8 PSYCHE [February 



Family LVIII. — Figitidae. 



This family is a most extensive one and well represented in North America. 

 The species are numerous and all, without a single exception, are parasitic. The 

 majority attack principally the larvae of Diptera ; a few, however, prey upon 

 aphides and coccids ; others attack the larvae of the lace-winged flies (Hemero- 

 biidae) ; while others are said to prey upon beetle larvae. 



Several well-marked natural minor groups may be recognized, as follows : — 



Table of Subfamilies. 



Abdomen ovate, compressed or subcompressed, often longly petiolate, the apex 

 usually pointed ............ i 



Abdomen short, globose or subglobuse, the second segment the longest . 5 



1. Scutellum not cupuliform, of ordinary shape or grooved, spined or cone- 

 shaped, and usually foveate at base ........ 2 



Scutellum cupuliform, /. e., with a cup-like elevation on its dibC . . 4 



2. Abdomen longly petiolated, the second segment usually somewhat longer than 

 the third ............. 3 



Abdomen sessile or subsessile, or with a. short petiole, the second segment 



shorter than the third. 



Second abdominal segment not prolonged dorsally, as seen from the side, 

 not tongue-shaped. ..... Subfamily I. — Figitinae. 



Second abdominal segment prolonged dorsally, as seen from the side, 

 tongue-shaped. ..... Subfamily II. — Onychiinae. 



3. Petiole attached to the metathorax normally, between the hind coxae; fourth 

 dorsal segment not longer than either the second or the third. 



Subfamily III. — • Anacharinae. 

 Petiole attached to the metathorax far above the hind coxae; fourth dorsal 

 segment much longer than either the second or the third. 



Subfamily IV. — Liopterinae. 



4. Second abdominal segment always the longest, except in a single case, and 

 usually occupying most of the surface of abdomen ; hind tibiae with t7O0 apical 

 spurs. ........ Subfamily V. — Eucoilinae. 



5. Scutellum rounded, smooth, convex ; hind tiuiae with only one apical spur. 



Subfamily VI. — Xystinae = Allotriinae.^ 



1 Allotria Westw. nee. HUbner 1816. 



