H YMENOP TERA. 



625 



Family BRACONID^E (Bra-con'i-dae). 



The Braconids (Brae' o-nids). 



The Braconidae include a large number of parasites, 

 which are small or of moderate size. They are often called 

 Ichneumon-flies ; but it seems best to restrict that name to 

 members of the Ichneumonidae. In the Braconids the 



FIG. 751. Wings of Rhogas parasiticus. 



wings have several closed cells, the fore wings are furnished 

 with a stigma, and the vein between cells V, and 1st V, is 

 wanting (Fig. 751). This last character is important, as dis- 

 tinguishing the members of this family from the true Ichneu- 

 mon-flies, which they resemble both in appearance and habits. 

 It is not an uncommon thing, especially in vineyards, to 

 find a feeble caterpillar with its back covered with little, white, 

 oblong bodies, which the ignorant usually think are its own 

 e gg s (Fig- 752). These are 

 the cocoons of braconid par- 

 asites. The larvae obtain 

 their growth within the body 



of the Caterpillar, and just FIG. 7 52.-Caterpillar with cocoons of a 



before it perishes they leave 



it, and spin their silken cocoons upon its back. When these 

 cocoons are examined with a lens they are found to be beau- 

 41 



