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PART  7 


TRANSACTIONS 


OF  THE 

SOCI  ETY  FOR  BRITISH 
ENTOMOLOGY 

World  List  abbreviation :  Trans.  Soc.  Brit.  Ent. 

CONTENTS. 

Claridge,  M.  F. 

An  Advance  Towards  a  Natural  Classification  of  Eurytomid 
Genera  (Hym.,  Chalcidoidea),  with  Particular  Reference  to 

British  Forms. 

Date  of  Publication,  29th  April  1961. 

Copies  may  be  purchased  from  the  Publications  Secretary,  l; 

Department  of  Entomology,  The  Museum,  Manchester  13 

Price  10s.  post  free 

Published  for  the  Society 
by  the  British  Trust  for  Entomology  Ltd. 

. . . . iMMilM 

JUIp  US. 

s.s*  shl* 


BRITISH  TRUST  FOR  ENTOMOLOGY  LTD., 

41  QUEEN’S  GATE,  LONDON,  S.W.7. 


LIST  OF  PUBLICATIONS  FOR  SALE  (ALL  PRICES  ARE  POST  FREE) 

TRANSACTIONS  OF  THE  SOCIETY  FOR  BRITISH  ENTOMOLOGY 


GENERAL 

A  New  Chapter  in  Zoological 
Nomenclature  :  The  Reforms 

INSTITUTED  BY  THE  THIRTEENTH 

International  Congress  of  Zoo¬ 
logy,  ParIs,  July,  1948.  By  F. 
Hemming,  1950.  8  pp.,  Is.  6d. 

The  Problem  of  stability  in 
Specific  Nomenclature,  with 
special  reference  to  cases  where 

TYPE  MATERIAL  IS  NO  LONGER  IN 

existence.  By  F.  Hemming, 
1951.  16  pp.,  2s.  Od. 

Some  adaptations  of  insects  to 

ENVIRONMENTS  THAT  ARE  ALTERN¬ 
ATELY  DRY  AND  FLOODED,  WITH 
SOME  NOTES  ON  THE  HABITS  OF  THE 

Stratiomyidae.  By  H.  E.  Hinton, 
1953.  20  pp.,  3  figs.,  5s.  Od. 

The  terms  “Larva”  and  “Nymph” 
in  Entomology.  A  summary  of 
the  views  of  W.  E.  China,  H. 
Henson,  B.  M.  Hobby,  H.  E. 
Hinton,  T.  T.  Macan,  O.  W. 
Richards,  T.  Southwood,  and 
V.  B.  Wiggles  worth,  followed  by 
a  review  of  The  Terminology  of 
Juvenile  Phases  of  Insects  by 
R.  G.  Davies,  1958.  10s.  Od. 


ENTOMOLOGICAL  FAUNA  OF 
THE  NEW  FOREST  SERIES 

Introduction  by  J.  Cowley,  and 
Part  1,  Odonata,  by  Lt.-Col.  F. 
C.  Fraser,  1950.  12  pp.,  Is.  6d. 

Part  2,  Neuroptera,  by  Lt.-Col. 
F.  C.  Fraser,  1951.  12  pp., 

Is.  6d. 


EPHEMEROPTERA 

Descriptions  of  some  Nymphs  of 
the  British  Species  of  the 
Genus  Ba'etis.  By  T.  T.  Macan, 
1950.  24  pp.,  6  figs.,  2  tables, 

3s.  Od. 

A  Description  of  the  Nymph  of 
Ba'etis  buceratus  with  notes  and 
a  key  to  other  species  in  the 
genus.  By  T.  T.  Macan,  1957. 
8  pp.,  3s.  6d. 


The  Life  Histories  and  Migra¬ 
tions  OF  THE  EPHEMEROPTERA  IN 
a  stony  stream.  By  T.  T.  Macan, 
1957.  28  pp.,  12s.  6d. 


ORTHOPTERA,  Etc. 

A  Summary  of  the  Recorded  Dis¬ 
tribution  of  British  Orthop- 
teroids.  By  D.  K.  McE.  Kevan, 
1952.  16  pp.,  5s.  Od. 


HEMIPTERA-HETEROPTERA 

Contributions  towards  an  Ecolo¬ 
gical  Survey  of  the  Aquatic 
and  Semi-Aquatic  Hemiptera- 

HETEROPTERA  OF  THE  BRITISH 

Isles. 

Scottish  Highlands  and  East 
and  South  England.  By  E.  S. 
Brown,  1948.  45  pp.,  7s.  6d. 

The  Ribble  Valley  (Lanca¬ 
shire  South  and  Mid).  By  E.  J. 
Popham,  1949.  44  pp.,  1  map, 

8s.  Od. 

