PARASITICA — BRACONIDiE. 53 



of the neck and abdomen differs considerably from that given by 

 authors of Stephanvs, and it is probable that our species is referable 

 to a new genus. 



Of Megischus, three species have been described fi-oni Pennsyl- 

 vania, Georgia and Texas. 



The species of this family appear to be rare in collections. 



Family BRACONIDyE. 



This family (the IcJmeumones adsciti Nees) is closely related to the 

 Ichneumonidse, and is distinguished by the absence of the second re- 

 current nervure in the anterior wings, and by having the first sub- 

 marginal cell generally, though not always, separated from the first 

 discoidal cell, and with the exception of one subfiimily, the A})hidiin?e, 

 by the non-existence of a real articulation between the second and 

 third abdominal segments. Sometimes these two segments are sol- 

 dered together, without a trace of a suture between them ; when the 

 junction is visible, it is called the suturiform articulation. In the 

 AphidiinjB, all the segments are loosely articulated and flexible, and 

 consequently capable of being bent forward beneath the thorax. 



The following diagram of the neuration of the anterior wing of a 

 Braconid, from which the majority of the characters for the separa- 

 tion of the genera are taken, will serve to aid the student in locating 

 the various cells and nervures. 



Fig. lo. — Anterior wing of a Braconid. 



I, median cell ; 2, submedian cell ; 3, anal ci.'ll ; 4, marginal or radial cell : 5, first sub- 

 marginal or cubital cell ; 6, second submarginal or cubital cell ; 7, third submarginal or 

 cubital cell; 8, first discoidal cell; 9, second discoidal cell; 10, third discoidal cell; 11, 

 apical cell; a, costal nervure (costal and subcostal united); b, externo-mediai nervure: 

 c, anal nervure; d, basal nervure; e, marginal nervure or radius ; c, first branch of mar- 

 ginal nervure or radius ; e^, second brancli of marginal nervure or radius ; e.i, third branch 

 of marginal nervure or radius ; f, first transverse cubital nervure; g, second transverse 

 cubital nervure ; h, transverse medial nervure ; i, cubital nervure or cubitus ; j, discoidal 

 nervure; k, subdiscoidal nervure ; 1, recurrent nervure; m, parastigma ; n, stigma. 



