392 PROCEEDINGS OF THE VATIOUAL MUSEUM. vol. 57. 



8. Tergitea beyond first without either furrows, depressions, or elevated aieas; dorsal 



carinae of first tergite defined at most only very briefly at base (in difficult 

 species the spiracles of first tergite are very close to the base), mesoscutum 



anteriorly usually with a cuneiform pale spot on each side 9. 



Tergites beyond first with more or less distinct elevated areas, depressions, or fur- 

 rows or combinations of or all of these factors; dorsal carinae of first tergite 

 distinct and setting off of a distinct basal concave area (in the very rare difficult 

 species the spiracle of the first tergite is far from the base) 10. 



9. Propodeum entirely without carinae; claws strongly ctirved, with few (about 6) 



very long, closely set teeth; entire body smooth, at most very minutely punc- 

 tate Phytodietini, 



Propodeum usually with at least an apical transverse carina, rarely without carinae; 

 claws long, weakly curved and if pectinate the teeth are smaller, more numer- 

 ous, or sparsely set; at least the thorax dorsally and propodeum distinctly 

 sculptured Lissonolini. 



10. Propodeal spiracle slit-like, the surrounding carina prominent, separated from the 



anterior margin of the propodeum by less than its length; notauli subparallel 

 ending abruptly posteriorly; body smooth and shining, mostly bright ferru- 

 ginous or yellow; propodeal carinae very strong and high Theroniini. 



Propodeal spiracle round or elongate the surrounding carinae not prominent, 

 removed from the anterior margin of the propodeum by at least its length; 

 notauli obsolete or converging posteriorly; usually sculptured and dark colored, 

 occasionally ferruginous or polished, but rarely both; propodeal carinae obso- 

 lete or weak, at least not veiy high and strong 11. 



11. Notauli weak or absent; or if very strong and complete they are deep and pitlike 



anteriorly and set off by a sharp carina that runs back along the lateral margin 

 of the mesoscutum ;i head set very close to prescutum; mesopleirral furrow 

 straight or curved but not angulate opposite the punctiform fovea. . . Ephialtini. 

 Notauli usually deep, at least anteriorly; the anterior margin of the mesoscutum 

 distinctly trilobed; head, by reason of the longer pronotum, set off from the 

 prescutum; mesopleural furrow angulate opposite punctiform fovea 12. 



12. Notauli strongly impressed throughout, prescutum very prominent (if notauli 



are not strongly impressed, as in Hymenoepimeds, the prescutum is neverthe- 

 less very prominent and the other characters are especially well marked); 

 temples fiat or slightly convex, sloping to the strong occipital carina; face 

 converging below and at least as long as wide at clypeus, the latter convex or 

 slightly flattened, usually rounded at apex and with a reflexed margin, rarely 

 {Hymenoepimeds) very weakly, broadly emarginate, never medially impressed 

 or inflexed; mandibles narrow at apex, upper tooth distinctly the longer; 

 Bcutellum elevated and compressed from the sides; areolet very rarely defined. 



Polysphinctini. 

 Notauli rarely complete, weakly impressed posteriorly, prescutum not especially 

 prominent (if complete and prescutum prominent, as in Clistopyga, the insect 

 differs radically in other characters) ; temples usually strongly rounded ; very 

 rarely flat, less sharply sloping; face usually wider than long; clypeus usually 

 medially impressed and emarginate at apex, sometimes inflexed and truncate 

 or very weakly emarginate ; teeth of mandibles subequal in length ; scutellum 

 broad, convex, or flattened; areolet usually complete, occasionally wanting or 

 incomplete Ichneumionini. 



• None of the Holarctic genera have the notauli strong, the genera in which they are strong being princi- 

 pally oriental. 



