192 PROCEEDTNGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.45. 



my genus Signiphora, established in 1880, as I have already published 

 elsewhere, constitute a distinct family in the subfamily ^ Chalcidoidea, 

 to which the family name Encyrtidae should be applied." He gives 

 nothing further concerning it excepting a table of the species (quoted 

 beyond), followed by a catalogue of the species, 12 of which are briefly 

 described for the first time. However, four years later (Ashmead, 

 1904) the following synopsis of the subfamily was given, at first giving 

 the table of the subfamilies of the Encyrtidae quoted herewith: 



TABLE OF SUBFAMILIES. 



1. Mesonotum entire, convex or subconvex, the parapsidal furrows entirely absent. . 2. 

 Mesonotum not entire, usually depressed or impressed, rarely convex, the parap- 

 sidal furrows distinct or at least more or less distinct, never entirely wanting; 

 marginal vein usually long Subfamily I. Eupelmin^. 



2. Marginal vein rarely very long, often punctiform, and always much shorter than 



the submarginal or subcostal vein; stigmal vein usually short, rarely long; scu- 

 tellum never short or transversely linear; middle tibise without lateral spurs. 



Subfamily II. ENCYRTiNiE. 



Marginal vein long, as long as the submarginal or subcostal vein; scutellum very 



short, transversely linear; middle tibise with lateral spurs, the apical spur lobed. 



Subfamily III. Signiphorin^. 

 The synopsis follows : 



Subfamily III. SIGJ-ISriI»IIOI2,IN-./?E;. 



1894. Signiphorinse, subfamily, Howard, Ins. Life, vol. 6, p. 234. 

 1899. Signiphorinse, subfamily III, Ashmead, Proc. Ent. Soc. Washington, vol. 

 4, p. 248. 



This subfamily was established by Dr. L. O. Howard, in 1894, and 

 was based upon my genus Signiphora, described in 1880, from speci- 

 mens bred in Florida from the purple scale, Aspidiotus citricola Pack- 

 ard. Many species have since been discovered from different parts 

 of the world, and the group, although at present represented by a sin- 

 gle genus, has evidently a wide distribution. The species destroy 

 scale insects, Coccidse, and the mealy-winged flies, Aleurodidse. 



Antennae apparently three-jointed but ki reality six -join ted, there being three 

 minute ring- joints easily overlooked; wings with a long marginal fringe, the marginal 

 vein long, about the length of the subcostal vein, the stigmal vein distinct but not 

 long, the postmarginal vein absent; middle tibiae with a large, lobed apical spur, and 

 with lateral spurs or strong bristles. Signiphora Ashmead (type S. fiavopalliata 

 Ashm.). (p. 311.) 



Schmiedeknecht's more recent treatment of the subfamily adds 

 nothing, ^e gives the group tribal rank. At present, it does not 

 seem advisable to add anything to the subfamily characters, thus 

 tending to limit it. 



This history is a brief one. The history of the genus is practically 

 the same. Signipliora Ashmead was described 32 years ago (Ash- 

 mead, 1880) in the following manner: 



1 Superfamily. 



