wider than the thorax; the ocelli in a curve on the vertex; the clypeus
covered with silvery pubescence, carinated in the middle, and slightly
produced; the scape and basal joint of the flagellum pale yellow.
Thorax: an interrupted line on the collar, the tubercles, a spot beneath
the wings, and two minute ones on the postscutellum yellow; the disk of
the thorax longitudinally delicately rugose; the metathorax oliquely
striated, with an enclosed space at its base, and having a central
longitudinal channel, the side covered with thin silvery pubescence; the
wings hyaline and iridescent, the nervures fuscous; the legs
ferruginous, variegated with yellow. Abdomen: the basal petiolated
segment ferruginous, with its apical half black above; the apical
segment with an angular shape at its base, which is smooth and shining,
with its lateral margins carinate, the extreme apex ferruginous; beneath
smooth and shining, with the apical margins rufo-piceous.
_Hab._ Aru.
This species would, according to the views of some Hymenopterists,
belong to the genus _Rhopalum_ of Kirby.
Group SOLITARY WASPS.
Fam. EUMENIDÆ, _Westw._
Gen. EUMENES, _Latr._
1. Eumenes arcuata, _Fabr. Syst. Piez._ 287. 11.
_Hab._ Key Island; coast of New Guinea (Triton Bay); Australia.
Gen. PACHYMENES, _Sauss._
1. PACHYMENES VIRIDIS. _P._ lætè viridis; facie pube argentato-albâ
tectâ; alis hyalinis.
_Female._ Length 8 lines. Bright green; the head, thorax, and basal
segment of the abdomen rugose, the rest of the abdomen finely and very
closely punctured; the clypeus thinly covered with a fine silvery-white
pubescence, its apex produced and truncate. Thorax: the metathorax
rounded behind, a deep longitudinal impressed line in the middle, and
with fine silvery down at the sides and behind; the wings subhyaline,
with a fuscous stain along the anterior margin of the superior pair; the
legs rufo-piceous; the coxæ, femora, and tibiæ more or less tinged with
green.
_Hab._ Aru.
Gen. RHYNCHIUM, _Spin._
1. Rhynchium mirabile, _Sauss. Mon. Guêpes Sol._ 106. 6, t. 14. f. 5
[Symbol: female].
_Hab._ Aru; Tasmania.
The _Male_ of this fine species closely resembles the female; it is
black, with a transverse spot above the insertion of the antennæ, an
abbreviated narrow line behind the eyes, another on the lower margin of
their emargination; the scape in front and the clypeus yellow, the
latter notched at its apex; a minute yellow spot at the base of the
mandibles; the antennæ, tibiæ, apex of the femora, and the tarsi
ferruginous; the basal joint of the intermediate and posterior tarsi
dusky; the intermediate femora deeply excavated or hollowed beneath; the
prothorax yellow above; the metathorax truncate, transversely striated
with several minute teeth on the lateral margins; the wings hyaline,
tinted with yellow, their apical margins slightly clouded; the apical
margins of all the segments of the abdomen bordered with yellow, that on
the first segment narrowest. The only particulars in which the female
apparently differs from Saussure's description, is that the second
fascia on the abdomen is _widest at the sides_, and there are _three
little teeth_ on each side of the margins of the metathorax.
The _Female_ is also in the Paris Museum.
2. Rhynchium superbum, _Sauss. Mon. Guêpes Sol._ p. 113. 18.
_Hab._ Aru: New Holland.
Our example of this species slightly differs in coloration from the
description of Saussure. He says, "black, with the vertex, the front,
the prothorax, and the border of all the segments of the abdomen, except
the first, yellow; the wings yellow;" in the Aru specimen, the sinus of
the eyes, a spot above the clypeus, a reversed crescent-shaped spot
crossing the ocelli, two oblique spots behind them, and a broad elongate
stripe behind the eyes yellow. These slight differences cannot
characterize more than a variety; in every other particular they exactly
correspond.
Gen. ODYNERUS, _Latr._
1. ODYNERUS PETIOLATUS. _O._ niger; clypeo apiculato; capite, thorace
abdomineque flavo variis; abdomine petiolato; alis subhyalinis.
