THE ]VIY]VL\Il AND ITS WINGS. 329 



antennae have eleven joints, the second of which is longer 

 than the fourth. The ovipositor is not protruded. 



We now pass to the family of Proctotrupidse. This family 

 comprises some of the smallest known Hymenoptera ; indeed, 

 many of them are so exceedingly minute that they can only be 

 seen by the aid of a lens. In these insects the hind wings have 

 no nervures at all, while those of the fore wings are but few in 

 number. The antennae have the first joint larger than the 

 others, and -in some species they are as long as the body. 



One of the larger species is given on Woodcut XXXII. 

 Fig. 3. Its name is Teleas elatior. In this genus the legs are 

 formed for jumping, the abdomen has a footstalk, and the 

 antennae have twelve joints, and are hairy in the male. The 

 male antenna is shown at Fig. b, that of the female at Fig. a. 

 The colour of this species is very deep black-blue, and the 

 wings are very iridescent. 



The various species of this genus deposit their eggs in the 

 eggs of other insects, particularly those of moths and butterflies, 

 and so very minute are some of them that a single butterfly's 

 egg will serve for the support of several Teleas' larvae. By the 

 assistance of these tiny parasites, it therefore happens that even 

 the eggs of the Lepidoptera are destroyed before they can 

 hatch, and so our gardens and crops are protected by friends so 

 exceedingly minute that they can scarcely be seen without the 

 aid of a lens. 



Another example of this curious family is given on Woodcut 

 XXXII. Fig. 2. It is called Mymar pulchellus. In this 

 genus the antennae of the male have thirteen joints, while 

 those of tlie female have only nine. The first joint is very long 

 and slender. The very remarkalile little insect wiiich is drawn 

 in the illustration has the lower pair of wings reduced to mere 

 bristles, and the upper pair are little more than two very Ion »• 

 nervures with a broad fringe at the ends. This species may 

 be taken mth the sweep-net by brushing it over grass throughout 

 the summer and autumn. This and other species are often found 

 crawling up the window-panes of liouses, when they can be easilv 

 taken by j)utting a pill-box over them. 



