Mar. i899-] ASHMEAD : On SYNOPSES OF FAMILIES OF HyMENOPTERA. 47 



transmitted light ; hind wings without a basal cell ; antennre el- 

 bowed Superfamily VII. CH ALCIDOIDEA. 



lid. Front wings with a stigma, the marghial vein usually large or stig- 

 mated (rarely linear in some Alysiids) ; abdomen with the ventral seg- 

 ments most frequently soft and membranous, with a fold (rarely hard 

 and chitinous without a fold, EvaniidiE and Agriotypidas) ; pronotum 

 always extending back to the tegulns. 



Superfamily VIII. ICHNEUMONOIDEA. 

 Suborder II. Phytophaga. Abdomen broadly sessile ; larvee with legs. 



Anterior tibice with only one apical spur Superfamily IX. SIRICOIDEA. 



Anterior tibiix; with two apical spurs. .Superfamily X. TEINTflREDlNOIDEA. 



Superfamily III. VESPOIDEA. 



Table of Families. 

 Abdomen either sessile or petiolate with the first ventral segment distinctly separated 

 from the second by a more or less deep constriction or transverse furrow ; legs most 



frequently fossorial 5 



Abdomen either sessile or petiolate, but with the second segment rarely separated from 

 the first ventral by a strong constriction, or if constricted the legs are not fos- 

 sorial, and the wings are usually folded in repose ; in the former case the legs 

 may be either fossorial or simple. 

 Posterior legs short, the femora rarely reaching to or at least much beyond the 



middle of the abdomen ; legs most frequently not fossorial . ' 2 



Posterior legs long, the femora most frequently reaching to or beyond the tip of 

 abdomen ; tibiie most frequently serrate or spinous, more rarely entirely with- 

 out spines ; middle tibiae with two apical spurs. 



Family XXVI. POMPILID/E. 



2. \Yings not folded in repose 3 



Wings folded in repose. 



Middle tibiae with two apical spurs ; claws simple ; sexes three, 9 ^ <? 



Family XXVII. VESPID.F:. 

 Middle tibiae with one or two apical spurs ; claws with one or more teeth be- 

 neath ; sexes two, $ ^ Family XXVIII. EUMENIDxE. 



3. Metathoracic angles usually acutely produced ; scutellum large, flat, conical, or 



spined. 



Abdomen normal, with at least six distinct segments, the venter flat ; antennae 

 usually strongly clavate, in 9 knobbed at apex; scutellum very large, flat, 

 species not metallic ; antennae 12-jointed Family XXIX. MASARID.'E. 



Abdomen abnormal, with 3 to 5 visible segments, the terminal segments re- 

 tractile, telescopic-like, the venter concave or flat ; antennae most frequently 

 filiform, inserted close to anterior border of head, 13-jointed ; scutellum con- 

 vex, conical or spined ; species metallic Family XXX. CHRYSIDID^E. 



Metathorax posteriorly truncate or rounded, rarely toothed ; scutellum normal or in 

 some wingless females entirely wanting; antennae filiform, or sub-clavate; 

 rarely flabellate in some males. 



Hind wings 7vith a distinct venation and ivitJwtit anal lobes ; females never 

 apterous 4 



