SYNOPSIS 



OF THE 



FAMILIES AND GENERA. 



Order HYMENOPTERA. 



General Characters. 



Wings four, uieinbranou^, the posterior pair almost always smaller 

 than the anterior, with comiiaratively few nervures. 



Mouth mandibulate, and with a hjwer lip or tongue, sheathed by 

 the maxilloe. 



Tarsi generally 5-jointed, rarely 3- or 4-jointed, very rarely hetero- 

 merous. 



Abdomen of the female furnished with a multivalve saw ovi- 

 positor, a borer, or a sting. 



Lakva vermiform and footless, except in the Phyllophaga and 

 . Xyloi)haga. 



Pupa incomplete and inactive. 



Before proceeding with the consideration of the diiferent divisions 

 into which the order is separable, it will be well to explain briefly 

 the position of the various parts referred to in the tables character- 

 izing the families and genera. To those who are familiar with the 

 technical terms used in the description of characters no exjilanation 

 is necessary, but to the beginner the following diagrams and de- 

 scriptions will be found useful ; in the preparation of these the com- 

 ])iler has consulted and freely used Westwood's " Introduction to the 

 Modern Classification of Insects," so replete with interesting and 

 valuable information. 



TRANS. AMER. KNT. SOC. (1) Hl'PPL. Vol.. 1887. 



