HYMENOP TER A. 
025 
Family BraconiDjB (Bra-con'i-dae). 
The Braconids {Brac'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 Ichneumonidae. In the Braconids the 
Fig. 751.—Wings of Rhog-asparasiticus . 
wings have several closed cells, the fore wings are furnished 
with a stigma, and the vein between cells V, and 1st V, 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 bod)' 
of the Caterpillar, and just Fig. 752.— Caterpillar with cocoons of a 
before it perishes they leave Braconid. 
it, and spin their silken cocoons upon its back. When these 
cocoons are examined with a lens they are found to be beau- 
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