THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 28 1 



CLASSIFICATION OF THE HORNTAILS AND SAWFLIES, OR 

 THE SUB-ORDER PHYTOPHAGA. 



BY WILLIA.M H. ASHMEAD, ASSISTANT CURATOR, DEPARTMENT OF 

 INSECTS, U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



(Paper No. 6.) 

 Family XII. — Nemaitd.e. 

 This family is very sharply separated from the Selandriidce, 

 Dineuridce and the Tenthredinidce by having only one marginal cell in 

 the front wings, while from the Hylotomidcs, Lophyridce., Perreyiidce and 

 the Pterygophorida, which also have only one marginal cell, it is readily 

 distinguished by pteropterological and antennal characters, and especially 

 by the basal nervure in front wings uniting with the subcostal vein far 

 from the origin of the cubitus. 



Our species have been subjected recently to a thorough revision by 

 Mr. C. L. Marlatt, in a work entitled : " Revision of the Nematinse of 

 North America, etc. Technical Series No. 3, U. S. Department of 

 Agriculture, Washington, 1896." 



Mr. Marlatt's " Revision " is typical of the best kind of systematic 

 work, and the Department of Agriculture is to be congratulated on 

 publishing works of such a high degree of merit. 



The- publication by our Government of technical works, on special 

 groups of insects of an economic importance, is an excellent feature in the 

 present administration and one that I trust will become permanent. 

 These publications not only cont-ribute towards filling a void in our 

 literature, draw attention of our farmers, fruit-growers and laymen to the 

 necessity and importance of the study of insects, but also act as a 

 stimulant to our students, and greatly advance systematic and economic 

 entomology. 



In his revision Mr. Marlatt followed Konow and placed the genera 

 Dhieura and Hemichroa with the Neinatince. In this I cannot agree, 

 since they seem to me to have very little affinity, if any, with this group. 

 Their affinities are almpst equally divided between the Selandriidce and 

 the Tenthredinidce., but with characters sufficiently distinct to justify one 

 in placing them in a family by themselves. 



It may be well here also to call attention to the position Mr. Marlatt 

 assigned one of his species, viz., Faehyneinatus gregarius. Dr. Dyar*, in 

 describing the larva of this species, expressed surprise at the position 



^fourn. N. V. Ent. Soc. , \o\. V., ]i. 30. 



