189J: THE BUTTERFLIES OF NEW ENGLAND. 



Tetrastichus modestus sp. nov. 



Female. — Smooth, no perceptible punctation. Antennae arise slightly above cly- 

 peus ; scape reaches a little more than half way to top of eyes ; flagellum, usually bent 

 upon scape, reaches slightly below mouth ; flagellum and especially club quite hairy. 

 Mesoscutum with no median longitudinal sulcus; mesoscutellum with usual sulci; 

 snbmai'ginal vein with two strong bristles. Abdomen rather longer than thorax, but 

 not as broad, narrowly ovate in form. General color shining blaclv, with very slight 

 greenish reflections; antennae brown, with whitish pile; wing veins very light brown; 

 all coxae, femora and tibiae darlj brown, the coxae and femora sometimes black and 

 glistening; femero-tibial articulations and tips of all tibiae yellowish white; all tarsi 

 yellowish white. Length, 1 mm. ; expanse, 2.4 mm. 



Male. — Difl'ers from female only in having a slightly longer scape, and longer, more 

 hairy flagellum. 



Described from four female, six male specimens reared by Mr. W. H. 

 Edwards at Coalbm-gh, W. Va., from cocoons of Apanteles edwardsii 

 KUey, sjjun by larvae which had issued from Vanessa atalanta, and from 

 Apanteles cocoons, the adults of which have not been bred, but which were 

 spun by larvae which issued from the larvae of Polygonia interrogationis. 



All of these species of Tetrastichus are secondary parasites. No 

 Tetrastichus, so far as known, is a primary parasite. The real host of 

 none of Dr. Packard's is known. That of modestus is as indicated. 



Genus TEICHOGRAMMA Westwood. 



Tarsi 3-jointed ; front wings with regular rows of hairs, submargiual vein reaches 

 costa, and, with marginal and stigmal, forms a regular arch; antennae 8-joiuted — 

 scape, pedicel, ring-joint, funicle (2), club (3)—; ring-joint very minute; funicle 

 joints in female small and subequal in length and width; club large, obliquely truncate 

 at tip. In the male the funicle joints are much larger and the club is of same width, 

 tapering gradually to rounded tip. 



Four described North American species, and a number of undescribed 

 species have been examined, but it seems impossible to find structural char- 

 acters of sjiecific value. Certain series of individuals can be distinguished 

 by color, and by color alone, and for convenience those reared from butter- 

 fly eggs are grouped into the following species. The specimens should be 

 mounted in balsam and should be studied with a dark background and re- 

 flected light, as the dusky tints are mainly lost with transmitted light. If 

 mounted dry upon tags, these delicate insects shrivel to such an extent that 

 they are useless for study. 



Table of Species. 



Color dark brown minutum. 



Color pale honey-yellow minutissimuin. 



Face bright yellow; abdomen and legs dusky yellow Intenuediumi 



Trichogramma minutum Riley. 



I have been unable to find recognizable specimens of this species. 

 Specimens preserved by Professor Riley, between two flakes of isinglass. 



