178 
HYMENOPTERA. 
The family is divided into five sub-families ; of the Ichneumonince , 
up to 1904, 119 species had been described from India, largely from the 
Khasia hills by Cameron and others have been added since. In the 
Cryptince , 84 species are listed up to 1908 ( Schmiedeknecht , Genera In- 
sectorum), mainly Cameron’s Khasia hill species. The same author 
lists 59 species of Pimplince (1907), including the remarkable forest spe¬ 
cies Rhyssa and Ephialtes, allied to Thalessa. In the Tryphonince , Dalla 
Torre (1900) lists five Indian species, and in the Ophionince Szepligetti 
(1905) lists twenty-one. 
Nothing is on record as to the hosts of these species and the forms 
occurring in India generally are practically unknown. 
Braconid^;. 
The forewings with one recurrent nervure and three or four cubital 
cells as a rule. Antennae not elbowed , abdomen not 
inserted on apex of median segment. 
These are closely allied to the Ichneumonidce but in general distin¬ 
guished by the venation of the forewing. There is an extra cubital cell 
and but one recurrent nervure. The 
colours are bright, probably generally 
warning, and aided by the bright 
colour of the fore wings in some cases. 
In size they vary from small to 
moderate-sized insects with a wing 
span of over one inch. The head is 
large, distinct, with moderately long 
antennae, which are probably very 
delicate sense organs. The thorax is 
compact, bearing the moderately 
large wings ; the abdomen is long 
and slender. The general form varies 
very greatly, probably in relation to 
the stinging habits of the female, and 
some are greatly elongate or otherwise 
bizarre in appearance. The female 
has an ovipositor which may extend 
, • j 11 i . i *-« , Fiy. 93— Bracon nicevillei, 
to a considerable length; the males female, x 2. 
