Dec.,i902.1 ASHMEAD : CLASSIFICATION OF PrOCTOTRYPID.^. 



Our common species, Pcleciniis polytiirator Drury, is not rare in some of the 

 Northern States, in August and September, and the female forms a conspicuous object 

 when flying, since its flight is slow and difficult on account of its abnormally length- 

 ened abdomen. The male, on the contrary, is extremely rare and exceeding rapid in 

 flight. It is sharp-eyed, takes flight rapidly and is rarely captured. 



According to Prof. S. A. Forbes, P. polytiirator Drury, lives parasitically upon 

 the larvae of our May beetles (Lachnosterna;). 

 Antennas 14-jointed, inserted on the middle of the face. 



Abdomen in 9 very long, cylindrical, several times longer than the thorax, in $ 

 clavate Pelecinus Latreille (type Ic/meumon polyturator DviVRn) . 



Family LI. Helorid^. 



This family is readily distinguished by the characters made use of in my table of 

 families. It forms a connecting link between the family Pelecinidae, probably the 

 oldest type of a Proctotrypoid, and the Proctotrypidae and the Belytidae. 



The Helorina; attack the golden-eyed flies, Chrysopida;, while the Monoraachinae, 

 I suspect, are parasitic upon ant-lions, Myrmeleonidje. 



Table of Subfamilies. 



Claws simple ; basal nervure normal, not broken ; abdomen longly petiolated; antennas 

 14-jointed Subfamily I. MONOMACHIN^. 



Claws pectinate ; basal nervure abruptly broken and bent downwards forming a tri- 

 angular discoidal cell ; antenna 15-jointed Subfamily II. HELORIN^. 



Subfamily I. MONOMACHIN^. 



Tal'le of Genera. 



Front wings with only one discoidal cell, the first absent ; apex of metathorax strongly 

 produced beyond the insertion of the hind coxte ; body of abdomen in the female 

 strongly compressed, long, narrow, lanceolate, in male fusiform, head with temples 

 and cheeks strongly buccate ; scape of antenna; rather long. 



Monomachus Westwood (type M. gladiator (Klug) Westwood). 



Front wings with two discoidal cells, the first present ; apex of metathorax truncate ; 



body of abdomen in $ compressed, as seen from the side triangular or pyriform 



in outline ; head not buccate ; scape of antennae short Roptronia Provancher 



(type R. pediadata Pkov.). 



Subfamily II. HELORIN/E. 

 Only a single genus is known in this subfamily which may be recognized by the 

 following characters : 

 Antennas 15-jointed, the scape short; abdomen ovate or oblong-oval, the second 



very large ; claws pectinate Helorus Latreille 



(type Sphex anotnalipes Panger). 



Family LII. Proctotrypid.e. 

 This family is parasitic upon the larvae of beetles and is easily separated from all 

 the 'other families by the edentate mandibles and by abdominal peculiarities ; the 

 abdomen in the females terminates in a stylus or cauda, in the males in two spines or 



