Ichneumon vexator Smith, 1874

(Figure 21)

Taxonomic history. Heinrich (1937) transferred I. vexator Smith to Melanichneumon but Townes et al. (1965) to Barichneumon Thomson, 1893 . Uchida (1939) synonymised Melanichneumon tosaensis Uchida, 1935 under I. vexator Smith. However, I. vexator is preoccupied by I. vexator Thunberg, 1824 and by I. vexator Wesmael, 1845 .

Taxonomy. We disagree with the reclassification of Townes et al. (1965): the shape of the clypeus (broad, flattened, slightly concave apically with a weak median projection), the shape of the hypostoma, and the weak gastrocoelus and thyridium, indicate that this is indeed better placed in Melanichneumon . Hence, Melanichneumon tosaensis Uchida, 1935 stat. rev. is the valid name; the synonymy of I. vexator Smith under M. tosaensis Uchida was established by Uchida (1939), although he used vexator as the valid name.

Current taxonomy. Primary homonym, valid name: Melanichneumon tosaensis Uchida, 1935 stat. rev. ( Ichneumonidae: Ichneumoninae: Ichneumonini).

Type number. Type 3b.256. Specimen # NHMUK014035390

Type status. Holotype.

Sex. Female.

Type locality. Hyôgo Prefecture, Honshû, Japan.

Label data. First label, ‘ Type / CM.’ (round label, with red margin; first printed and second line handwriting); second label, ‘B.M. TYPE /HYM./3.b.256’ (square label; first and second lines printed and third line handwriting); third label, ‘Hiogo/ Japan.’ (square label; first line handwriting and second line printed); fourth label, ‘74/16’ (round label; handwriting); fifth label, ‘ Ichneumon /vexator/ Type Smith.’ (square label; handwriting).

Condition. Good, but the right antenna and left antenna after the 10th flagellomere have been mounted on a glue board.