REVISION OF LEUCOSPIDAE n 



subdivided in subalar area, upper episternum and upper epimerum; anterior aspect of 

 mesopleurum without any shelf in front of mid coxae but with deep elongate depression on either 

 side above, to accept the postero-lateral edge of pronotum. Metapleurum sub-triangular, often 

 produced above at hind wing. Fore coxa longer than half of femur, anteriorly pubescent, 

 without oblique carina. Fore tibia (Text-figs 92, 93) with distinct tooth at apex, spur curved, 

 its apex shortly (sometimes indistinctly) cleft. Mid coxa relatively short; mid tibia slender, 

 apical spur not long. Hind coxa unusually large, with distinct depression externally between 

 dorsal edge and blunter lateral edge; more or less punctured, at least between lateral and 

 meso-ventral edges; often with dorsal tooth. Hind femur greatly enlarged, its ventral edge, 

 except at base, toothed. Hind tibia arcuate, dorsally rounded, ventrally with percurrent 

 carina and another externo-ventral carina usually not reaching apex; apex of tibia with two 

 spurs (Text-fig. 6) but sometimes produced into a spine which bears only a rudiment of the 

 outer spur on its top (Text-figs 5, 40, 131, 144), whilst the inner spur is normally developed, 

 microscopically pubescent. Tarsi 5-segmented, normal; claws of fore and mid legs pectinate, 

 teeth often different in outer and inner claw (Text-fig. 62) ; hind claws simple or with very 

 short comb at broadened base. Wings densely pubescent, including lower surface of costal 

 cell, and if pubescence slightly reduced in proximal part of wing, then hairs not forming any 

 special formations; fore wing with long and smoothly curved submarginal vein, very long 

 postmarginal vein, but marginal vein very short, shorter than stigmal vein which often bears 

 a distinct uncus; sclerotized spot present outside of lower corner of basal cell. Hind wing with 

 rather long marginal vein, but this even apically slightly removed from the margin, with three 

 subequal hamuli. 



Gaster rather broadly sessile, the second abdominal segment (petiole) strongly reduced, 

 mostly hidden but sometimes more apparent, often with transverse carina dorsally. First 

 tergite (postpetiolar tergite) in both sexes large. In female second tergite strongly reduced, 

 mostly hidden under the first (Text-figs 4, 252), consisting of lateral sclerotized discs, connected 

 medially with a broad membrane (which extends greatly at oviposition) ; third tergite very short, 

 its basal impunctate part mostly not exposed, punctured part very narrow; fourth tergite 

 always at least partly exposed, punctured, not long. Fifth tergite the largest, forming broadest 

 part of gaster. Sixth tergite (landmarked well by spiracles) normal only in Polistomorpha, 

 in other genera its exposed part divided in two, showing at sides in front of epipygium; the 

 latter extending along ovipositor. Cerci always present, but very low, disc-like, their setae 

 short. Sheaths of ovipositor often long and then bent upwards and forwards; in that case 

 an ovipositorial furrow (to accept ovipositor) of corresponding length developed on dorsal 

 side of thorax (Text-figs 8, 55). Sternites strongly reduced except the last (hypopygium) 

 which projects far back along ventral side of gaster. 



In the male, second tergite much shorter than the first but distinct (e.g. Text-figs 31, 80, 

 120), punctured, well separated from the following tergites which are more or less fused into 

 a carapace. Carapace at base with sublateral keels marking off subvertical epipleura which 

 show better margins of fused tergites; segmentation of carapace often indicated by changing 

 density of puncturation (e.g. Text-figs 114, 115) or by yellow bands (Text-figs 169, 171, 197, 

 etc.), sixth tergite again bearing spiracles. Epipygium readily separated, more or less trans- 

 verse, usually with cross-depression ; cerci low. Exposed parts of sternites with strong scleroti- 

 zation, punctured; all well developed, the first often with tooth-like projection ventrad. Aed- 

 eagus (Text-figs 12-14, 245-248) of a relatively simple form, volsellar digiti not developed. 



As mentioned, Leucospidae are similar to Chalcididae, mainly in having the 

 hind femora greatly enlarged and toothed beneath, but differ from them in many 

 characters, in particular in the following: concealed labrum; unusual development 

 of labio-maxillary complex, especially of glossa; antennae subequal in both sexes, 

 with large first flagellar segment but short pedicellus; absence of clear-cut notaular 

 furrows; presence of parapsidal vestiges; simple scutellum but specialised form 

 of dorsellum; absence of propodeal areolation; folded fore wings with always 