_Female._ Length 7-1/2 lines. Black; head and thorax strongly punctured;
two confluent spots between the antennæ, a line on the inner orbits of
the eyes, terminating in their emargination, an oblong spot behind them,
a spot at the base of the mandibles, the scape in front, and the clypeus
yellow; the latter with a large black spot in the middle, and with its
anterior margin prolonged into an acute point; the mandibles
ferruginous, with their base and margins black; the flagellum fulvous
beneath. Thorax: an interrupted line on the collar, a spot beneath the
wings, the outer margin of the tegulæ, two spots on the scutellum, two
longitudinal curved lines on the metathorax, extending from the base to
the apex, yellow; the yellow lines on the metathorax curving inwards.
The tibiæ, tarsi, and apex of the femora ferruginous; the intermediate
and posterior tibiæ with a fuscous line outside, a spot on the coxæ
outside, a stripe at the apex of the anterior femora beneath, another on
the intermediate pair, and a line on the anterior tibiæ, behind, yellow;
wings subhyaline, their margins fuscous. Abdomen petiolated; a fascia on
the apical margins of all the segments, and the petiole, yellow; the
third and following fasciæ narrowest; all the fasciæ continued beneath
the abdomen.
_Hab._ Aru.
2. ODYNERUS AGILIS. _O._ niger; capite thoraceque distinctè, abdomine
delicatulè punctatis; pedibus ferrugineis; abdominis segmentis duobus
basalibus flavo fasciatis; alis subhyalinis.
_Male._ Length 6 lines. Black; the scape in front, a line on the inner
margin of the eyes, terminating in their emargination, an abbreviated
line behind them, and the clypeus yellow; the latter deeply emarginate,
forming two teeth. Thorax: a line in the middle of the anterior margin
of the prothorax, two spots on the verge of the emargination of the
metathorax, and a fascia on the apical margins of the first and second
segments of the abdomen yellow; the legs ferruginous; the wings
subhyaline, the anterior margin of the superior pair fuscous; the outer
margin of the tegulæ yellowish.
_Hab._ Aru.
3. ODYNERUS MULTIPICTUS. _O._ niger, flavo maculatus et punctatus;
pedibus flavis, alis hyalinis.
_Female._ Length 4 lines. Black; the head and thorax strongly punctured,
the abdomen finely and distantly so; the clypeus, a spot above it, the
inner and outer orbits of the eyes, and the scape in front yellow; the
clypeus deeply emarginate in front; the mandibles ferruginous, with a
yellow spot at their base. Thorax: the prothorax in front, the tegulæ
and two spots beneath the wings, the scutellum, and sides of the
metathorax yellow; the legs yellow, with ferruginous stains; the femora
with a black or dark stain above; wings hyaline, with a fuscous stain
along the anterior border of the superior pair. Abdomen: a yellow fascia
on the apical margins of the two basal segments; the three following
segments with very narrow yellow borders, and the apical segment
entirely reddish-yellow.
_Hab._ Aru.
4. ODYNERUS MODESTUS. _O._ niger; abdominis segmentis duobus basalibus
flavo fasciatis; tibiis tarsisque femigineis; alis hyalinis; abdominis
segmento primo basi transversim bicarinato.
_Female._ Length 4 lines. Black; head and thorax coarsely punctured; the
vertex swollen; the scape of the antennæ, a spot between them, and the
clypeus yellow; the latter with a transverse black spot in the middle,
deeply notched in front, and having a carina on each side, in a line
with the angle or tooth of the emargination; the flagellum ferruginous
towards the apex beneath; wings hyaline, with a fuscous cloud in the
marginal cell; the tibiæ and tarsi ferruginous. Abdomen: the base
truncate, with an oblique space above the truncation, the margin of both
defined by an elevated ridge or carina; a narrow fascia on the apical
margin of the basal segment, and a broader one on the second; the latter
continued beneath the abdomen.
_Hab._ Aru.
This species is undoubtedly allied to _O. Sichellii_ of Saussure; but,
beside differing in the colour of its legs, and of the bands of the
abdomen, it wants the strong tubercle at the base of the second segment
of the latter.
