PTEROMALIDAE OF N.W. EUROPE 343 



Thorax in profile strongly arched dorsally, the scutellum appearing convex. Mesoscutum 

 with notaulices deep, both it and the scutellum with very delicate engraved sculpture. Fore 

 wing similar to that of conjungens, but its upper surface with a bare or nearly bare strip ex- 

 tending from the stigma some distance towards the apex of the wing. Hind tibial pecten 

 complete and regular, much as in penetrans (cf. Text-fig. 282). 



Gaster very strongly compressed, almost knife-like. 



The male of decipiens resembles even more closely that of penetrans (Kirby), from 

 which it differs in the characters given in my key. The eyes are separated by a 

 distance which varies from rather more than one third to a half of their own length, 

 whilst in male penetrans they are separated by rather less than one third of their own 

 length ; this character, however, can only be measured in specimens which have the 

 head undistorted. 



Holotype^. England : Buckinghamshire, Hell Coppice, near Oakley, 2.viii.ig53 

 (Graham), in Hope Department, University Museum, Oxford. 



Paratypes. Same data as holotype, 2 <$ ; Ireland : Co. Wicklow, coast near 

 Bray Head, 1 <£, 16.viii.1954, the Glen of the Downs, 1 <$, 23.viii.1954 (Graham), in 

 Graham collection. 



I have taken some females which may belong to this species in two of the above 

 localities (Hell Coppice ; the Glen of the Downs). They differ from females of 

 penetrans (Kirby) in being smaller (length 1-2-1-4 mm.), with only weak metallic 

 reflections on the head and thorax, the eyes slightly smaller and the malar space 

 slightly longer. The mid and hind tarsi are testaceous with their tips brown, 

 sometimes brownish dorsally on segments 3-5 ; in British specimens of penetrans 

 the mid and hind tarsi are brown to fuscous with at most segments 1-4 more or less 

 testaceous beneath. These small distinctions may be valid, but it seems advisable 

 to postpone describing females of decipiens until they can be definitely associated 

 with the males by breeding. 



Biology. Unknown. 



Pirene microcera (Haliday) comb. n. 

 Macroglenes microcerus Haliday, 1844 : 295, <J [nee $>]. 



Type material. Syntypes in the BM(NH) and in Haliday collection. BM(NH) : 

 one male, certainly a Haliday specimen, with a small green square label, also a 

 Waterhouse label " Macroglenes microcerus Haliday ". Haliday coll., box 23, one 

 male (No. 1662) with a green label " microcerus " in Haliday 's handwriting, also a 

 modern label " Ireland, Haliday " ; I select this male as LECTOTYPE. The 

 syntype in BM(NH) is conspecific with it. 



I have seen no other males which agree in structure with the syntypes of microcerus, 

 and have not been able to identify the female. The latter might be expected to 

 differ from that of graminea in the characters of segments 1-3 of the antennal 

 flagellum, in the same way as their respective males (see key to males). Haliday 

 (1844 : 295) synonymized his Pirene graminea, 1833 (described from the female 

 only) with microcerus, of which he evidently knew only the male. However, I have 



