41G PROCEEDINGS OF UNireiJ STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. [1885. 



is inad(} evident; from the reference to tlie male and some of its dis- 

 tinguisliiug characters. His description therefore makes the antennse 

 ill both sexes pale brown, and, by inference, the legs, with the exception 

 of the tarsi, are dark. The only valid reason to question the species 

 intended by him is his subsequent reference to the wingless form ; but 

 we must assume that, like Herrick, he looked upon his wingless indi- 

 viduals as probably the same species without very criticall}^ using them 

 for descriptive purposes. 



Fitch's descriiition, while quite lengthy, is lacking in a remarkable 

 degree in important structural characters, but his description of the 

 legs supplements Say's and makes it, in connection with other char- 

 acters given, quite evidently apply to the species under consideration. 



Packard's description is largely a repetition of Fitch's with some ad- 

 ditional statements as to the coloration of the legs which, together with 

 his statement that the antennte are black, make it somewhat doubtful 

 as to the species intended. There is, however, some variation in the 

 color of the antennae which might well be called black in some speci- 

 mens, especially upon hasty examination. 



]^o ici7igless individuals of this species have been found. A number of 

 specimens were bred between May and August, 1880, from wheat-stalks 

 received from Mr. E. J. Chiswell, Dickersoii's, Md.- In each case the 

 jDarasites issued from the coarctate larva, and in no instance more than 

 one Chalcid each. From wheat sent by Mr. Barlow, from Cadet, Mo., 

 in the spring and summer of 1883, two females of the species issued, one 

 in July and one in August, and in April two more females and two 

 males issued from the straw, in company with many specimens of M. 

 subapterus. 



Mr. L. O. Howard would place this species in the genus Merisus with 

 which it seems to have considerable affinity, although it possesses cer- 

 tain characters which would exclude it according to Thomson's rigid 

 definition. Thus the abdomen approaches much more nearly that of 

 Dimachus^ while the rudimentary median carina of the metauotum 

 would ])lace it between this latter genus and Merisus. It is a well-marked 

 form, and may rest quietly in this genus until the American Pteroma- 

 linte are thoroughly studied as a whole. 



Merisus (Homoporus) subapterus, u. si3. 



[Plate XXI, lig 2.] 



Wingless male. — Length varies from 1.58'"™ to 2.74™'". Anteunse inserted a little 

 below the middle of the face, their bases close together, but still distinctly separated ; 

 scape leaching to the ocelli ; llagoUum short, finelj' pilose, club oval-acuminate, 

 llattoued Literally; joints of the fimicle subequal in length, joint 1 a trifle longer 

 than broad, the rest increasing very slightly in width to joint fi, which is as wide as 

 long. Cheeks well rounded; ocelli in a curved line, middle ocellus indistinct; head 

 considerably broader than thorax, densely and finely punctate. Pro- and mesonotum 

 with pnnctation similar to that of the head ; metauotum rounded, with somewhat 

 larger and deeper punctures. Abdomen ovate, acuminate, not flattened, perfectly 

 glabrous. Color: Head and thorax with a dark greenish metallic luster; bulla of 

 auteou® black, scape and pedicel honey yellow ; flagellum yellow-brown, often with 



