

ATTEMPTED DIVISION OF BRITISH INSECTS. 405 



gloss ; abundant in fine sunshiny weather, settling on walls, sand- 

 banks, posts, railings, &c. running with activity, and a vibrating 

 motion of the antennae. (Parnopes, Stilbum, Euchrceus,) Hedy- 

 chrum, Elampus, Chrysis, Cleptes. 



Stirps. — Ichneumonina, Parasites. 

 Natural Order. — Proctrotrupites. 



Larva inhabits and feeds on the larvae of other insects. Pupa 

 changes in the same situations. Imago, with antennee composed 

 of ten to fifteen joints, elongate in the males, shorter and often 

 clavated in the females ; mandibles somewhat elongate, their 

 extremity generally bifid ; maxillae with the blade dilated, 

 rounded, feelers generally three-jointed ; labium, with its ligula 

 seldom produced, entire, feelers minute, often exarticulate ; ocelli 

 three ; fore-wings with a single principal nervure ; hind-wings 

 without nervures ; oviduct of the female tubular and retractile, 

 being simply an elongation of the body. Inhabits grass under 

 trees, &c. during the greater part of the year. Cinetus, Psilus, 

 Proetrotrupes, Platygaster, Teleas, Ceraphron, Sparasion, Dryinus, 

 Helorus ? 



Natural Order.— Mymarites. 



Larva inhabits and feeds on the eggs of Lepidopterous insects. 

 Pupa changes within the shell of the egg. Imago, with the 

 antennae nine- to thirteen-jointed, sometimes twice the length of 

 the body in the male, in the female elbowed and clavated ; man- 

 dibles at the apex tridentate ; the other organs of the mouth are 

 obsolete or undiscovered ; fore-wings pedunculated, with one 

 short basal nervure, strongly ciliated ; hind-wings the same, often 

 a mere seta ; legs long ; podeon elongate, slender ; ovipositor 

 very slender, concealed beneath the body in a groove. Inhabits 

 grass under trees. Ooctonus, Litus, Anagrus, Polynema, Myrnar, 

 Eustochus. 



Natural Order. — Chalcites. 



Larva inhabits and devours other insects in all stages, particularly 

 the larvae of Lepidoptera and Diptera. Pupa usually changes 

 within the skin of its victim. Imago, with the antennae gene- 

 rally composed of thirteen joints, the second long, forming an 

 elbow, the remaining joints generally incrassated towards the 

 apex ; mandibles obtuse ; maxillae, with the blade rather pro- 

 duced, but obtuse ; maxillary palpi four-jointed ; labium, with its 