Gen. ALASTOR, _St.-Farg._
1. ALASTOR UNIFASCIATUS. _A._ niger; maculâ inter antennas, abdominisque
margine apicali et segmento secundo flavis; alis fuscis.
_Female._ Length 6-1/2 lines. Black; the head and thorax strongly
punctured; the face, sides of the clypeus, cheeks, and base of the
mandibles with a fine silky silvery-white pubescence; the clypeus
convex, its anterior margin emarginate; from each angle of the
emargination a shining carina runs more than halfway up the clypeus; a
minute spot between the antennæ, and two on the anterior margin of the
prothorax, yellow; the wings fuscous, palest at their posterior
margins. Abdomen finely and closely punctured; the third segment
strongly so; a broad yellow fascia on the apical margin of the second
segment.
_Hab._ Aru.
2. ALASTOR APICATUS. _A._ niger; abdominis segmentis primo et secundo
aurantiaco-rubris; alis fuscis.
_Male._ Length 5-1/2 lines. Black; the head and thorax strongly
punctured; a spot between the antennæ, the scape in front, and the
clypeus yellow; the latter with a large black spot at its base,
anteriorly deeply emarginate; wings fuscous; the tegulæ with a
rufo-testaceous spot at their outer margins; the tarsi and articulations
of the legs ferruginous. Abdomen bright orange-red, with the third and
following segments black; the base rugose, the second segment finely
punctured, the rest much more strongly so.
_Hab._ Aru.
Group SOCIAL WASPS.
Fam. VESPIDÆ, _Steph._
1. ISCHNOGASTER IRIDIPENNIS. _I._ rufescenti-fuscus flavo varius;
vertice et metathorace nigris, alis subhyalinis et pulcherrimè
iridescentibus.
_Male._ Length 7-1/4 lines. Head yellow, above the insertion of the
antennæ black; antennæ black, with the scape, basal joint of the
antennæ, and the mandibles ferruginous; the flagellum obscurely
ferruginous beneath; the clypeus produced at the apex into an acute
tooth. Thorax pale ferruginous; the metathorax black, with a ferruginous
spot on each side in front; the scutellum with a reddish-brown spot in
the middle, the postscutellum yellow and subinterrupted in the middle;
the sides of the thorax yellow anteriorly, the yellow portion with two
black spots; the legs slightly variegated with yellow; wings subhyaline
and brilliantly iridescent, the marginal cell with a fuscous cloud.
Abdomen brown; the petiole pale testaceous at its apex and ferruginous
beneath, longer than the head and thorax; the second segment has a
yellow macula on each side, and, beneath, a smaller spot on each side in
a line with the side spots; the first segment has its basal portion
yellow beneath, and a blackish spot in the centre rather behind the
middle.
_Hab._ Aru.
This species in many particulars agrees with the _I. nitidipennis_ of
Saussure, but differs in too many, I think, to be considered the same
species; the second recurrent nervure is straight at the upper
extremity, then curved towards the margin of the wing, and again
straight at its lower extremity; the third submarginal cell is much
wider than the fourth.
Gen. ICARIA, _Sauss._
1. Icaria maculiventris, _Sauss. Mon. Guêpes Soc._ p. 23. 1.--Rhopalidia
maculiventris, _Guér. Voy. Coq. Zool._ ii. pt. 2. _Ins_. p. 267, pl. 9.
fig. 8.
_Hab._ Aru; New Guinea.
2. ICARIA NIGRA. _I._ nigra; clypeo anticè angulato; metathorace concavo
et transversim striato; alis hyalinis.
_Female._ Length 6 lines. Black, punctured and opake; the clypeus
terminating in a sharp-pointed angle; the base and apex of the mandibles
rufo-piceous; the scape ferruginous in front; the face with a thin,
fine, griseous pubescence. Thorax slightly margined in front; an obscure
testaceous spot on each side of the postscutellum, the metathorax
concave and transversely striated; wings hyaline. Abdomen with a short
petiole to the basal segment, which is very short and campanulate; at
its posterior margin are two minute, obscure, pale spots; beneath, the
margins of the apical segments are rufo-piceous.
_Hab._ Aru.
