69 



Fig. 33. 



Fig. 34. 



Pimpla, the genus from which the sub-family takes its name, contains a num- 

 ber of very useful species of which P. conquisitor (Figure ^S) is a great aid in 

 checking the ravages of the 

 Forest Tent-caterpillar. I 

 observed it to be very abund- 

 ant in 1889. This species has 

 the segments of the abdomen 

 margined with white, but in 

 our other species the thorax 

 and abdomen are entirely 

 black. The legs, however, 

 as in this species, are usually 

 red, and more or less variegated with black and white. 

 Our largest species, P. pedalis, also an enemy of 

 Clisiocampa, has the legs red, with the exception of 

 the hinder tibiae and tarsi, which are black, while P. 

 pterelas, which can be bred in large numbers from 

 pods of iris infested by the beetle Mononychus vulpeculus, has its legs entirely 

 red. A very closely allied species P. annulipes (Figure 34) is said to be a parasite 

 of Carpocapsa pomonella, the Codling moth, whose larvae do such enormous 

 damage to our apples. 



Differing from Pimplas chiefly in colour are two yellow species belonging to 

 the genus Theronia. In Victoria, B.C., in May, 1888, I observed T. fulvescens to 

 be very abundant and as it is a parasite of the western Tent-caterpillar, which 

 was then in immense numbers, I have no donbt that the insects were then 

 engaged in the good work of depositing their eggs in the obnoxious caterpillars. 

 The species which occurs here is called Theronia melanocephala from its black 

 head, and I have bred it from cocoons of Halesidota maculata. 



The sub-family contains many other genera, some of which, as Xorides, 

 Xylonomus, Ecthrus and Odontomerus. include large handsome species. 



Stephanid^. — This family only contains two genera, and the American 

 species described are only four in number. They are rare in collections, and none 

 are yet reported from Canada I think. In appearance they much resemble some 

 species of the next family, and having long ovipositors are probably parasites of 

 wood-borers. 



BRACONID.E. — The described species of this famil}^ are not so numerous as 

 those of the ichneumonidae, nor are they so large, but they include many inter- 

 esting forms, and many of great use in keeping down noxious insects. The 

 braconids are distinguished from the ichneumonids by the venation of the 

 anterior wings, which laclv the cross-vein known as the second recurrent nervure. 

 On examining the wing of Cryptus, for instance, (see Fig. 29) there is seen just 

 below the areolet (or little pentagonal cell) a cross-vein, but if the wing of a 

 Bracon (see Fig. 35) is examined it will readily be seen that there is no trace of 

 a corresponding cross- vein. In the braconids also (except in one small section) 

 the second and third segments of the abdomen are rigidly connected, instead of 

 being flexibly jointed. They are separated into five divisions, which are further 

 divided into sub-families. 



Cyclostomi. — In this division the clypeus (or portion of face ju^t above the 

 mouth) is emarginate, thus forming a semi-circular opening above the mandibles 

 or jaws. There are nine sub-families, but the majority of the species are con- 

 tained in the genera Bracon and Rhogas. 



