ON THE GENERA OF THE EUCHARID^E. LXVT

235

although incapable of motion after being thus stung, the

Trogo- derma

larva could still void its excrement.

-

Mr. Ashmead

read thefollowing paper^:

ON THE GENERA OF THE EUCHARID^E.

By WILLIAM ^H. ASHMEAD.

In

my

paper ^entitled

"

_Notes

on

the Eucharids found in the United States," read October, 1892, ^Iwrote:

"

_Since

becoming

betteracquainted with ^thatgreat

complex

^{of the}

Hymenoptera

^at

present

known

to us under_{the family}

name

Chalcidida, ^I have gradually

come

^to the conclusion that instead of a single family to deal with

we

have several distinct families. Indeed, ⁱⁿ

many

cases, these families are even

more

distinct

and

_sharply defined than

many

others of theso-called families in thisorder,

and

until these are properly separated

and

defined, ^I believe but little real progress can be

made

ⁱⁿ our_systematic

knowledge

of the Chalci- doidea."

Since this

was

_written,I have_diligently

and

laboriouslyprose cuted

my

^{studies on these insects,}

^and

^have

^now

ⁱⁿ

MSS.

a

new

classification of them,

which

^I

hope

^to publish ^this winter, ⁱⁿ

which

I have recogni/ed ^{fourteen distinctfamilies.}

Inasmuch,

therefore, as ^I have entitled this paper

" On

the

Genera

of the Eucharidee," ^{I desire} briefly to put

on

_record the

names

of these familiesand the

new

arrangement proposed ^{in this}

work.

The

families recognized and their arrangementare asfollows:

SUPERFAMILY

VII. CllALCIDOIDEA.

Family Agaonida3.

Torymida3.

Subfamily ^I.

"II.

III.

IV.

V.

Chalcidida3.

Subfamily ^I.

II.

Eurytomidrc.

Perilam_{pi da3.}

Eucharidas.

LXV

^TI. Mischogasteridre.

Subfamily ^{I. Pireninas.}

II. Tridymina2.

III. Mischogasterina?.

IV. _Lelapina2.

LXII.

LXIII.

LXIV.

LXV.

Idarninae.

Toryminse.

Monodontomerinae.

Megastigminae.

Or my

^rina3.

LeucQspidinae.

Chalcidinae.

LXVII.

years ^later Francis

Walker,

^{in his "List}of the Chalcidise in the British

Museum,"

brings the genera together

and

_gives to the

group

^the family

name Eucharidce, wrongly

associating with

them

thegenera

Perilampus and Caratomus,

^{neither of}

which

belong here, although ^the former exhibits

some

affinities.

Subsequent ^{to this} publication

new

_species

and

_genera con tinued to be discovered.

Westwood, who had announced

his in tention of

monographing

^the group, ⁱⁿ 1835 ^{erected his} genus

Schizaspidia^

^{for a form discovered in India, while in 1868} he described his genus

Eucharissa^

^{from the}

Cape

^of

Good Hope.

In1856^Forsterrecognized ^the

group

as a distinct familymxler the

name

Eucharoidce.

Between

thistime

and

₁₈₈₄ there

was

a long period ofrest, so faras the establishment of genera, although

new

_species con tinued to be described, especially

by

^Francis

Walker.

In this year, however,

Mr.

Peter

Cameron,

^{3 in}

working up

^the

Mexican and

Central

American

Chalcidid&, found ^itnecessary^to charac terize four

new

_genera, viz.,

Orascma, Lophyrocera,

Lirata,

and Kapala. He

_gave a

good

^{table for} recognizing ^the

new

genera, and _they

were

incorporated by Dr.

Howard

in his table of the

Eucharincc,

_prepared ^{for Cresson's} _Synopsisof the

North American Hymenoptera.

Two

_years later, however, ^{or in} 1886, the

group

^{received an} excellent generic revision ^at the handsof

Mr. W.

_{F. Kirby,}⁴

As

sistantin the Zoological

Department

ⁱⁿ the British

Museum.

This revision

was

based

upon

types

and

the extensive material inthe British

Museum, ^and

^isentitled

"A

_Synopsisof the

Genera

of the Chalcididae, Subfamily

Eucharincc,

with Descriptions^of Several

New Genera

and Species."

Brief but _fairly

good

diagnoses ^{of all the}

known

_genera are given,

and

ineverycase the type of thegenus^ismentioned.

