FAMILY AULACIDAE 
The family Aulacidae consists of slender ichneumon-like wasps, 
with the female ovipositor about as long as the body.A number of 
species are parasitic on wood-boring insects; the remainder are 
parasitic in the nests of bees and wasps in twigs or wood. Pris- 
taulacus rufitarsis (Cress.) is a parasite of the hemlock borer and 
poplar borer in eastern America; P. bilobatus (Prov.) is also 
parasitic on the hemlock borer. Aulacus burquei (Prov.), A. digi- 
talis Townes, A. lovei (Ashm.), and A. pallipes Cress are para- 
sitic on various species of Xiphydria. Several species in the genera 
Gasteruption and Rhydinofoenus are parasitic in bee’s and wasp’s 
nests in twigs or wood. 
FAMILY PELECINIDAE 
This family appears to be represented in North America by 
only one species, Pelecinus polyturator (Drury), a parasite of 
May beetle larvae. The female is a large shiny black insect, often 
up to 62 mm. long. The abdomen is slender, about five times as 
long as the head and thorax combined, and is without a sting. 
Males are much smaller and have the posterior of the abdomen 
swollen. 
FAMILY CERAPHRONIDAE 
A number of species in this family have been taken from colo- 
nies of ants. Various others are known to be hyperparasitic on 
various hymenopterous and dipterous parasites. One of the latter, 
Conostigmus virginicus (Ashm.), is a parasite of Blepharipa 
scutellata (P.-D.), an introduced parasite of the gypsy moth. 
FAMILY DIAPRITIDAE 
This is a large family of very small black wasps, most of which 
appear to be parasitic on immature Diptera. Adults of most 
species can be recognized by the location of the antennae, which 
arise on a shelflike protuberance in about the middle of the face. 
Psilus politus (Say) has been recorded as parasitic on the cherry 
fruit fly. Trichopria tabanivora Fouts is a parasite of horseflies. 
Apparently, only a small percentage of the species in the family 
have been described. 
FAMILY SCELIONIDAE 
As far as known, all members of this large family of small in- 
sects are parasitic in the eggs of other insects. Species attacking 
some of the more important forest and shade tree insects are as 
follows: Telenomus dalmani (Ratz.) and T. hemerocampae Wil- 
cox—the white-marked tussock moth, T. californicus Ashm.—the 
satin moth, T. geometriae Ashm. and T. alsophilae Vier.—the fall 
cankerworm, T. bifidus Riley—the fall webworm, T. catalpae 
Mues.—the catalpa sphinx, 7. dalmani—the hemlock looper, 7. 
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