158 



Nematus, Leach. 



"Antenna?, nine-jointed, third joint longest ; one marginal and four 

 sub-marginal wing cells, the second receiving two recurrent nervures ; 

 lanceolate cell at base (basal half) closed ; " inferior wings Avith two 

 middle cells ; tibifB simple. " LarvaB twenty-footed, the fourth and 

 eleventh segments footless ; body hairy, with warts behind the ab- 

 dominal feet." 



" a. Solitary ; feeding upon the leaves of plants ; resting at the 

 edges or upon the surface of leaves. 



h. Social ; feeding upon leaves, generally of pines. 



c. Living in the galls of plants." (VVestwood, Dahlbom, Hartig.) 



" The pupa is enclosed in a cocoon, egg-shaped, like Lophyrus, with 

 less firmness, but more outside silk. This is generally placed in the 

 earth, but sometimes on the surface under fallen leaves." (Hartig.) 

 Dr. Fitch states that he found the cocoon of Nematus suratus upon 

 the limb of a tree. 



Dr. Hartig gives a full description of these larvae in his Familien 

 der Blattswespen, &c. He has also arranged the perfect insects in 

 several divisions, based upon the colors of the body. But for the 

 present, I have thought best not to attempt any division of the 

 American species. 



1. N. VERTEBRATUS. Say. Bost. Jour. 1, 218. " Green ; antennae 

 and spots above (thorax trilineate) blackish. ? Length one fourth of 

 an inch." 



2. N. INTEGER. Say. Boston Jour, 1, 219. "Greenish-yellow; 

 antennre, spots on thorax (trilineate) and tergum black ; costal edge 

 not emarginate at the carpus. ? Length over one quarter of an 

 inch." 



A specimen in the Harris Collection, and another sent by Mr. 

 Scudder, agree with the above description, except that the costal 

 edge of the wing is somewhat bent at the stigma. This and the pre- 

 ceding species seem closely allied. 



3. N BiviTTATUS, (n.sp.) Orange-yellow ; the head, two vittffi on 

 mesothorax, metathorax, first segment and middle of each segment of 

 tergum, black. (Long. 0.18 to 0.22, Ex. alar. 0.45 in.) 



? . Color orange-yellow ; head black ; antennae stout toward base ; 

 a transverse suture angulate at ends, back of ocelli; clypeus not 

 emarginate ; a spot beneath antennae, clypeus, labrum, base of man- 

 dibles, and palpi, color of body ; two vittae on mesothorax, basaljialf 

 of scutellum, metathorax, first and base of second segment, and a 

 spot in middle of following segments of tergum, black ; legs paler 

 than body ; apex of posterior tibiae and the tarsi black : wings hyaline ; 

 stigma beneath and the costa dark-brown. Hab. Mass., (H. Coll. and 

 Mr. Scudder.) 



Three specimens examined. 



