VIII. NOTES ON SOME SPECIES OF CHALCIDOIDEA IN 

 THE CARNEGIE MUSEUM. 



By Hugo Kahl. 



The question of the identity and location of the type of the genus 

 Pcntasmicra Ashmead having been raised in a letter written by Mr. 

 A. B. Gahan, of the United States National Museum, to Dr. W. J. 

 Holland, the latter requested me to investigate the subject. 



I discover that there is only one specimen labeled Pentasmicra in 

 the collection upon which Ashmead founded his memoir upon the 

 Chalcidoidea published by the Carnegie Museum {Memoirs Carnegie 

 Museum, Vol. i, 1904, pp. 225-551). On page 252 Ashmead states 

 that the type of his new genus is " P. brasiliensis Ashmead." The 

 single individual assigned to the genus Pentasmicra in the collection 

 unfortunately bears no specific name on the label. It, however, 

 agrees in the main with the diagnosis of the genus given on pages 

 252 and 455 by Ashmead. It can not possibly be referred to any of 

 Walker's species of the genus Smicra (Smiera) referred by Ashmead 

 to his new genus. It differs in size, as well as in its other features, 

 from the insects named by Walker. There seems to be but one con- 

 clusion possible, and that is that Ashmead carelessly neglected to 

 write the specific name upon the label, and that the specimen bearing 

 the generic name in his own handwriting must be regarded as the 

 type of the genus which he has erected in his work. If there were 

 any other individuals of the genus in the collection, we would be left 

 in doubt, but this unique specimen, bearing Ashmead's generic name, 

 must be chosen as the lectotype and the specific name brasiliensis, 

 which he gave it in his paper, should be supplied. 



As Ashmead's description is generic, and he has failed to give in 

 his work a close description of the insect, I supply the deficiency. 



Pentasmicra brasiliensis Ashmead. 

 Pentasmicra brasiliensis Ashmead, Type, 5. Length of body from 

 front of head to the apex of the abdomen 6 mm. Color yellow. 

 Occiput along the foramen with a transverse, black band, which is 



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