The

following

new

_genera

were

characterized: Tricoryna,

Metagea,

Chalcura, Rhipipallus, Tetramelia^ Uromelia,

and Saccha-

rissa.

Mr. Kirby

^{terminates his} paper with ^{a table} of the genera, ⁱⁿ

which

12 genera are tabulated.

He

has, however, not included

Eucharissa and

Saccharissa',theseheconsiders represent a

new

subfamily,

which

he callsEucharissince, but does^{notdefine. In} this separation ^I cannotfollow him.

Mr. Kirby

settled definitelythe types of the various genera,

and

since the publication of his S3'iiopsis ^it hasbeen _possible for the student to pursue intelligentlyfurther studies inthe group.

His

JWesLwood, ^{Proc. Zool. Soc.}Lond., 1835, p.69.

2

Id.,Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1868, p.36.

3Cameron, ^{Biol.Centr.-Am.} Hym., ^i,p. 101 _{cl scq.}

4

Kirby, Journ. Linn. Soc. Zool., xx, pp. 28 37.

table, slightly altered,

was

_reproduced

_by me

ⁱⁿ

Entomologica Americana,

vol. iii, 1887, p. 186.

In 1894,

Mr. John W.

Shipp,* gave ^{a short revision of the}

genus

^'1

horacantha

Latreille, based

upon

^{material in the}

Hope Museum,

Oxford, ⁱⁿ

which

five supposed

new

_genera are char acterized, viz.^: Lasionychus, Dilocantha, Lcetotantha, Acros- tela,

and

Isomeralia.

Lasionycha Shipp

equals

Uromelia

Kirby, while Acrostola

Shipp

^isapparently based

upon

^the

male

of

Thoracantha

Latr.

At

least, thatis

my

opinion, since ^all the AcrostolceI possess are males, and I

had them

_placed asthe opposite sex of T. latreillei before

Mr.

_Shipp's paper appeared,

and

I see no reason for be lieving

them

other thanthe opposite sex of ^this

common

Brazil ian species.

Of

the habits of this group, comparatively ^{little is}

known.

Mons.

_{L. Bedel,} Bull. Soc. Ent. de France, 1895, p. xxxv, ^re cords the rearing of

Chalcura

bedeli

Cameron

from thecocoons of

Formica _rufa

Linn. ; while

Mr. Cameron,

ⁱⁿ

Mem. and

Proc.

Manchester

Lit.

and

Phil. Soc., 1891, p. 5, records the interest ing ^{fact that} Prof. Forel, of Zurich, ^obtained

two

_specimens of

Eucharis _myrmicice Cam.

from the cocoons of the Bull-dog Ant,

Myrmicia

forficata ^{Fabr., sent}

him

from South Australia.

Before giving^{a table of the} genera

now

recognized, ^it

may

^be

welltogive

some

of thestructural peculiaritiesof the

group which

I believe entitleit to family rank.

The

head is comparatively ^smaller than other Chalcidids, ^tri angular,

and much

thinner antero-posteriorly^; the mandibles are rather long, ^falcate, without or with one or

two

teeth within in one or the other mandible, both mandibles _rarely being exactly alike.

The

_{shape and} characteristics of the mandibles alone will en able the careful student to separate ^at once a

Eucharid

from all others in the Chalcidoidea.

But

there are several other dis tinguishing characters^:

The

thorax is

most

_{frequentlyverygib} bous, the scutellum verylarge, abnormally developed, elevated,

and

_usually

produced

posteriorly, the axillae being connate, not distinctly separated from the surrounding surface,

and

_broadly united along ^theirinner margin, ^{so as to} separate widely^thescu tellum proper (middle lobe) from the base of the

mesonotum.

The

_{legs also}are quite characteristic of the group, being

un

usually slender, with all the coxae ofvery nearlyan _equal size.

The

_wings, too, offer

some

_slight differences from other Chal cidids; they are almost_entirelybare or devoidofpubescence,^the frontpair being

somewhat

broadly rounded ^atapex, with ^a

mod

erately long marginal ^vein

and

a very ^{short sessile or at}

most

subsessile stigmal vein, the postmarginal^vein being^absent, very

*The

Entomologist, 1894,JuneNo., p..184.

short or only slightly developed.

The

hind

wings

^are propor tionatelylarger and widerat base than in the generality of the other_families, the costal cell being^distinct.

The abdomen

is always distinctly petiolated, the second _seg

ment

abnormally enlarged

and

usually enclosing the following segments, or the greater part ofthem, while^thefemale_possesses avery broad saw-like ovipositor, the bladeof

which

isvery ^simi

lar to thatof a small saw-fly.

