PTEROMALIDAE OF N.W. EUROPE 23 



Fore wing with postmarginal vein either absent, or clearly shorter than the 



stigmal vein, the latter sometimes very short or even rudimentary . . 46 



46 (45) Gaster distinctly constricted at its junction with the propodeum, and a petiole 

 always present even though sometimes strongly transverse ; endophragma 

 not extending into the gaster. Stigmal vein forming an angle of not less 

 than about 35 with the costal edge of the wing. Body most often at least 

 partly metallic, if non-metallic then the scutellum usually has a pair of 

 impressed submedian longitudinal lines .... EULOPHIDAE (part) 

 Gaster subsessile, i.e., its base almost as broad as the propodeum ; the petiole, if 

 present, very difficult to see ; endophragma extending at least slightly, 

 usually far, into the gaster. Stigmal vein (Text-fig. 31) usually forming a 

 very acute angle with the costal edge of the wing. Body non-metallic, 

 black, or partly to entirely yellow or brown. Scutellum without submedian 

 impressed longitudinal lines ..... APHELINIDAE (part) 



THE LIMITS OF THE FAMILY PTEROMALIDAE 



These are not easy to define even when only the European fauna is considered. 

 In the present work Pteromalidae are regarded as including Cleonyminae and 

 Miscogasterinae, groups which have often been given family rank. The chief 

 difficulties arise when one tries to find satisfactory characters for distinguishing 

 many male (and a few female) Eupelmidae, and some male Torymidae, from 

 Pteromalidae. Such Eupelmids and Torymids would run in my family key to 

 Pteromalidae, therefore I have inserted special couplets in my key to subfamilies 

 of Pteromalidae in order to deal with these difficult cases. The genus Oodera 

 Westwood, sometimes placed in Pteromalidae Cleonyminae, is dealt with in my key 

 to families. It is in fact very close to some Cleonyminae, but on a balance of 

 characters I place it in Eupelmidae. This exemplifies the sort of difficulty referred 

 to above. It would be unwise to attempt a formal definition of Pteromalidae until 

 the families of Chalcidoidea have been more adequately surveyed on a world-wide 

 basis. Meanwhile workers will have to rely on the key to families, which has been 

 so constructed so as to make allowance for exceptional and difficult cases. The 

 great majority of Pteromalinae should run, in the key to subfamilies, to couplet 45 ; 

 only a small number will run to other couplets. 



PTEROMALIDAE 



Key to Subfamilies 



1 Mesoscutal notauli complete or (some Diparinae) incomplete but meeting on the 



disc of the mesoscutum ......... 2 



Notauli neither reaching the hind margin of the mesoscutum, nor meeting on 



its disc ............ 33 



2 (1) Antennal toruli (Text-fig. 32) touching the lower edge of the head and situated 



on facial lobes which project ventrad slightly below the level of the clypeus ; 

 antennae without anelli, with seven funicular segments, and a solid or three- 

 segmented clava. Mesopleuron (Text-fig. 33) produced posteriorly in the 

 form of a lamina which completely overlaps the metapleuron ; mesosternum 

 with a broad deep median excavation (mesolcus) extending from its hind 

 margin more than half-way towards the front of the sclerite. Propodeum 



