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Studies on the North American PROCTOTRUPID^, 



with Descriptions of New Species from Florida. 



(PART I.) 



By William H. Ashmead, 



Jacksonville, Florida. 



The Hymenopterous family Proctotrupidce, is an extensive one. 

 comprising, for the most part, parasitic species of minute size, all of the 

 greatest economic importance, their natural food being the eggs and 

 and larvae of the more destructive insect pests, and to the husbandman 

 their services are invaluable. 



The species composing the subfamily Belhylince, seem to confine 

 their attacks to Lepidopterous larvae belonging to the family Teneidce ; 

 the Ceraphronince, principally to Dipterous and Hymenopterous larvae, 

 although species in the genera Lygocerus, Megaspilus, and Ceraphron 

 are found parasitic in plant-lice, belonging to the Homopterous family 

 AphididcB in the bodies of which they live and undergo their trans- 

 formations. 



The species in the subfamily Scelionincz are almost entirely egg 

 parasites : Scelio is a parasite in grasshopper eggs; Telias and allied genera 

 in the eggs of moths and butterflies ; while Telenomus, Hadronotus and 

 Prosacantha live parasitically in the eggs of various bugs (Hemipterd). 



The extensive subfamily Plaiygasterincs, comprises numerous genera 

 and species, generally of the smallest size, and of a black color, all of 

 which are found parasitic in Dipterous larvae, belonging principally to 

 the families Cecidomyidce and TipulidcB. 



The Diapriince destroy fungus eating Diplera ; while the subfamily 

 Myrmarince, among which are the smallest Hymenopters known, are 

 egg parasites. They have been reared from the eggs of moths, butter- 

 flies and sawflies, and a few of the species are parasitic on scale insects, 

 belonging to the Homopterous family Coccidce. 



Thus we see, the study of these little insects is of the greatest eco- 

 nomic importance, and the species and their habits ought to be made 

 known as soon as possible, so that when practicable, they may be reared 

 in quantities, colonized, distributed and utilized for the destruction of 

 insect pests and the benefit of man. 



In the following memoir, I have brought together, arranging them 

 as far as possible in their proper genera, all the described species known 

 to me to occur in our fauna North of Mexico, and give descriptions of 

 such of those in my collection that appear to be new or unknown to 

 science, reared or collected by me, during several years study of the 

 family. 



