NO. 1977. MONOGRAPH OF THE SIGNIPHORIN^—OIRAULT. 193 



SIGNIPHORA, nov. gen.i 



Form robust, polished, or shining; head much wider than thorax, three ocelli, 

 triangularly arranged, labial palpi three-jointed; antennae inserted in front between 

 the eyes, rather close together, three-jointed; first joint of scape long, second small 

 and round, third large and fusiform, (Plate 2, %. 3) thorax broad, not quite as long as 

 abdomen; legs setaceous, with five-jointed tarsi, first joint longest; hind tibia in place 

 of the usual spine, furnished tvith an anomalous five-lobed appendage, (Plate 2, fig. 15). 

 In this respect, differing from any known chalcid. Abdomen somewhat sharply 

 pointed and ending in rather a long ovipositor (Plate 2, fig. 5). Wings well rounded 

 and strongly ciliated (Plate 2, figs. 6 and 8). Coxss almost touching, (p. 30). 



In the year following, Howard (1881), in concluding a discussion 

 of coccid parasites in general, wrote concerning this genus as follows: 



The new genus (Signiphora, founded for S. flavopalliatus Ashmead), we are not pre- 

 pared to discuss at present, but would simply state that specimens of an insect corre- 

 sponding very exactly with his description have been bred from the same scale (Myti- 

 laspis citricola Packard), and that the "anomalous five-lobed appendage" which 

 Mr. Ashmead locates upon the hind tibiae of Signiphora is present upon the middle 

 tibiae, and is homologous with the middle tibial spine of the Encyrtinas and Aphelininse. 

 The genus is also to be placed with the Mymarinse. 



A decade or so later, Howard (1894) redescribed the genus in this 

 manner,^ also redescribing the type species as new: 



SIGNIPHORA Ashmead. 



Type, S . flavopalliata Ashm., Orange Insects, 1880, p. 30. 



Body robust; ocelli 3, situated in triangle. Antennae inserted at border of clypeus, 

 six -join ted; scape reaching nearly to top of head; pedicle large, nearly as long as scape; 

 funicle joints 1, 2, and 3 very small; club very long, undivided. Face roimd; mandi- 

 bles strong, bidentate; labial palpi rudimentary; maxillary palpi three-jointed. 

 Fore-wings rather broad and short; submarginal and marginal veins subequal in 

 length; marginal thick; stigmal thinner and curved; marginal and stigmal veins with 

 several long, stiff bristles; no discal cilia; marginal cilia very long and delicate, be- 

 ginning on costal margin just beyond stigmal, and extending around to a point opposite 

 the stigmal. Hind-wings narrow and with very long and delicate cilia beginning be- 

 yond marginal vein and extending around nearly to hinder base of wing. Middle 

 tibiae with a number of stout bristles, apical spurs as long as first tarsal joint and fur- 

 nished on inner edge with five or six long bristles at regular intervals; front and hind 

 legs unarmed. Abdomen broadly sessile, rounded at tip; ovipositor of female some- 

 what extruded, apical spiracles facing ventrally; male penis long, cleft at tip. 



Some generic characters to be noticed are: The entire absence of 

 discal ciUation and the presence in some species of a bristle from 

 the surface of the fore wing; the varying length of the marginal 

 ciliation; the neckless stigmal vein; the many tined cephaHc tibial 

 spur; the bidentate mandibles; the long, solid antennal club. 



1 Immediately preeedmg this description it was written " Owing to the anomalous character of this fly 

 I can find no genus to which it belongs. I therefore propose a new one, under the name ot Signiphora, (the 

 token bearer)" (p. 30). 



2 Insect Life, vol. 6, 1S94, p. 235. 



80459°— Proc.N.M.vol.45— 13 13 



