AUSTRALIAN HYMENOPTERA CEALCIDOIDEA, Vl.—GIRAULT , 
303 
AUSTRALIAN 
HYMENOPTERA CHALCIDOIDEA-VI.* 
The Family Pteromalidae with Descriptions of New Genera and Species. 
By A. A. Girault. 
INTRODUCTION. 
Whole portions of this great family are barely represented in the Australian fauna. 
The Sphegigasterini ssems the most numerously, the Pteromalini the least, represented of the 
tribes. The large series of old-world genera are rarely met with and species of the type genus are 
few, one species only having been found so far in our extensive collections. This paper includes 
a large number of the genera but the species must be much more numerous than the few 
recorded here. 
Tribe PTEROMALINI. 
Genus MERAPORUS Walker. 
1. MERAPORUS NIGRIVIRIDIS Girault. Female. 
Dark metallic green, the head and thorax (excluding the propodeum) bronze, the 
abdomen shining black; fore wings with a rather obscure, round stained spot against the 
submarginal vein just before its apex, otherwise hyaline. Legs deep fuscous, the coxa? 
concolorous; antennas black, the scape and pedicel brownish. Marginal vein slightly longer 
than stigmal the latter slightly longer than postmarginal. Punctate. Propodeal spiracle 
long-elliptical, the median carina half complete irorn base, the lateral ones complete. Parapsidal 
furrows about half complete. Funic le 1 longest, much shorter than pedicel, cup-shaped, the 
distal funicle joints wider than long; club not enlarged. Clypeus striate. 
Habitat: Tasmania (King Island). 
Type: No. /. 1277, South Australian Museum, Adelaide. 
Genus PTEROMALUS Swederus. 
It is almost needless to say that the great number of species catalogued under this 
genus in many instances do not belong here. Walker has described the. following species as 
members of it from Australia. I have seen only one species of the genus which is probably 
the common puparum of Linn® us but it is not recorded as such for the reason that the identity 
of this species is doubtful and its occurrence in Australia, though probable, cannot be said 
to be proved. It is even doubtful whether anyone knows what puparum is. There are too 
many members of its genus, tribe and family (not to mention miseogasterids) resembling it 
not to be fearful that mistaken identifications have been made in the past, especially since 
its type is unknown and its various descriptions vague and conflicting. Perhaps, fifty years 
Contribution No. 17, Entomological Laboratory, Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations, Bundaberg, 
Queensland. 
