THE CI/ALCWID.E. 



193 



The species of a most important family of the Hymcnopicra 

 have small palpi, the antennae consist of twelve or thirteen joints, 

 and the nervurc of the wing is simple and bifurcate ; they are 

 numerous, and the members of them are very common. These 

 C/ialcididiU are small creatures, and attack all sorts of insects, 

 and do not even spare the other parasites. 



The species of the genus Chalcis are common, and the indivi- 

 duals are larger than those of the other kinds. They may be 

 known by the peculiar shape of the antennae, by the enlargement 

 in the thighs of the hind legs, and by the prominent ovipositor. 

 CJialcis miimta, which is very common in some localities, lays its 

 eggs in the bodies of different kinds of caterpillars, and it is 



THE ADULT FEMALE OF 



Diplolepis bedegiiaris. 



THE ADULT FEMALE OF 



Chalcis minitta. 



especially fond of the Pyralis, which is so troublesome to the 

 vine growers. Nine other species attack this pest also. 



The DiplolepidcB have the body magnificently coloured with 

 golden green tints, and their ovipositor is very long. The females 

 usually seek out the larvae of the species of Cynips which are en- 

 closed in galls. The larv^se of the rose fungus upon the sweet 

 briar are frequently attacked by the insect represented above, and 

 a genus of beetles {Anobiiivi) has its members killed and preyed 

 upon by a Pcrilainpis. 



A small host of Ptcronialida; may be seen to issue from the 

 body of a chiysalis of a Vanessa ; and the tiny EiilopJics, which 

 are perfect insect gems, glowing with golden green and bronze 

 tints, attack caterpillars, maggots, and the eggs of butterflies and 

 moths indiscriminatcl}'. 



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