THE C HAL C ID I DEE. 
193 
The species of a most important family of the Hymenopiera 
have small palpi, the antennae consist of twelve or thirteen joints, 
and the nervure of the wing is simple and bifurcate ; they are 
numerous, and the members of them are very common. These 
Chalcididce are small creatures, and attack all sorts of insects, 
and do not even spare the other parasites. 
The species of the genus Chalcis are common, and the indivi- 
duals are larger than those of the other kinds. They may be 
known by the peculiar shape of the antennae, by the enlargement 
in the thighs of the hind legs, and by the prominent ovipositor. 
Chalcis minuta , which is very common in some localities, lays its 
eggs in the bodies of different kinds of caterpillars, and it is 
THE ADULT FEMALE OF 
THE ADULT FEMALE OF 
Diplolepis bedeguaris. 
Chalcis minuta. 
especially fond of the Pyralis, which is so troublesome to the 
vine growers. Nine other species attack this pest also. 
The Diplolepidce have the body magnificently coloured with 
golden green tints, and their ovipositor is very long. The females 
usually seek out the larvae of the species of Cynips which are en- 
closed in galls. The larvae of the rose fungus upon the sweet 
briar are frequently attacked by the insect represented above, and 
a genus of beetles ( Anobium ) has its members killed and preyed 
upon by a Perilampis. 
A small host of Pteromalidce may be seen to issue from the 
body of a chrysalis of a Vanessa; and the tiny Eulophce , which 
are perfect insect gems, glowing with golden green and bronze 
tints, attack caterpillars, maggots, and the eggs of butterflies and 
moths indiscriminately. 
N 
