156 BULLETIN 66, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



24. Genus HALICTOPHAGUS Dale (Curtis, 1832). 

 Halictophagus Dale MS. — Hoeven, 1850.— Saunders, 1872. 



Type of genus. — Halictophagus curtisii Dale (Curtis, 1832). 



Name derived from Halictus (the supposed host) + cf>ays'cv (to eat), 

 meaning erroneously that the genus is parasitic on Halictus. 



The hosts are undoubtedly homopterous, but have not been 

 discovered. 



The genus is the type of the family Halictophagidge. It has 

 seven-jointed antenna 1 , the third to sixth joints being laterally pro- 

 duced, and the seventh subequaling the sixth. Tarsi triarticulate. 

 Prothorax and mesothorax normal, ring like. Wings with seven 

 primary veins and with a short vein beyond the radius, another 

 detached but apparently arising from the medius, and a short vein 

 arising just below the medius. 



i. HALICTOPHAGUS CURTISII Dale (Curtis, 1832). 



Halictophagus curtisii Saunders, 1872. 



The host of this species is unknown, although it has been ascribed 

 to Halictus aeratus Kirby, which was found stylopized in the vicinity 

 where the male was collected. The species occurs in the adult male 

 form in August at Lul worth Cove, England, on a rock called Durdle 

 Door, and was originally taken by Mr. Dale by brushing some long 

 coarse grass and thistles close to the sea. 



Length 1.4 mm., expanse of wings 3.8 mm. 



The following description of this species was published by Curtis 

 in 1832: 



Black and slightly glossy, clothed with' a brown velvety pubescence; antenna; 

 and legs dull brownish ochre; wings slightly tinged with fuscous ochre and obscurely 

 iridescent; nervures brown; tips of the joints of the tarsi and apex of abdomen ochre- 

 ous. (Curtis, 1832.) Head broader than the thorax. Eyes very remote, prominent 

 and coarsely granulated. Prothorax and mesothorax short, the latter with a pseu- 

 delytron attached on each side; they are very slender at the base and terminated by 

 an ovate club. Metathorax somewhat scutate, the anterior portion forming three 

 nearly equal lobes, the scutellum being short and rounded. Postscutellum very long 

 tongue-shaped and thick, with a long deep groove at the base. Wings large, minutely 

 punctured, rounded at the apex, with the costa thickened, a subcostal and five other 

 strong longitudinal nervures and a callous stripe at the apex, the second nervure 

 apparently a detached branch of the tbird, which has a short ray near the base of the 

 second. Abdomen rather short, a great portion concealed by the postscutellum, 

 composed of about eight joints, terminated by an obtuse process. (Anterior troch- 

 anters long.) Thighs rather short. Tibia? short and compressed. Tarsi triarticulate, 

 basal joint stout in the anterior pair, the second long and slender, third small obovate; 

 nearly of equal length in the posterior pair, the apex of each joint produced beneath 

 and submembranous or fleshy. Claws none. 



The female is unknown. 