3. ICARIA FASCIATA. _I._ nigra; clypei margine antico, maculis duabus
postscutelli flavis; segmentis abdominis ad apicem flavo angustè
fasciatis.
_Female._ Length 5 lines. Black; the clypeus angular in front, its
anterior margin and a spot on the mandibles yellow; the antennæ
rufo-testaceous beneath. Thorax: the anterior margin of the prothorax
slightly rebordered; the anterior coxæ with a spot in front and two
spots on the postscutellum yellow; the anterior and intermediate tibiæ
beneath, the tarsi beneath and the claw-joint entirely, ferruginous;
wings hyaline with a fuscous stain along the anterior margin of the
superior pair; the metathorax oblique and slightly concave, with an
acute stout tooth on each side. Abdomen: the basal segment campanulate,
the petiole short; a narrow yellow fascia on the apical margin of all
the segments.
_Hab._ Aru.
4. ICARIA BRUNNEA. _I._ rufescenti-fusca; coxis femoribusque obscuris;
alis hyalinis.
_Female._ Length 3-1/2 lines. Reddish-brown; head and thorax punctured,
the abdomen finely rugose; the clypeus and mandibles pale ferruginous,
the former with a darker spot in the middle, the anterior margin
angular. The anterior margin of the prothorax slightly rebordered; the
wings hyaline and iridescent, with a fuscous stain along the anterior
margin of the superior pair; the metathorax abruptly truncate. Abdomen:
the basal margin of the third and following segments black.
_Hab._ Aru.
5. ICARIA GRACILIS. _I._ nigra flavo variegata; abdominis segmento
basali elongato, gracili et petiolato; alis hyalinis.
_Female._ Length 7 lines. Black; the scape in front, the sides and
apical margin of the clypeus, and a spot at the base of the mandibles
yellow; the cheeks reddish-yellow; the antennæ ferruginous; the head
covered with short griseous pubescence. Thorax with obscure ferruginous
tints and a short griseous pubescence, most dense on the sides and
beneath; the anterior margin of the prothorax, the tegulæ, scutellum and
postscutellum, a broad stripe on each side of the metathorax, the coxæ,
and the anterior and intermediate femora, at their apex beneath, yellow;
the scutellum with a ferruginous stain in the middle, the postscutellum
with a black stain, the coxæ ferruginous above, the tibiæ and tarsi
ferruginous beneath; wings hyaline, with a fuscous stain along the
anterior margin of the superior pair. Abdomen: a yellow fascia on the
apical margin of the first and second segments; that on the following
segments rufo-testaceous.
_Hab._ Aru.
6. ICARIA UNICOLOR. _I._ rufescenti-fusca, tenuiter cinereo-pubescens.
_Female._ Length 5 lines. Reddish-brown, covered with a thin cinereous
pubescence; the clypeus acutely angular anteriorly; the metathorax
oblique and delicately striated transversely; wings fusco-hyaline; the
petiole of the abdomen long, the segment campanulated and narrow.
_Hab._ Key Island.
Gen. POLISTES, _Latr._
1. Polistes tepidus, _Fabr. Syst. Piez._ p. 271. 7.
_Hab._ Aru; Key Island; Solomon Islands; New Guinea; Australia.
2. Polistes diabolicus, _Sauss. Mon. Guêpes Soc._ 68. 26, t. 6. f. 7.
_Hab._ Aru; Java; Timor.
3. Polistes stigma, _Fabr. Syst. Piez._ p. 261. 41.
_Hab._ Aru; Celebes; Ceram; India.
_Var._ The specimens from Aru differ from the typical ones in wanting
the two longitudinal yellow lines on the metathorax, which is entirely
black. Saussure has a variety with the metathorax black between the
lines; of two examples from Celebes, one has the yellow lines entire,
the other has them abbreviated at half their length.
4. POLISTES NIGRIFRONS. _P_. capite thoraceque nigris, flavo et
ferrugineo variegatis; abdomine ferrugineo, segmentis basi nigris,
marginibus apicalibus flavis.
