114 GENERA OF HYMENOPTERA. 



Family LARRIDiE. 

 The followiiifr synopsis of the genera is by Mr. W. H. Patton, who 

 has made a study of the family, and published an interesting i)aj)er 

 on the subject in the Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural 

 History for 1880. 



Table of Genera. 



Eyes emarginate within; second submarginal cell petiolate Pison Spin. 



Eyes entire ; second submarginal cell not jietiolate. 

 Exterior margin of mandibles scarcely emarginate. 



First submarginal cell shorter than the second and third combined, and di- 

 vided by a spurious nervure; eyes of o meeting on the vertex : in- 

 termediate tibite with two spura. Astnta Latr. 



First submarginal cell longer than the second and third combined, not di- 

 vided; eyes not meeting on the vertex ; mandibles not dentate within. 



Liris Fabr. 

 Exterior margin of mandibles with a broad, deep emargination near the base. 



Three distinct ocelli liyroda Say. 



Posterior ocelli distorted or obsolete. 

 Metathorax as long as mesothorax, truncate behind ; marginal cell truncate 



at tip Ibarra Latr. 



Metathorax shorter than me.sothorax, rounded behind; marginal cell nar- 

 row and rounded at tip ; mandibles dentate within Tacliytes Panz. 



Of the genera characterized above, Plmn is represented by one 

 species from Georgia, and Astata by twelve, mostly found in the far 

 Western States, while to Liris has been referred a single species tVoni 

 Colorado, whose charactei-s do not altogether accord with those of 

 that genus. Lyroda. which is distinguished from the remaining genera 

 by having three distinct ocelli, is represented by two species. Most 

 of the species referred to Lcirra, about twenty in number, were origi- 

 nally described as belonging to Lnrrnda, which, according to Patton, 

 is not generically distinct. 



Of Tacht/tes, sixteen species have been described. Referring to 

 the species of this genus, Mr. Patton says : " So quick are these in- 

 sects in their motions, and so watchful are they, that their capture is 

 difficidt ; however stealthily they are approached while resting on the 

 flowers, their green eyes are sure to face the intruder, and the least 

 suspicious act sends them circling in the air, or ofl' in an exceedingly 

 ra[)id flight." 



The species of this family are ordinarily found in sandy situations, 

 where the females burrow, provisioning their cells chiefly with Or- 

 thopterous insects. The s])ecies of 71«7///fw are said to be very par- 

 tial to the flowers of Asclepias. 



