FAMILY OYNIPIDJ;. 151 



important morphological differences. They differ fre- 

 quently in sculpture and coloration ; the form of the 

 antennae seldom is the same ; often there is a difference 

 in the alar neuration ; nay, one brood may be winged, 

 the other apterous. Generally the form of the ovi- 

 positor shows a marked distinction in form, a differ- 

 ence correlated with a difference in the mode and posi- 

 tion of ovipositor. In no case are the galls of the 

 dimorphic species alike. Thus the gall inhabited by 

 the spring form may be soft and juicy, the autumnal 

 hard and woody. The position of the galls is also 

 seldom the same. They may even be on different 

 species of plants. 



The habits of the parasitic Cynipidse are, broadly 

 speaking, tolerably uniform. The perfect insects are, 

 if anything, sluggish. When alarmed they have a 

 knack of tucking the antennas, wings, and legs close to 

 the body and falling down as if dead, remaining in that 

 inert position until they consider danger is over. The 

 Allotrina apparently confine their attacks to AphiddB 

 or to the parasites of Aphides. It is true that both 

 Hartig and Kirchner (Cat., p. 31) record rearing 

 species from the galls of Nematus Vallisnieri, but they 

 feed not on the Nematus larva, but on Aphidse which 

 have wandered into the galls probably after having 

 been stung. Theplant lice tenanted by Allotrina remain 

 attached to the leaf, and may be recognised by their 

 dried bodies. The Figitina are chiefly parasites on 

 dung dipterous larvae (Sarcophaga). The Eucoelina 

 are also attached to Diptera Musca, Eristalis 9 Tachina, 

 and Agromyza. One species (E. minuta) is found on 

 Scolytus rugulosus according to Giraud. The Onychina 

 and Anacharina are more varied in their attacks. 

 Onychia Westwdodi preys on a beetle larva which 

 feeds on Caltka palustris ; Callaspidia ligurica on a 

 Syrphus (Giraud, 1. c.), and Anacharis on Hemorobius. 

 Ibalia feeds on Sir ex. 



