82 M. W. R. de V. GRAHAM 



Biology. This was discussed by Dunn (1949 : 104-105) who stated that vulgaris 

 is an extremely common and polyphagous species. It is said to be hyperparasitic 

 on many species of aphids through various Aphidiinae (Braconidae) . Peck (1963 : 

 603-604) gives a list of recorded hosts, some of which he regards as doubtfully 

 correct ; he states (ibid. : 603) " Nearctic records of this species, except those from 

 Greenland, probably should be placed elsewhere ". There are several host-records, 

 from Europe, North Africa, and Israel, listed in Entomophaga (1956, 1 : 320, 331 ; 

 1961, 6 : 215, 320 ; 1963, 8 : 342, 370 ; 1966, 11 : 119, 133, 138, 150). Many of 

 the foregoing records are doubtless correct but need checking in view of the fact that 

 vulgaris s. lat. in Europe is now shown to comprise two species. Probably vulgaris 

 has at least two generations per annum ; in Britain I have captured imagines in 

 every month of the year. 



Asaphes suspensus (Nees) 



(Text-fig. 79) 



Chrysolampus suspensus Nees, 1834 : 127, $. 



Chrysolampus altiventris Nees, 1834 : 127, ex parte. 



Pteromalus petioliventris Zetterstedt, 1838 : 429 [recte 427], $, syn. n. 



? Colax aphidii Curtis, 1842 : 60. 



Chrysolampus aphidiphagus Ratzeburg, 1844a : 181, syn. n. 



Chrysolampus aphidiphagus Ratzeburg, 1848 : 184. 



Asaphes aphidiphagus (Ratzeburg) Kurdjumov, 1913 : 24. 



Type material. Chrysolampus suspensus Nees. One female in coll. Westwood, 

 ex coll. Nees ; it bears a small pink square with the number " 8 ", and is labelled 

 " D. Div. 1 B, i. a (Podagrion Spin.) 48 suspensus mihi. 2 [? Sept.] 12 " (in the 

 handwriting of Nees) and " Chrysolampus suspensus Es. 2. 127. E. Mus. Esenb.", 

 in Westwood's handwriting. I designate this specimen LECTOTYPE of suspensus. 



Chrysolampus altiventris Nees. One female in coll. Westwood, ex coll. Nees ; it 

 bears a small pink square with the number " 8 ", also a label in the handwriting of 

 Nees " B. (3. interm. inter altiventris et suspensus. 28 [? Sept.] 12 ". The label 

 implies that the specimen represents a varietal form, moreover the date of capture 

 does not correspond with that given by Nees (1834 : 127). The specimen agrees 

 very well, however, with his description of the female and may be taken as an indica- 

 tion of the identity of altiventris. 



Pteromalus petioliventris Zetterstedt. One pinned specimen, which is clearly the 

 type, stands in Zetterstedt's collection ; it is labelled (in his handwriting) " P. 

 petioliven = tris. $. Moly Ro ". Although described as female, it is actually a male. 



Colax aphidii Curtis. I do not know whether the types still exist. The descrip- 

 tion suggests that aphidii was the same as suspensus (Nees). 



Chrysolampus aphidiphagus Ratzeburg. Holotype (lacking head) presumed lost. 

 The species was synonymized with Asaphes vulgaris Walker by Kurdjumov (1913). 

 It is certainly correctly placed in Asaphes, but from the original description I con- 

 sider it to have been the same as suspensus (Nees) ; Ratzeburg stated that it had 

 wholly yellow legs, excluding the coxae. 



