Thonghts on the Hymenoptera Trichogrammatidae etc. 



73 



only the type species are known. In the numerous species of Oligosita 

 (there are eleven species occurring in Australia), it occurs only in the 

 unique species noted. Thus, it is not constant for a large mimber of 

 species and in this case we should hesitate to call it of generic value, 

 even though in the Oligosita it is correlated with the absence of the 

 prominent spinelike seta from the apex of the antenna and also with 

 ininnteness. But the species is obviously an Oligosita, agreeing in an 

 aggregate of characters with the other species of the genus. 



Returning to the genus Brachistella. Any one making a study 

 of the Trichogrammatidae will soon learn through experience that the 

 greatest caution is necessary in deciding upon antennal segmentation, 

 more especially in regard to the minute ring-joints. One will often 

 be misled and great difficulty will be experienced when only one or 

 two specimens are available. It would be too absurd then not to expect 

 errors, not to be constantly revising and not to be always self-distrustful. 

 For these reasons and also because I am completing a study of the 

 family, a number of the genera are reexamined and some errors de- 

 tected. Long practice has now made me less liable to error in describing 

 these minute insects and more unerring in the detection of minut 

 parts of struction than heretofere. Brachistella was originaJly de« 

 scribed as bearing but one ringjoint; careful and prolonged examination 

 of it will show, however, that there are two, the second appearing 

 somewhat smaller than the first and united somewhat with the first 

 funicle joint. The tibial spurs of the cephalic tibiae are absent. 



2. A Keexamination of Ittys Girault. 



Also this genus was originally described as bearing but one ring- 

 joint in the antennae, qualified, however, by the statement „sometimes 

 appearing as two (2) distinct joints." There are two ring-joints, the 

 second somewhat closely attached to the funicle and formerly thought 

 to be a rimmed portion of the base of the first funicle joint. There is 

 also a median sulcus running the whole length of the thorax. 



3. A Eeexamination of Abbella Girault. 



Likewise with Abbella; it was erroneously described in respect 

 to the same parts. There are two ring-joints. This genus may have 

 to be combined with Brachistella, its name taking precedence; its 

 discal ciliation is the only character differing and I have reason to 

 think that there will be found species that are intergrades. More has 

 been stated in the first section. I have recently found a specimen of 

 subflava Girault, the type of this genus, which partly inspired the 

 preceding remarks, since the ciliation of this specimen was nearly an 

 intergrade and puzzled me for quite awhile. It was a female, captured 

 in a greenhouse at Urbana, Illinois, August 14, 1911. 



4. The Resemblance of Pterygogramma Perkins 

 with Uscana Girault. 



These two genera are alike but the marginal vein in Pterygogramma 



1. Heft 



