SUB-FA^IILY 



PIMPLINAE. 



This, which is the third great division into which the Ichneumonidae 

 is divided by modern authors, may at once be recognised by its sessile 

 abdomen, wherein it differs from both of those with which I have already 

 treated, by the exserted terebra of the females, whereas in the Tijphoninae 

 it never extends beyond the anus, and by its deplanate abdomen, which 

 in the last sub-family, the Ophioninae, is invariably compressed laterally. 

 No other division possesses the peculiar abdominal sulcatures, incised 

 lines, tubercles and general unevenness of the present group, though 

 these are to a great extent or entirely obsolete in the Acaefiitides and 

 Lissonotides, the males of which bear so close analogy to those of the 

 Tryphoninae that I can indicate no line of demarcation : in fact quite 

 recent investigation has revealed the synonymy of several of Gravenhorst's 

 male Tryphones with females described by him under the present sub- 

 family. I'he Baiichides form a connecting link between these two groups 

 and have also been placed in the Ophionmae ; they, however, possess 

 facies of their own and their peculiarly large and rhomboidal areolct is 

 unique among the Ichneumonidae. 



A Table of Tribes. 



(8). I. Areolet not large and rhomboidal; 

 terebra usually elongate. 



(7). 2. Hypopygium reaching neither the de- 

 pressed anus nor base of terebra. 



(4). 3. Head cubical, not constricted pos- 

 teriorly ; mandibles prominent . . XORIDIDES. 



(3). 4. Headtransverse; usually constricted 

 posteriorly ; mandibles normal. 



(6). 5. Abdomen distinctly impressed or 



tuberculate, strongly punctate . . PniPLlDES. 



(5). 6. Abdomen not impressed nor tuber- 

 culate, usually finely punctate . . Lissonotides. 



(2). 7. Hypopyigum reaching compressed 



anus and base of terebra .. Acaenitides. 



(i). 8. Areolet very large and rhomboidal ; 



terebra hardly exserted . . . . Banchides. 



The second and third of these tribes are certainly closely related in 

 their general conformation and structure, but may instantly be distinguished 

 by the stouter and more robust form of the former, which further usually 

 has the abdomen and thorax less cylindrical with conspicuous tubercles or 

 rugosities on the segments. The remaining three tribes are very distinct 

 both inter se and from those already mentioned ; in fact, so marked is the 

 lack of structural affinity that it is only the common features of the 

 more or less sessile abdomen and exserted terebra that cause them to be 

 grouped together, and so form a more convenient disposition of the 

 Ichneumonidae. 



B 