TABLE

OF GENERA.

Females.

Antennae _i3-jointedor less 2

Antennae _14-jointed ormore.

Scutellum simple; antennas i6-i8-jointed.

i. Eucharissa Westwood.

Scutellum produced ^intoasinglelongprocess^atapex,and _longi tudinally^striated; antennas14-jointed....^2. Saccharissa Kirby.

2. Scutellumbidentate, or greatly produced^into long processes over the

abdomen 4

Scutellumsimple, neither bidentate nor produced ^into long processes.

Antennae not moniliform ₃

Antennaemoniliform.

Abdomen

compressed,ascending....3. Eucharis Latreille.

Abdomen

neithercompressed norascending.

P^irst jointof hind tarsi

much

thickened; antennae

n-jointed ^4. Tricoryna Kirby.

Firstjoint of hind tarsi very long, but not thicker than the others 5. MetageaKirby.

3. Joints of antennae long; antennae n-jointed.

Thorax_{smooth,polished; petiole}ofabdomenabruptly enlarged

at apex ^6. PseudometageaAshmead.

Thorax_rugose;petiole ofabdomen _normal,long,cylindrical.

7. Psilogaster Blanchard.

Joints of antennae short; antennae i3-jointed.

Thorax not greatlyelevated, punctate,with completeparapsidal furrows; mandibleslong, acute^attip, the_rightwithtwoteeth within, the^leftwithonetoothwithin....8. Orasema Cameron.

Joints of antennae ^serrate.

Antennae_{13-jointed 9.} Rhipipallus Kirby.

Antennae _u-jointed 10. Chalcura_Kirby.

4. Scutellum with the processes usually ^as long ^{as the} abdomen and sometimes_verybroad andcovering theabdomen ₅ Scutellumbidentate,the processes never very long.

Metathorax unarmed.

Metanotumwith hump-like^elevations abovethe_pleura.

ii. Stilbula Spinola.

Metanotum_simple,without suchelevations.

12. SchizaspidiaWestwood.

Metathoraxarmed with strong^lateralprojections or ^teeth.

Metathoracic processescurving downwards.

13. Lophyrocera Cameron.

Metathoracic processes consisting of ^t\vo diverging hori

zontal teeth _14. Tetramelia_Kirby.

5. Scutellar processes long and slender, generallycurving inwards ^to.

ward _{tips 6}

Scutellar processes broad and _coveringthe entireabdomen.

Thoraxnot pubescent, theapex^{of the scutellar}projectionssim ple, cleft,or notched.

Scutellar processes very broad, triangular.

15. ThoracanthaLatreille.

Scutellar processes long, contiguous, and acutely pointed

at extremity ^..16. Uromelia _Kirby.

(=

Lasionychus Shipp.) Scutellar processes long, contiguous, but veryflat,theex

tremities rounded or subtruncate; mesonotumand scu- tellum mediallyimpressed; head almost aswideas the thorax;,antennae m-jointed, the third joint as long ^as the_scape, the following

much

wider_{than long.}

17. DicoelothoraxAshmead,^n. g.

Thorax_{pubescent; apex}of the scutellar processes roundedand not sharply ^cleft,the notchextendingtwo-thirds of theentire

length ^18. Dilocantha _Shipp.

Scutellarprojectionswiththe basal portion^as wideas thorax, shortly compressed in centre, then_dilated, and at the apex furnished with two rounded short spines 19. Ljetocantha Shipp.

Scutellar projections with the basal portion ^as wide as thorax, pro duced and with the sides parallel, the apex ^{furnished witha} small semi-circular excavation, the apices of the spines beingvery sharp.

15. Acrostela Shipp.

(?

=

_tfThoracantha_Latr.)

6. Headandeyes tuberculate; antennae i2-jointed.,.2o. Isomeralia Shipp.

(Type Thoracantha^coronataWest_wood.) Headandeyes normal.

Antennae lo-jointed,thethird joint aslong^{asalltherestunited.}

21. LirataCameron.

Antennae n-jointed, the ^third joint not

much

longer than^the fourth.

Thoraxnot pubescent, the scutellumalwayslongitudinally

striated 22. Kapala Cameron.

(Type Thoracantha^fuscataFabr.) Thorax clothed with a fine pubescence, the scutellum smooth, not longitudinally striated, the processes smooth to apices, wherethey are transversely^serrated.

23. LasiokapalaAshmead,^n. g.

Males.

