H Y ME NOP TERA . 



625 



Family Braconid^ (Bra-con'i-dse). 

 The Braconids {Brae' o-nids). 



The Braconidae include a large number of parasites, 

 which are small or of moderate size. They are often called 

 Ichneumon-flies; but it seems best to restrict that name to 

 members of the Ichneumonidse. In the Braconids the 



Fig, 751. — Wings of Rhog'as parasiticus. 



wings have several closed cells, the fore wings are furnished 

 with a stigma, and the vein between cells V^ and ist N ^ is 

 wanting (Fig. 751). This last character is important, as dis- 

 tinguishing the members of this family from the true Ichneu- 

 mon-flies, which they resemble both in appearance and habits. 

 It is not an uncommon thing, especially in vineyards, to 

 find a feeble caterpillar with its back covered with little, white, 

 oblong bodies, which the ignorant usually think are its own 

 eggs (Fig. 752). These are 

 the cocoons of braconid par- 

 asites. The larvae obtain 

 their growth within the body 

 of the caterpillar, and just 

 before it perishes they leave 

 it, and spin their silken cocoons upon its back. When these 

 cocoons are examined with a lens they are found to be beau- 



FiG. 75V.— Caterpillar with cocoons of a 

 Braconid. 