_Female._ Length 8 lines. Head and thorax black; the anterior margin of
the clypeus angular and narrowly rufo-testaceous; the mandibles, palpi,
and antennæ ferruginous; the scape, and flagellum above, except the
basal joint, fuscous; the outer orbits of the eyes with a narrow yellow
line. The anterior margin of the prothorax slightly rebordered, the
posterior margin ferruginous; the outer margin of the tegulæ
reddish-yellow; wings subhyaline with a fusco-ferruginous stain along
the anterior margins of the superior pair; the metathorax finely
striated transversely, and with two yellow stripes running upwards
halfway from the base, the posterior margin of the pectus, tips of the
coxæ, the femora at their base and apex, the tibiæ and tarsi beneath,
ferruginous; tips of the femora, and tibiæ above, yellowish. Abdomen
ferruginous, with the base of the second and following segments black;
the first and three following segments with a yellow fascia on their
apical margins; beneath, the two basal segments entirely ferruginous.
_Hab._ Aru.
This species is closely allied to the _P. fastidiosus_ of Saussure, and,
notwithstanding the difference in colouring, may possibly, I think, be
an extreme variety of that species.
5. POLISTES ELEGANS. _P._ ferrugineus; capite thoraceque flavo variis;
segmentis abdominis flavo marginatis.
_Female._ Length 8 lines. Ferruginous; the clypeus, mandibles, cheeks,
and the face, as high as the middle of the emargination of the eyes,
yellow. Thorax: the margins of the prothorax, two longitudinal stripes
on the mesothorax, the scutellum, postscutellum, and sides of the
metathorax broadly, yellow; the legs beneath, the coxæ and the sides of
the thorax spotted with yellow; the intermediate and posterior coxæ
spotted with ferruginous or fusco-ferruginous; the metathorax finely
striated transversely; the wings hyaline with the nervures ferruginous.
Abdomen: the first and three following segments with yellow marginal
fasciæ, that on the fourth usually more or less obliterated.
_Hab._ Aru; Key Island.
Fam. EVANIDÆ, _Leach_.
Gen. FOENUS, _Fabr._
1. FOENUS GRACILIS. _F._ niger, facie lateribusque thoracis argenteo
pilosis; pedibus anticis et intermediis pallidè rufo-testaceis, tibiis
posticis basi tarsisque albis; abdomine subtùs rufo-testaceo.
_Female._ Length 6 lines. Black; subopake; the face, sides of the thorax
and beneath with silvery pubescence; the mandibles, palpi, and scape in
front rufo-testaceous. Thorax: the anterior and intermediate legs
rufo-testaceous, the femora having a darker stain above; the posterior
legs black, with the base of the tibiæ and the tarsi white. Abdomen
rufo-testaceous beneath; the ovipositor white at its apex.
_Hab._ Aru.
Gen. STENOPHASMUS.
Head globose; antennæ longer than the body, and very slender and
setaceous; the prothorax forming a slender neck; the anterior wings with
one marginal and three submarginal cells; the femora slightly
incrassate, not denticulate; the tarsi 5-jointed. Abdomen petiolated,
the petiole as long as the abdomen; the ovipositor as long as the
petiole and abdomen united.
This genus is founded on the examination of a single individual, which
in general appearance exactly resembles the smaller species of the genus
_Megischus_; on examination, however, it will be found that it differs
from that genus in the neuration of the anterior wings; its femora are
not denticulate, in which character it differs from both _Megischus_ and
_Stephanus_; with the latter genus it agrees in having 5-jointed tarsi.
1. STENOPHASMUS RUFICEPS. _S._ niger; capite et antennarum basi rufis;
ovipositore tarsisque pallidè testaceis; petiolo abdominis cylindrico;
alis subhyalinis.
_Female._ Length 5 lines. Black, slightly shining; head globose, red and
sprinkled with white hairs, and delicately striated transversely. Thorax
sprinkled with white pubescence above, the sides more thickly clothed
with the same; above, the thorax is transversely rugose, on the
metathorax becoming more regularly striate; the metathorax has a central
longitudinal carina and also one on each side; the legs sprinkled with
erect white hairs; the tarsi pale rufo-testaceous with the claw-joint
black; wings subhyaline, with a broad light-fuscous stain along the
centre of the anterior pair; a hyaline streak crosses them at the base
of the stigma. Abdomen: the petiole as long as the thorax, narrowest at
the base of the abdomen; it is rugose at the base; the ovipositor pale
testaceous.