Scutellumbidentate, orproduced ^intolong processes over the abdo

men. ₄

Scutellum normal_{or simple} , 2

Scutellum produced ^{into a} simplelong process.

Antennae_i8-jointed i. Saccharissa Kirby.

2. Antennas_22-jointed 2. Eucharissa Westwood.

Antennae 10 to i3-jointed.

Antennas ramose ^... ₃

Antennae_simple.

Flagellarjointsmonilifortn.

Abdomen

compressed,ascending.

3. EucharisLatreille.

Abdomen

neithercompressed norascending.

Firstjoint of^tarsi

much

thickened.

4. TricorynaKirbj.

Firstjoint^{of tarsi}very long, but not thicker than the others.. _5. Metagea Kirby.

Flagellarjoints cylindrical, notmoniliform.

Joints of antennae long; antennae lo-n-jointed.

Petioleofabdomen abnormally andabruptly enlarged^atapex; thoraxsmooth.

6. Pseudometagea Ashmead, n. g.

Petiole ofabdomen_normal, long, cylindrical;

thorax rugose 7. Psilogaster Blanchard.

Joints of antennae rather short; antennae 13-jointed.

Thorax_{closelypunctate}; rightmandiblewith two teeth within, the left with one tooth

within 8. Orasema Cameron.

3. Antennae_n-jointed, biramose _9. Rhipipallus Kirby.

Antennae _n-jointed, ramose.

Thoraxcoarsely rugose; face longitudinally^striated.

10. Chalcura_Kirby.

4. Scutellumwith the processes very long, usually ^as long ^{as the}abdo

men, and often very broad. ₅

Scutellumbidentate, theteethnever very long.

Antennae_simple.

Metanotum with hump-like^elevations abovethe _pleura.

ii. StilbulaSpinola.

Antennae ramose.

Metathoraxunarmed 12. SchizaspidiaWestwood.

Metathorax with_stronglateral projections or^teeth.

Metathoracic_processes curving downwards.

13. Lophyrocera Cameron.

Metathoracicprocesses consisting oftwo _diverging horizontalteeth _14. Tetramelia_'Kirby.

5. Scutellar processes long and slender, generallycurving inwards ^to

wardsthe _tips 6

Scutellar processes very broad, deeply, broadly, semicircularly emar-

ginated^atapex 15. Thoracantha Latreille.

(=

^?Acrostela Shipp.) Scutellar processes long continuous and acuminate^atapex; antennae

with8 long branches ^16. Uromelia_Kirby.

(=

LasionychaShipp.) Scutellar processes long continuous but rounded not acuminate at

apex; ^antennaewith no longbranches, serrated.

17. DicoelothoraxAshmead, n. g.

6. Eyestuberculate 20. Isomeralia Shipp.

Eyes normal.

Mesonotum, scutellum andthescutellarprocesses longitudinally furrowedorstriated.

Thirdjoint of antennseverylong; funiclewith ₇branches whicharescarcely longerthan thethird antennal_joint.

21. LirataCameron.

Third _joint of antennae very short; ^funicle with 9 long

branches.4 22. Kapala Cameron.

Mesonotum with themiddle lobe coarsely transversely furrowed, thelateral lobeswith the scutellum and scutellar processes smooth, notstriated _23. LasiokapalaAshmead.

This paper

was

followed bya brief discussion of the probable habits of the insects of this group, participated ⁱⁿ by Messrs.

Ashmead, Howard, and Schwarz. Nothing

^is

known

of their host _relations, except

two

records ofAustralian species having been reared

from

the

pupa

^ofants.

Mr. Howard

stated that he

had

seen a

specimen

^of

Kapala furcata

ⁱⁿ

Mr. H. H.

Smith's collection

from

St.Vincent,

which

carriedanant inits jaws.

He

thought ^this

might

possibly be significant, although, of course, the

Eucharid might

^have clasped the ant ^{in its} death struggles ⁱⁿ the cyanide ^bottle.

Mr. Ashmead and Mr. Schwarz

stated that Florida species occur

commonly

^inlocalities

^where

^{ants are}

^abun

dant.

Mr. Ashmead

submittedforpublication the following paper^:

CLASSIFICATION OF THE OLD FAMILY CHALCIDID^E.

By WILLIAM ^H. ASHMEAD.

At

the meeting ^{of the} Entomological Society of

Washington

held

December

_{2, 1897,} I suggested ^the segregation of the old family Chalcididae ^into 14 ^distinct families, and gave ^{a tentative}