REVISION OF LEUCOSPIDAE i2 7 



with ovipositorial furrow with its tapering apex approaching the base of the tergite and the 

 sheaths of ovipositor extending from three-fifths to three-quarters, in some cases nearly reaching 

 the base, of fifth tergite. 



Form A. Most of thorax dorsally black, with dark red pronotum anteriorly, thoracic dorsum 

 more or less on sides as well as sides of thorax and propodeum; antennae black or dark red; 

 most of gaster, at least beyond first tergite, and hind femora externally ochreous to slightly 

 orange-yellow. Wings strongly infuscate, with violaceous tinge; stigmal vein rather stout. 

 Hind margin of fourth tergite in female distinctly angulate medially (Text-fig. 153). Distribu- 

 tion: Senegal, Nigeria, 'Congo' (PBrazzaville), Central Zaire, i.e. possibly region of the tropical 

 forest. 



Form B. Thorax, wings and hind femur almost as in form A, but hind femur with small 

 black spot in the middle, gaster more reddish with emerging yellowish spots as follows: a band 

 on fourth tergite narrowly interrupted in middle, two large oval spots on fifth tergite, most of 

 sixth tergite and epipygium except along ovipositor. In male most of carapace of gaster 

 dorsally yellowish deeply divided medially from apex. In female hind margin of fourth tergite 

 medially distinctly produced although slightly less than in form A. Distribution: 'Congo' 

 (PBrazzaville), Zanzibar. 



Form C. Wings less strongly infuscate than in A and B (but generally very dark in specimens 

 from Zaire), stigmal vein rather slender. Colour pattern similar to form B but non-black parts 

 paler, bright red combined with pale yellow. Pronotum may or may not have one (posterior) 

 or both yellow cross-lines, similarly thoracic dorsum partly yellow or red. In female fifth 

 tergite extensively yellow (except medially), hind femur externally yellow with narrow black 

 streak from base to centre, often turning red or disappearing at base, sometimes reduced to 

 small central spot. Hind margin of fourth tergite in female slightly produced. As in form B 

 ovipositor sheaths mostly reaching basal third or quarter of fifth tergite. In male gaster on 

 first tergite sometimes with two yellow maculae, on the carapace (fused tergites) with broad 

 arcuate yellow band anteriorly, sometimes subdivided medially, connected laterally with broad 

 yellow areas reaching apex (male from Salisbury; this similar to Congolese male mentioned as 

 form B, but much paler-coloured), but these often separated from belt and more or less split in 

 two lateral spots; median separation of spots may be narrow (male from Somalia). Distribution : 

 broad belt from Sudan and Ethiopia to eastern South Africa, including Katanga in Zaire. 



Form D. This may be regarded as 'typical' L. tricolor as its holotype belongs here. In most 

 respects similar to form C (also, as to colour pattern, to L. schlettereri Schulthess-Schindler), 

 but hind femur is broadly red, usually with elongate black spot above centre and mostly with 

 long dorsal and shorter ventro-basal streaks of pale yellow. First tergite in male without 

 yellow spots, subangulate band at base of carapace sometimes partly interrupted, the two 

 sublateral maculae broadly separated in the middle. Distribution: South Africa. 



Form E. This is similar to form D but most specimens are relatively large (§ 9-10, £ 8 mm), 

 extensively bright red on thorax and hind femur, in female first tergite red, the fourth (second 

 exposed) black with whitish cross-band, the fifth black at base and apex but with large broadly 

 lunate macula nearly touching base, as well as sixth tergite and epipygium, bright red; the 

 lunate macula often turns yellow postero-laterally. Ovipositor nearly reaching base of fifth 

 tergite, hind margin of fourth tergite quite straight medially. In the male coming from the 

 same lot unusual bright red pattern on gastral carapace: arcuate anterior crossband medially 

 broadly connected with apex and extending twice into broad lobes laterad (Text-fig. 151). 

 The described extreme form comes from South Africa, reared from Serapista denticulata (Smith) . 



Specimens intermediate in colour, length of ovipositor, straight or curved hind 

 margin of fourth tergite (in female), between forms E and D, come from Grahamstown 

 and Port St. Johns; they are smaller and their host is not known. 



At one time I thought of separating the form E and, eventually, form A, as 

 different subspecies. But in the latter case (A) there are too few and yet rather 

 variable specimens available, suggesting manifold intergrades to form B and also 



