172 
HYMENOPTERA. 
Chalcim. 
Small insects , the antennce elbowed , the wings with one vein, the 
protonum not reaching the tegulce. 
This very large family is most readily distinguished by the elbowed 
antennae and single-veined wings. Many are of characteristic form and 
are readily recognisable as Chalcids in the field. The colours are sombre, 
though black and yellow is a frequent combination. They are nearly 
all small; though Leucospis measures nearly half an inch in length, less 
than a quarter of an inch is a more usual size and some are so small as 
to be microscopic and not really visible to the unaided eye. The head is 
well developed, with elbowed antennae, large eyes and the usual mouth- 
parts. The thorax is compact giving great powers of flight to the tiny 
insect. The wings are hyaline with a single vein in the forewing. The 
abdomen is hard and in the female bears an ovipositor. Legs are well 
developed and the little insect walks and flies actively. The hind 
femur is frequently very much swollen, the narrow tibia fitting 
closely to it. 
Fig. 88--CHALC1S ClilCUL/E, much magnified. 
