592 MISC. PUBLICATION 657, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
Almost all the adults are highly specialized, and the larval habits 
vary decidedly. Bees provision their nests with nectar and pollen. 
The larvae of wasps are largely carnivorous. The feeding habits of 
adult ants differ greatly in different members of the family. Some 
are carnivorous, others utilize vegetable substance, and many feed 
on sweet fluids such as sap or honey dew. Different species of ants 
adopt different methods of nourishing their larvae. Many feed them 
on regurgitated liquid, carnivorous species give them portions of other 
insects, and fungus growers nourish their larvae with fungus hyphae. 
Many of the Cynipoidea, and a few of the Chalcidoidea are phy- 
tophagous. A few Cynipoidea, most of the Chalcidoidea, and all of 
the Ichneumonoidea are carnivorous, being either endo- or ectopara- 
sites. Because of its feeding habits, the group as a whole has relatively 
few forms that cause serious economic loss to forests. In fact, most 
of the bees, predators, and parasites are distinctly beneficial. 
KEY TO SUPERFAMILIES OF THE CLISTOGASTRA 
(Based on Ashmead, 5) 
Ie Sting or ovipostor when present always issuing from tip of abdomen, 
TLOCHAMtETS OMe OMG wW.O=] OMGE Cee ce se ee a cerca re 
Sting or ovipositor issuing some distance before tip of abdomen, 
trochanters al ways sw. Oi Ge Cl mesma ee ee eee 
2. Pronotum not extending back to tegulae; trochanter one-jointed __ 
Pronotum extending back to tegulae, or the latter absent________ 
3. Hind tarsi dilated or thickened, pubescence of head and thorax 
feathery7Or s Plumas Cee ee ee des eee Apoidea, p. 634. 
Hind tarsi slender, not dilated or thickened, pubescence of head and 
thorax simple, not feathery or plumose______ Sphecoidea, p. 631. 
4, Trochantersone-jointed: <2 235 2s. 2 eee 
Trochanters: two-jointed {25 eee ee Oe ee Oe 
5. Abdomen in female greatly elongated, several times longer than 
head and thorax united; abdomen in male not especially long, 
CAV ate Se ne aoe arene (Pelecinidae) Serphoidea, p. 621 (part). 
Abdomen in female rarely twice longer than head and thorax united, 
usuallymuch-shorter 2224 2s 0 lire Ee ele eo ee ee 6 
6. Petiole with one or two scales or nodes______-_ Formicoidea, p. 622. 
Petiole simple without scales or nodes_________-_ Vespoidea, p. 627. 
de Mandibles large,-4 dentate; hind wings with a distinct venation 
(Trigonalidae) Vespoidea, p. 627 (part). 
Mandibles never large or 4-dentate; hind wings without a distinct 
5 {eJ0Cz (0) Cae SLR ee Ane ee Oa Serphoidea, p. 620. 
8. Front wings with a stigma; abdomen with the ventral segments 
most frequently soft and membranous__Ichneumonoidea, p. 601. 
Front wings without a stigma; abdomen with ventral segments hard 
ANA ChiGinO US, wail Ub eal Ol Ce ee ae a ee 9 
9. Pronotum extending back to tegulae; front wings with a marginal 
and basal cell; antennae not elbowed______- Cynipoidea, p. 592. 
Pronotum not extending back to tegulae; wings with neither mar- 
ginal nor basal cell; antennae elbowed____-_ Chalcidoidea, p. 609. 
Suprerramity CYNV/POIDEA 
Gall Wasps 
H& GO 00 iw) 
“JO 
Most members of the superfamily Cynipoidea are small, dark- 
colored insects. Biologically they are very interesting for the vari- 
ous species are either gall makers, inquilines, or parasites. ‘The in- 
quilines live in galls formed by another species. ‘The antennae of 
the eynipids are not elbowed, the wings lack a stigma, the abdomen is 
strongly compressed, and usually the second abdominal tergite is 
