PTEROMALIDAE OF N.W. EUROPE 813 



two may be distinct species. Besides the characters mentioned in my key to species 

 (see below), boarmiae tends to have the reticulation of the head rather denser than 

 in cavus, the plicae of the propodeum slightly more curved, and the venation of the 

 fore wing rather thicker. The following notes on the characters of boarmiae will 

 supplement the foregoing : 



$. Head and thorax black with a weak bluish or bronze tinge. Antennal scape usually 

 entirely testaceous, sometimes infuscate distally ; pedicellus often testaceous beneath and 

 apically, occasionally brown ; flagellum brown to fuscous. Wing-veins on the average rather 

 darker than in cavus. Legs varying in colour much as in cavus but tending to be on the average 

 rather paler ; the tibiae often testaceous ; tarsi at least proximally, often mainly, clear testa- 

 ceous. Marginal vein 1-8-2-1 times as long as the stigmal vein ; postmarginal vein often 

 slightly shorter than, sometimes as long as, the stigmal ; stigma (Text-fig. 671) tending to be 

 slightly larger and more subrectangular than that of cavus ; fore wing sometimes with a weak 

 yellowish or brownish discal cloud. 



o*. Head and thorax greenish to bluish with the axillae and scutellum bronze. Gaster with 

 a distinct subbasal testaceous spot, which sometimes spreads out to form a transverse band. 

 Antennae testaceous with the pedicellus a little darkened dorsally. Legs, apart from the 

 coxae, testaceous, or with some or all of the femora brown. Other details as in male cavus 

 (q.v.). 



I have examined the following material of boarmiae : 



England : Buckinghamshire, Slough, a large number of <$<$ and 9$, bred vii.1961, 

 from pupae of Hoffmannophila pseudospretella (Stt.) at the Pest Infestation Research 

 Laboratory, Slough. Dr. G. E. Woodroffe kindly informed me that the original 

 specimens came from a field experiment where they were breeding Hoffmannophila. 

 They were kept going on Galleria mellonella (L.) and were tested against spun-up 

 larvae of a number of host species. They bred successfully on the following : 



Lepidoptera : Galleria mellonella (L.), Achroia grisella (F.), Aphomia gularis 

 (Zell.), Corcyra cephalonica (Stt.) and Sitotroga cerealella (Oliv.) (Pyralidae) ; 

 Hoffmannophila pseudospretella (Stt.) (Oecophoridae). Coleoptera : Stegobium 

 paniceum (L.), Lasioderma serricorne (F.) (Anobiidae) ; Ptinus tectus Boield. (Ptini- 

 dae) ; Caryedon gonagra F. (Bruchidae). Hymenoptera : Br aeon hebetor (Say) 

 (Braconidae). Two pupae of Pieris brassicae (L.) were successfully attacked when 

 the pharate adult had separated inside the pupal skin. 



Oxfordshire, Oxford, <&£, $$ reared at some time between 1892 and 1900 from 

 cocoons of Apanteles sp. on larvae of Pieris rapae (L.) (G. D. H. Carpenter). 

 Warwickshire, Birmingham, <$$, $$ reared 19. ix. 1952 from cocoons of Orgyia antiqua 

 (L.) (Lep., Lymantriidae) (G. C. Varley). Britain, unlocalized : 1 $ found in a 

 breeding-case with Melitaea aurinia (L.), possibly hyperparasitic through Apanteles 

 bignelli Marsh. Imagines July-Sept. 



Walker's type specimens were reared from larvae of Cleora [" Boarmia "] rhomboi- 

 daria (Schiff.) ab. perfumaria Newman (see Newman, 1863 : 8609) ; no doubt as 

 hyperparasites through Microgaster alvearia (F.) 



In the old Hope-Westwood collection in Oxford there are 3 $ of boarmiae from 

 Austria, unlocalized (Kollar), labelled " Pteromalus mesoleptorum Kll." [nom. 

 nud.l. 



