PTEROMALIDAE OF N.W. EUROPE 835 



Holland, Deventer, 1952 and 1953, 19 $ and 2 <J (Betrem) in Museum d'Histoire 

 naturelle, Geneva. 



P. umbratum Delucchi. Type 9» an d paratypes, Switzerland, Lausanne, 

 Mt. Calme, 24-29. vii. 1942, 18 $ and 12 ^ ; Holland, Baarn, vi.1947, 8 $ (Doesburg), 

 in Museum d'Histoire naturelle, Geneva. 



I have examined these types which are further discussed below. 

 Boucek (19651? : 18) suggested that umbratum Del. may be the same as formosum 

 Walker. He pointed out that British specimens of formosum differed from most 

 Continental specimens mainly in their relatively shorter marginal vein, but that 

 this character appeared to be variable and therefore unreliable [for distinguishing 

 formosum and umbratum}. 



After having examined the types of formosum and umbratum, as well as other 

 material from the Continent, I feel confident that these two represent distinct, 

 though very closely allied, species. I agree with Boucek that the length of the 

 marginal vein relative to that of the stigmal vein is slightly variable, but an average 

 difference exists. There is also a distinct difference between formosum and umbratum 

 in the form of the genal flange, as explained in my key to species. Other small 

 differences between the respective females, not completely diagnostic, exist in the 

 degree of pilosity of the basal vein of the fore wing, and the colour of the head and 

 thorax. In addition to the syntypes of umbratum, I have a number of specimens 

 captured in southern Sweden which are clearly umbratum and which differ from 

 formosum in the characters mentioned. 



The question whether coeruleum Delucchi is distinct from umbratum is more 

 difficult to answer at present. My impression is that coeruleum probably represents 

 a form of umbratum, after examining the syntypes of both. Delucchi (19556 : 

 127-128) distinguished the two as follows: 

 " 9 (10) Propodeum dreimal langer als das Metanotum, relativ kurz, mit stark ent- 

 wickelten Lateralfalten (Langswolbungen) innenseits des Sulcus spiracu- 

 laris, die bei der Abschnurungsstelle des Hinterrandsstreifens zu scharfen 

 Lateralkielen umgewandelt werden. Propodeumsoberflache stark punk- 

 tiert, Hinterrandstreifen quer strichliert. Beine vom Trochanter an bei 

 beiden Geschlechtern gelb. Diskalregion des Metanotums beim Mannchen 

 flach ; erstes Funiculusglied beim Mannchen langer als das sechste und 

 fast zweimal langer als breit. . . . . .P. coeruleum n. sp. 



10 (9) Propodeum relativ langer, mit schwacheren Langsfalten innenseits des 

 Sulcus spiracularis, die vor der Abschnurungsstelle des Hinterrands- 

 streifens abgebrochen sind. Propodeumsoberflache schwach punktiert, 

 Hinterrandsstreifen im allgemeinen ziemlich glatt und starker abges- 

 chniirt. Abschnurungsstelle glatt und glanzend. Beine beim Weibchen 

 mit gebraiinten Femora und im allgemeinen mit gebraiinter Basis der 

 Hintertibien. Diskalregion des Metanotums beim Mannchen gewolbt ; 

 erstes Funiculusglied beim Mannchen Kiirzer als das sechste und 1, 5 mal 

 langer als breit ....... P. umbratum n. sp. " 



I do not find any tangible difference between the syntypes of coeruleum and 

 umbratum, as regards the characters mentioned by Delucchi. In both the median 

 length of the propodeum is two thirds or slightly more than two thirds that of the 

 scutellum. Delucchi compares the length of the propodeum with that of the 



