Brues, C.T.

Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society

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153Rediscovery of Leucospis antiqua Walker in New CaledoniaBY CHARLES T. BRUESBiological Laboratories, Harvard University.(Presented by Dr. Williams at the meeting of July 14, 1941)Among the exotic species of Leucospis described by Walker in1860 (Journ. Entom., vol. 1, p. 19) is one from New Caledoniawhich has not since been recognized. Recently, Dr. F. X. Williamssecured two specimens, both males, which agree perfectly with thedescription given by Walker, and are obviously his species. Theywere collected at Noumea, New Caledonia, Oct. 30 and Nov. 2,1940.It is now possible to indicate more clearly the relationships ofthis species to other members of the genus which is widely distributed in the Indomalayan Region.The color pattern is well described by Walker; the narrow yellowband on the abdomen is on the posterior margin of the second ter-gite and there is also a very narrow yellow streak at the posteriormargin of the third tergite, except at the sides. Joints of antennalflagellum all much longer than wide. Face punctate, confluently so,except at the middle above, the punctures fused into more or lessregular vertical lines or striations. Eyes slightly sinuate, the widthof the head about equal to its height; malar space one-fifth thelength of the eye. Pronotum shorter than the mesonotum, with twotransverse carinae before the hind margin, the basal one short, butvery distinct, the posterior one half the width of the pronotum.Pronotal punctures very small and sparse in front; coarser, separate at the middle and confluent on the posterior half. Mesonotumand scutellum with moderately large separated punctures and atrace of transverse rugae near the middle of the mesonotum. Meta-notum smooth, polished, its posterior margin deeply emarginatebut not toothed at the hind angles. Propodeum with a completemedian and a lateral carina on each side, without spine or protuberance. Abdominal petiole one-fifth longer than wide, the lateralmargins strongly arcuate and the disc convex; following segmentgreatly narrowed at the base where it is narrower than the petioleand only one-third as wide as at apex. Dorsal sutures between thesecond and following tergites practically obsolete, upper surfacecoarsely, separately punctate; apex of carapace prolonged at eachlateral angle as a long, sharp tooth between which the rounded apexof the abdomen projects. Hind femora each with a very large toothat the middle, followed by a very short one; third and fourthlonger, decreasing in size; fifth smaller; sixth and several more toProc. Haw. Ent. Soc, Vol. XI, No. 2, July, 1942.154apex growing very minute; the whole femur unusually slender.Length 8-10 mm.The abdominal petiole is unusually well set off from the gaster,with strongly bulging sides and is quite different in this respectfrom the condition usually prevailing in Leucospis. One other species, L. muiri Brues, from Laloki, Papua, shows a tendency in thisdirection in the male, but the sides are much more nearly parallel.Dentition of hind femur of Leucospis antiqua Walker, $. Highly enlarged.On account of the unusual shape of the abdomen the male ofLeucospis antiqua resembles in a very striking way a vespid wasp,a resemblance which is heightened by the color pattern. The wasp,which is also practically of the same size of the Leucospis has beenidentified by Professor Joseph Bequaert as Pachymenes quodi(Vachal).A Species of Phoridae Bred in Hawaii From the ImmigrantAfrican Land Snail (Achatina Fulica)BY CHARTS T. BRUESBiological laboratories, Harvard University.(Presented by Mr. Swezey at the meeting of December 22, 1941)In various parts of the world there are numerous species of smallflies of the family Phoridae that have been found associated withterrestrial gastropod mollusks. The majority of these undoubtedlydevelop in snails already dead from some other cause; some probably occur in the slimy exudate of living hosts, and there is reasonProc. Haw. Ent. Soc, Vol. XI, No. 2, July, 1942.

Rediscovery of Leucospis antiqua Walker in New Caledonia

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Rediscovery of Leucospis antiqua Walker in New Caledonia

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