64 



GENEKA OF HYMENOPTERA. 



Fig. II.— Anterior wing of a Chalcid. 

 a, submarginal vein ; b, marginal vein ; c, postmarginal 

 vein ; d, stignial vein. 



Family CHALCIDIDiE. 

 Tliis family is eompo.-^ed of a largi; mimhiT of insects <reiierallv of 

 oxceediiigly small size, many of the species having brilliant metallic 

 colors. They are all parasitic, many of them being parasites ajjon 

 other j)arasites, and some depositing their eggs in various galls where 

 the larvie feed upon and destroy the legitimate inhabitants. 



The anterior wings* (fig. 11) rarely rudimentary or wanting, are 

 nearly veinless ; usually a strong submarginal vein (a) runs parallel 



with the anterior 

 margin for a distance 

 (generally more than 

 is shown in tlic cut) 

 where it unites with 

 the costa, along which 

 it continues for a dis- 

 tance as a marginal 

 vein (b), and then lii- 

 furcates, the up])er 

 branch being the postmarginal (c), and the lower bi-anch the stigmal 

 (d), which usually descends in an (il)li(|ue direction, and is often 

 thickened or clubbed. The posterior wdng-s have, at most, only a 

 short submarginal vein. In the genus Leueosjiis the anterior wings 

 are folded longitudinally in repose, similar to those of the Vesi)idi?e. 

 The antennae (fig. 12) are exceedingly variable in form in this family, 



and are often curiously developed in 

 the nuiles of some of the genera, being 

 sometimes short and chihbed, or the 

 joints nodose and ciliated with long 

 hairs, sometimes they are beaut if idly 

 branched, the number of joints varying 

 from six to fourteen. The posterior 

 femora are sotnetimes enormously swol- 

 Uii and toothed beneath, and in some 

 genera the intermediate legs are very long and saltatorial, the tibial 



* Tlic Ifiiiiinoloff.v of tlie ncurjition of this family and tbe ProctotrupidsB, as 

 used by authors, is quite different from that adopted elsewhere in this Syno])sis, 

 as will he .seen by the aoeompanyiiig diajrram (fig. 11). To conform with tliat of 

 the other families, a would he the subcostal vein, h and c the costal, and d the 

 marginal vein or radius. To make any cliange at this time would only cause 

 confusion, and therefore the terms given al)ove, in the exiilanation of fig. 11. will 

 bo used in these two families oiilv. 



Fig. 12. — Antenna. 



a, scape; b, pedicel; c, ring- 

 joints; d, funicle; e, club. 



