62 HYMENOPTERA. 



two latter captures on the windows of stables; and 3 9 's 

 July 27, 1910 at Urbana, on the sides of a greenhouse. One 

 of the last three females was large, twice the size of either 

 of the others. In the National Museum collections also a 

 tagmounted female labelled "Washington, D. C, Sep. 5, 

 H. Barber, Collector;" and 1 cf , 1 9 labelled '' Oligosita 

 americana Ashm.. Urbana, 111., F. M. Webster. Bred from 

 Eratomocharis eragrostidis'' ; and a third 9 labelled "137" 

 and placed with Abbella aairninata (Ashmead). 



The beautiful red color of the females is the principal 

 characteristic of the species but the nearly naked fore wings 

 are also peculiar to it, the discal ciliation being sparse and 

 very minute, nearly invisible.* The antennae especially in 

 the drawn-out shape of the club also differ from those of 

 any other species known, though not to a very great extent, 

 merely in being relatively longer. 



It is clear from the labels on the slides recorded just now 

 and in foregoing that Ashmead considered this species and 

 americana to be the same, dimorphic forms of the same 

 species but surely such characters as the marked differences 

 exhibited in the shape and ciliation of the fore wings between 

 the two species, not to mention the differently shaped an- 

 tennae and the fact that the males are known of both species, 

 agreeing in detail with the females excepting in coloration, 

 are the best specific characters obtainable for the separation 

 of the species of any group ; and in this case, assuredly, if 

 one should hold to the opinion that these two forms were 

 one species, actual proof should be required in the shape of 

 breeding records that this is true. For an opinion contrary 

 to an obvious fact requires evidence for its support. The 

 species is most probably parasitic upon jassid eggs in wheat 

 straw or grasses. Professor F. M. Webster has kindly writ- 

 ten the following letter concerning them : 



* In a single female of six captured at Urbana, Illinois, May 22, 

 1910, it was visible and distinct. This specimen also had a distinct 

 line of cilia on the posterior wing. Otherwise, it could not be sepa- 

 rated from the others. 



