64 



OENKKA OF HYMENOI'TERA. 



Family CHALCIDIDiE. 



This fnniily is (•()nij)ose(l of a lar^e nuiiiber of insec't*i generally of 

 execediiiirly small size, many of the species havinir hrillinnt metallic 

 eolors. Thf'V are all jcirasitic, many of them hein^^ parasites upon 

 other parasites, and some (lepositintr their ejrjfs in various galls where 

 the larva; feed upon and destroy the legitimate inhabitants. 



The anterior wings* (fig. 11) rarely rudimentary or wanting, are 

 nearly veinless; usually a strong subniarginal vein (a) runs parallel 



with the anterior 

 margin for a distance 

 (generally more than 

 is shown in the cut) 

 where it unites with 

 the costa, along which 

 it contuiues for a dis- 

 tance as a marginal 

 vein (b), and tlien bi- 

 furcates, the upper 

 branch being the jtostmarginal ( c), and the lower branch the stigmal 

 (d), which usually descends in an obli(|ue direction, and is often 

 thickened or clubbed. The posterior wings have, at most, only a 

 short subniarginal vein. In the genus Lencoi^jm the anterior wings 

 are folded longitudinally in repo.«e, similar to those of the Vespidse. 

 The antenme (tig. 12) are exceedingly variable in form in this family, 



and are often curiously developed in 

 the males of some of the genera, being 

 sometimes short and clubbed, or the 

 joints nodose and ciliated with long 

 hairs, sometimes they are beautifully 

 branched, the number of joints varying 

 from six to fourteen. The posterior 

 femora are sometimes enormously swol- 

 len and toothed beneath, and in some 



Fis- II.— .Xiiterior wing of a Clialciii. 

 a, siibmargiiial vein ; b, marginal vein ; c, postniarginal 

 vein ; d, stigmal vein. 



Fig. 12. — Antenna. 

 a, scape : b, pedicel ; c, ring- 



joints ; d, funicle ; e, club. 



genera the intermediate legs are very long and saltatorial, the tibial 



* The teriiiiiiolofiy of tlie iieuratioii of this family and the I'ructotnipidii.', as 

 u.sert by authors, is iniite (lifferciit from that adoiitcd elsewhere in this Synojisis, 

 as will lie seen hy the acfompanyiiij; diagram (fig. 11). To conform with tliat of 

 the other families, a would he the suhecjstal vein, h and c the costal, and d the 

 marjrii'il vein or radius. To make any chanpe at this time would only cause 

 confusion, and therefore the terms given above, in the e.xjilanation of tig. 11, will 

 be ii.sed in these two faniilie.s only. 



