96 



HYMENOPTERA. 



Genital characters. — The male genitalia consist of three 

 separate organs — the genital armature, and the modified 

 seventh and eighth ventral plates. The former is a very 

 complicated structure and hence of less value than the others 

 in classification. Following the nomenclature proposed by- 

 Rev. Morice and adopted by several writers in this country, 

 the parts of the armature are as follows : A large, hollow, 

 transparent base (C, fig. 3) the cardo, from which project 



two tubular stipites (S), and two long chitinous rods the 

 sagittcE or sagittal rods (SR), with a couple of large, dark, 

 rounded structures at their base called volsellce (V). The 

 character of these parts can best be understood by an ex- 

 amination of the figures (3-7). Each outer, tubular rod or 

 stipes consists of a long, half open cylindrical sheath, at base 

 attached to the cardo, and at the apex more or less closed ; 

 near its base it usually broadens out into two lobes or sta- 

 tionary flaps, which I have designated the superior and infe- 

 rior lobes (SL and IL); beyond the lobes is the apical portion 

 (AP), which is usually narrower and covered with hairs on 

 its inferior surface. The inner rods or sagittce, are peculiar, 

 long structures, composed of a number of chitinous strips or 



