IIYMENOPTERA. ... 5S5 



THE SECOND FAMILY OF THE HYMENOPTERA — 

 The PunvoRA, — 



Has the abdomen attaebcd to the thorax by a small portion only of its transverse diameter, and often 

 by a slender peduncle, so that its mode of insertion is very distinct, and it is easily bent over the thorax. 

 I'hc females are armed with a borer, which serves them as an ovidiiet. 



The larvffi are footless grubs, and are, for the most part, parasites, and carnivorous. 



I divide them into six tribes. 



The first tribe, Evaniales, Latr., has the wings veined, and the superior, at least, areolated; the 

 antennje, filiform or setaceous, 13-or 14-jointed ; the mandibles toothed internally ; the maxillary ]ialpi 

 C-jiiinted, and the labial 4-jointed ; the abdomen implanted high on the thorax, and often beneath the 

 scutellimi, with the ovipositor generally exserted, and composed of three threads. This tribe may be 

 formed into a single genus, 



FCENUS. 



Evania, Latr., has the ovipositor internal, tbe antennae elbowed, and the abdomen very minute, compressed, 

 pedunculated, and attached at the upper and posterior extremity of the tliorax, close to the scutellum. [£. appen- 

 dujaster, Latr., a small species, regarded as parasitic upon tbe Cockroach.] 



Pelecinus, Latr., bas tbe abdonien sometimes very much elong;ated, filiform, and arched, sometimes narrowed 

 gradually towards the base and terminated in a club ; the posterior tibise are thickened, and the ovipositor nut 

 exserted. [Singular Ameiican insects.] 



Fceniis, Fabr., bas tbe ovipositor long, exserted, and formed of three long and equal threads, and tbe abdomen 

 and posterior tibiai clavate, and tbe antennfe filiform. [Two British species.] 



Aidacuti, Jur., bas the abdomen compressed, tbe tibiaa slender, and tbe antennas setaceous. [Several continental 

 and American insects.] 



Paxalloma, Brebisson, bas the abdomen sickle-shaped. [This genus is arranged by subsequent authors 

 amongst tbe Ichneumones adadtl. Latreille bad noticed its great relation with Ophion. P. buccata, tbe type, 

 has occurred in this country.] 



The second tribe, tbe Ichneumonides, have the wings also veined, the superior always exhibiting 

 in the disc perfect or closed cells ; the alidomen is affi.ved between tbe two hind feet ; the antenna; are 

 generally filiform or setaceous, (veiy rarely clavate,) vibratile, and composed of a great number of 

 joints (16 at least). In tbe majority the mandibles have no tooth on the inside, and are terminated 

 in a bifid tooth. Tbe maxillary palpi are always apparent, or prominent, and have mostly only five 

 joints. Tbe ovipositor is composed of three threads. 



This tribe embraces nearly the whole of tbe genus 



Ichneumon, Linn., — 

 Which destroy the progeny of Lepidopterous insects, so injurious to the agriculturist, under the form 

 of Caterpillars, in the same manner as the Ichneumon quadruped was supposed to destroy the Croco- 

 dile, by depositing its eggs in its entrails. 



The old authors named these insects Muscce tripiles, on account of the three threads of tbe 

 ovipositor; and Miiscte vibrantes, because they continually vibrate their antennEe, which are often 

 curved, with a white or yellow ring in the middle. They have long maxihary palpi, nearly setaceous, 

 5- or G-jointed, the labial being shorter, and 3- or 4-jointed. The tonguelet is generally entire, or 

 simply emargiuate. The body has generally a narrow and elongated or hnearform, with the ovipositor 

 sometimes exterior and hke a tail, and sometimes very short, and hidden in the interior of the abdo- 

 men, wdiich is terminated in a point, whereas it is thickened and obliquely truncate in those which 

 have the ovipositor exposed. Of the three pieces of which it is composed the middle piece is the only 

 part which penetrates into the body, in which the eggs are deposited ; its tip is often slit like the point 

 of a pen. The females, when ready to deposit their eggs, run or fly about in order to discover the 

 larviE, pupa;, or eggs of insects, and even of Spiders, Plant Lice, &c., destined to receive the eggs and 

 to nourish the young Ichneumons, exhibiting in these searches an admirable instinct, in order to find 

 the objects of their search in their most concealed retreats. It is [in caterpillars. Sic, wdiieh live] 

 bencalh the bark of trees, or in their crevices, that those with an elongated ovipositor place their 

 e""s [in the uiauner represented in the annexed figures] ; whilst those with a short ovipositor place 



