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Vol. XXX. LONDON, SEPTEMBER, 1898. No. 9. 



CLASSIFICATION OF THE HORNTAILS AND SAWFLIES, 

 OR THE SUB-ORDER PHYTOPHAGA. 



BY WILLIAM H. ASHMEAD, ASSISTANT CURATOR, DEPARTMENT OF INSECTS, 



U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



(Paper No. 4.) 

 Family VHL — Lophyrid^. 



The Swedish entomologist, C. G. Thomson, first separated this family 

 as a tribe in 1871. It had been placed previously with the Lydides, with 

 which it had no affinity whatever. In the structure of the head, thorax 

 and abdomen the species approach closest to the Hylotomidce, Perreyiidcs 

 and the Pterygophoridce. The multiarticulate antennje, however, sepa- 

 rate them at once from the former ; the distinct anal cell in the hind wings 

 separates them from the Perreylidce, which have none ; while from the 

 last, to which they are undoubtedly most closely allied, they are readily 

 distinguished by having a distinct lanceolate cell in the front wings. 



The larvte are social in their habits and feed exclusively upon conif- 

 erous trees — the pines, firs and cedars. Only two or three species are 

 known outside of the Palearctic and Neartic regions. 



But two genera are known, distinguished as follovvs : 



Table of Genera. 



Hind wings with two discal cells ; front wings with the second and third 

 submarginal cells each receiving a recurrent nervure. 



Lanceolate cell with a straight or an oblique nervure ; $ antennae 



ramose Lop/iyrus, Latreille. 



Lanceolate cell contracted at middle, closed ; $ antennse bi- 

 ramose Monodonus, Dahlbom. 



Family IX. — Perreviid^,. 



The absence of an anal cell in the hind wings readily separates this 

 family from the Lophyridce. 



The group was first recognized by Cameron as a subfamily in 1883, 

 who, however, placed in it only three genera, viz.: Decameria, Lophy- 