_Hab._ Aru.
Fam. ICHNEUMONIDÆ, _Leach_.
Gen. ICHNEUMON.
1. ICHNEUMON INSULARIS. _I._ niger; capite thoraceque albo variegatis;
abdominis segmentorum primo, secundo tertioque albo maculatis.
Length 7-1/2 lines. Black; the orbits of the eyes, the face before the
antennæ, the mandibles and palpi yellowish-white; the flagellum with the
joints from the 14th to 25th white. Thorax: a line on each side before
the tegulæ, a spot beneath the wings, two at the sides of the pectus,
the anterior coxæ in front, and a narrow line on each side of the
scutellum yellowish-white; the anterior and intermediate legs and a spot
beneath the posterior tibiæ rufo-testaceous; the wings hyaline, the
nervures black. Abdomen: a minute spot at the lateral apical margins of
the three basal segments, and a large central one on the two apical
segments, white.
_Hab._ Key Island.
Gen. CRYPTUS, _Fabr._
1. CRYPTUS SCUTELLATUS. _C._ ferrugineus; tibiis posticis tarsisque albo
annulatis; scutello tuberculato.
_Female._ Length 5 lines. Ferruginous; the face testaceous-yellow, an
elongate black spot on the vertex enclosing the ocelli and extending to
the insertion of the antennæ; the latter black, with the scape
ferruginous in front. Thorax: the scutellum elevated, forming a
compressed tubercle, its side view wedge-shaped; the wings hyaline the
nervures black, the base of the wings yellowish; the apical joints of
the intermediate tarsi, the tips of the posterior femora, the extreme
base of the tibiæ, their apical half, and the tarsi black; the
intermediate portion of the tibiæ yellow; the apical segment of the
abdomen black.
_Hab._ Aru.
Gen. MESOSTENUS, _Grav._
1. MESOSTENUS PICTUS. _M._ niger; capite thoraceque flavo striatis et
punctatis; pedibus flavis nigro et ferrugineo lavatis; segmentis
abdominalibus flavo marginatis; alis hyalinis.
_Female._ Length 8 lines. Black; a large ovate spot on the cheeks
touching the mandibles, the labrum, palpi, inner orbits of the eyes, and
from the 7th to the 10th joints of the antennæ yellowish-white. Thorax:
an ovate spot in the middle of the disk of the mesothorax, the tegulæ, a
spot beneath them, two larger spots beneath the wings, the scutellum, a
spot on the postscutellum uniting with another at the base of the
metathorax, a trilobed spot at its apex, and a subovate one on each side
yellowish-white; the coxæ white with black stains on the intermediate
and posterior pairs; the femora white beneath, the anterior and
intermediate pairs with a black line above, the posterior pair
ferruginous above; the tibiæ and tarsi whitish beneath, stained more or
less fusco-ferruginous above; wings hyaline. Abdomen: all the segments
with yellowish-white fasciæ on their apical margins, the fasciæ
continued beneath; the ovipositor about the length of the abdomen, the
valves broadest at their apex.
_Hab._ Aru.
2. MESOSTENUS AGILIS. _M._ niger; antennis medio albis; thorace
pedibusque albo variegatis; abdominis marginibus fasciis albis.
_Female._ Length 5 lines. Black; the joints of the antennæ, from the 6th
to 13th, white, the vertex also white. Thorax: a spot in the middle of
the disk of the mesothorax, the scutellum, a spot on the postscutellum,
two beneath the wings, the apex of the metathorax, and a spot on each
side white; the legs white, the anterior pair slightly fuscous above;
the intermediate femora and tibiæ beneath, and the tarsi above, black;
the posterior femora above and beneath the tibiæ, except their extreme
base and the base and apex of the tarsi, black; wings hyaline, the
nervures black. Abdomen: the apical margins of the segments, excepting
the fourth and fifth, with white fasciæ, the second and third fasciæ
attenuated in the middle.
_Hab._ Aru.