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XII. On the supposed abnormal habits of certain species of 

 Eurytomides, a qroup of the Hymenopterous family 

 Chaicidicte. By J. 0. Westwood, M.A., F.L.S., &c. 



[Eead May 3rcl, 1882.] 

 Plates XIII. and XIV. 



In the memoir on the insects infesting the seeds of Ficiis 

 Siicomorus and Carica, recently pubHshed (Trans. Ent. 

 Soc. Lond., 1882, pp. 47—60), I have suggested that 

 notwithstanding the phytophagous character of the two 

 remarkable insects, Sijcopliaga crassipes and Blastophaga 

 Psenes, they were more nearly related to the entomo- 

 phagous Chalcididce than to any other family of Hyme- 

 noptera. The question of the possibility of so close 

 a relationship between animals differing so widely as to 

 possess phytophagous and sarcophagous habits is one of 

 great physiological interest, and appears to be affirmed 

 not only by the case of the CynipidcB alluded to in my 

 memoir, as well as by that of Bomhiis and Psithi/rus, but 

 also by the various instances of phytophagism stated 

 to have been observed in certain species of the Enry- 

 tomides, whilst others in the latter group have certainly 

 been ascertained to be entomophagous in their habits. 

 It is true that the phytophagism of Eurytoma hordei and 

 its immediate allies has been questioned and again re- 

 affirmed, so that a very careful examination of the state- 

 ments made on either side is required, and I now beg 

 leave to lay the result of my examination of the chief 

 authorities upon this curious question before the members 

 of the Entomological Society without prejudging their 

 verdict, which may, however, I think, now be given. 



The late Mr. E. Walker published a Monograph of the 

 British Earytomides in the first volume of the ' Ento- 

 mological Magazine' (October, 1832). In this memoir 

 four genera are described — l,Isosonia, Walk., with twenty- 

 three species ; 2, Systole, Walk., one species ; 3, Eury- 

 toma, lUiger, eleven species ; and Decatoma, Spinola, ten 

 species. Almost all the species are described as having 



TRANS. ENT. SOC. 1882. PART II. (jULY.) 



