1NSECTA. 373 



Family XIX. Oxyura s. Proctotrupii LATR. ( Codrini DALMAN, 

 VON ESSENBECK, with addition of other genera.) Inferior 

 rings without nervures, superior either in like manner without any 

 lervures, or with few and longitudinal only, destitute of cubital 

 ell and often of humeral likewise. Antennas with 8 15 joints 

 in most 10 12), filiform or thicker towards extremity, in males 

 nostly longer, in females sometimes clavate. Borer or ovipositor 

 t the extremity of abdomen, in some exsert, conical, in others re- 

 ractile within the abdomen, containing three setae. 



These tail-boring ichneumons are mostly very small, some only 

 1 or & line in size, or even smaller (Ichneumon atomus L.), so 

 that the investigation of the oral parts is rendered very difficult, 

 and the characters derived from them are often insecure. The head 

 in most of them is broad, the thorax long, the abdomen oval or 

 conical. In some there are no wings, or very imperfect wings 

 (especially in females) j some have only four joints in the tarsus 

 (Iphitrachelus HALIDAY, My mar, &c.), which has also been observed 

 in the family of the Chalcidice, a remarkable anomaly in the Hymen- 

 optera. The economy of the greater part is unknown ; but we may 

 conclude, from those whose metamorphosis is known, that their 

 larvae live parasitically in other insects, like the true Ichneumons, 

 with which LINNAEUS united the few species that were known to him. 

 The larvae of Platygaster live as parasites in those of the genus 

 Cecidomyia (Diptera). Other species lay their eggs in the eggs of 

 other insects (especially of Lepidoptera and some Hemiptera). To 

 these belongs the Ichneumon ovulorum L., according to HALIDAY a 

 species of Mymar, and also the genus Teleas. 



Comp. on this family C. G. NEES VON ESSENBECK, Hymenopterorum Ich- 

 neumonibus affinium Monographic, Stuttgartise et Tubingae, 1834, 8vo. II. 

 pp. 311 397; and WESTWOOD, Introd. to Modern Classific. of Ins. H. 

 pp. 167 173; as also the works of HALIDAY there referred to, and other 

 English entomologists. 



Mymar HALIDAY. (Palps none ?) Antennae 13 10 jointed in 

 nales, long, broken, 10 9 jointed, clavate in females. Wings 

 larrow, often linear, anterior broader at the extremity (spatulate), 

 dliated on the margin. Abdomen in some sessile, in others peti- 

 >late. 



Sp. Mymar pulchellus WALKER, GUERIN, Iwnogr. Ins. PL 68, fig. 6 ; HER- 

 RICH-SCHJ<:FFER, DeutscU. Ins. Heft 184, Tab. 135, (fig. copied in CURTIS, 

 Brit. Entom. Tab. 411). 



