to the anterior ocellus appears to touch the posterior pair ; sometimes it passes closely in front 

 of them. 



Mesoscutum shiny with faint satin-like sheen ; its punctation very superficial, a character by 

 which it differs at once from the closely related loretta. Propodeum smooth-looking but not 

 polished ; a few strong rugosities towards the posterior margin and near the strong medial keel. 

 The 1st abscissa of the discoideus is very slightly shorter than the 2nd. Inner spur of the hind 

 tibia not reaching beyond the middle of the hind basitarsus. 



Horizontal part of tergite 1 dull and fairly strongly rugose all over. Ovipositor sheath about 

 three quarters as long as the hind tibia. 



Length: ca. 3 mm. without ovipositor. 



ct. Six specimens, that I am confident belong with the female, are like the female in all 

 respects, except for the usual sexual differences. 



S. Africa : Natal, Van Reenen, Drakensberg, 1-22.1.1927, 3 $$, one the TYPE, 

 2 <3c£, (R. E. Turner) ; Cape Province, Somerset East, 10-22. xii. 1930, 4 $$, 3 <$<$, 

 (R. E. T.), Swellendam, 17. xii. 1931-18.1. 1932, 1 $, (R. E. T.). 



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



This species has the flagellum similar to that of laurae. 



Hypomicrogaster loretta sp. n. 



$. Head blackish like the thorax but both these parts lacking the reddish glow that is a 

 feature of gerontius. Scape yellow except for a dark mark on each side. Wings not so dark 

 as in gerontius. Hind tibia becoming yellowish on about basal half and hence not so curiously 

 contrasted with the yellow femur as in gerontius and laurae. 



Face slightly less transverse than in gerontius. Antenna rather thin with the preapical segment 

 about one and a half times longer than wide. 



Mesoscutum very distinctly punctate. Disc of scutellum with sparse punctures. The two 

 fields of the propodeum more shiny. Hind spurs whitish (they are brownish in gerontius), the 

 inner one distinctly reaching beyond the middle of the hind basitarsus. First abscissa of the 

 discoideus as long as the 2nd. 



Tergite 1 not quite so strongly narrowed behind as in gerontius and its horizontal part con- 

 siderably smoother. 



Length: ca. 2-8 mm. without ovipositor. 



