THE TYPE-SPECIES OF THE GENERA OF THE CYNI- 

 POIDEA, OR THE GALL AVASPS AND PxVRASITIC 

 CYNIPOIDS. 



By S. A. RoiiwER and Margaret M. Fagan, 

 Of the Bureau of Entomology, United States Department of Agriculture. 



PREFACE. 



In recent years there has been considerable agitation, especially 

 among economic and biological students, for the conservation of 

 well-known generic names, but, if we can judge from the published 

 expression of opinions, there is almost a balance between zoologists 

 who favor conservation and those who favor strict priority. One 

 of the first steps toward stability in generic nomenclature is the 

 determination and designation of the genotypes. In the following 

 paper, which is a contribution from the Branch of Forest Insects, 

 Bureau of Entomology, prepared under the writer's direction, the 

 genotypes of the Cynipoid genera are designated. All of the bib- 

 liographical and clerical work connected with this paper has been 

 done by Miss Margaret M. Fagan, but the writer has examined, 

 assisted, and approved the nomenclatorial details. The nomencla- 

 ture is based on the rules of the International Commission of 

 Zoological Nomenclature, and it is believed that the decisions as 

 to genotypes will be supported, according to available evidence, 

 by these rulings. Certain few questions concerning type fixation 

 are not clearly covered by the International Code, and in these 

 cases the decisions reached have been guided by the A. O. TJ. Code 

 and consultation with Dr. Leonhard Stejneger and students in 

 the Division of Insects of the United States National Museum. 



The restriction of the two oldest generic names in the Cyni- 

 poidea, Cynips and Diplolepis., has heretofore never been satisfac- 

 torily determined. With Diplolepis especially has there been much 

 uncertainty, as may be illustrated by the fact that in Catalogus 

 Hymenopterorum Dalla Torre considers it a Chalcidoid, while in 

 Das Tierreich, in conjunction with Kieffer, he places it among the 

 gall-making Cynipoids. The literature on these two genera has 

 been very carefully studied and it is believed that the decisions 

 concerning them are correct. That these and the other changes 

 are necessary is regrettable. 



s. a. rohaver. 



Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. 53—2208. 



357 