North-East  Wales  (Denbigh¬ 
shire  and  Merionethshire).  By 
E.  J.  Popham,  1951.  12  pp., 

2s.  6d. 

The  Hemiptera-Heteroptera  of 
Kent.  By  A.  M.  Massee,  1954. 
36  pp.,  7s.  6d. 

The  Bionomics  and  Immature 
Stages  of  the  Thistle  Lace 
Bugs  ( Tingis  ampliata  H.S.  and 
T.  cardui  L. ;  Hem.,  Tingidae). 
By  T.  R.  E.  Southwood  and 
G.  G.  E.  Scudder.  8s.  Od. 


COLEOPTERA 

The  Aquatic  Coleoptera  of  North 
Wales.  By  E.  S.  Brown,  1948. 
15  pp.,  1  fig.,  Is.  Od. 

The  Aquatic  Coleoptera  of  Wood 
Walton  Fen,  with  some  com¬ 
parisons  with  Wicken  Fen  and 

SOME  OTHER  EAST  ANGLIAN  FeNS. 

By  F.  Balfour-Browne,  1951. 
36  pp.,  4s.  6d. 


TRANSACTIONS  OF  THE  SOCIETY 
FOR  BRITISH  ENTOMOLOGY 


VOL.  14 


APRIL  1961 


PART  VII 


An  Advance  Towards  a  Natural  Classification  of 
Eurytomid  Genera  (Hym.,  Chalcidoidea),  with 
Particular  Reference  to  British  Forms 

By  M.  F.  Claridge,  M.A.,  D.Phil. 

(Department  of  Zoology,  University  College,  Cardiff) 


Contents 

Principles  of  Natural  Classification  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  167 

Consideration  of  Eurytomid  Genera  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  169 

Terminology  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  170 

Key  to  Genera  of  Northern  Palaearctic  Eurytomidae  ...  ...  170 

Classification  .  171 

Rileyinae  ...  . .  17*2 

Eurytominae  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ....  172 

Harmolitinae  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  179 

Eudecatominae  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  181 

Phylogenetic  Speculation  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  182 

Acknowledgments  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  183 

References  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  183 


Principles  of  Natural  Classification 

The  most  useful  form  of  biological  classification  is  generally 
agreed  to  be  that  based  on  the  so-called  natural*  system.  How- 

*Since  preparing  the  manuscript  for  this  paper  Cain  and  Harrison 
(1960,  Proc.  zool.  Soc.  Lond.,  135:  1-31)  have  suggested  that  the  term 
natural,  as  applied  to  biological  classifications,  should  be  rejected  com¬ 
pletely  since  it  has  been  misinterpreted  and  confused  by  so  many 
authors.  They  propose  the  new  term  phenetic  for  natural  classifications 
as  defined  here,  i.e.  those  based  on  overall  similarity.  However,  since 
it  is  unlikely  that  taxonomists  will  cease  using  such  well  entrenched 
terminology,  I  incline  to  the  view  that  it  is  better  to  attempt  to 
clarify  and  stabilize  existing  terms  rather  than  promote  new  ones. 

t  5 


168 


[April 

ever,  there  is  probably  no  term  used  in  taxonomy,  the  meaning 
of  which  has  been  so  badly  confused.  An  admirable  and  full 
historical  discussion  has  been  given  recently  in  a  series  of  papers 
by  Cain  (1958,  1959a,  b,  c),  but  it  is  not  out  of  place  to  discuss  the 
matter  briefly  here,  since  it  is  of  great  importance  in  entomological 
taxonomy. 

A  natural  classification  is  one  which  is  based  on  overall 
resemblance  (affinity) ;  that  is,  on  as  many  characters  of  all  kinds 
as  possible.  It  cannot  be  achieved  by  single-character,  or 
virtually  single-character,  methods,  unless  the  character  can  be 
shown  to  be  correlated  with  the  natural  grouping.  The  taxonomic 
importance  of  any  single  character  can  only  be  judged  by  its 
co- variation  with  other  characters  of  the  group.  A  necessary 
consequence  of  the  natural  system  is  the  possibility  that  any 
character  confined  to  members  of  a  particular  natural  group  may 
be  absent  in  one  or  more  of  its  members  and  thus  could  not  be 
used  as  diagnostic  of  it  ( vide  Cain,  1954).  The  obvious  corollary 
is  that  if  classificatory  groups,  particularly  genera,  are  to  be 
natural,  it  may  not  be  possible,  in  many  cases,  to  give  exclusive 
definitions  of  them  on  the  basis  of  a  particular  character  or 
character  complex:  a  procedure  which  is  generally  considered 
essential.  I  have  briefly  mentioned  this  problem  before  in  con¬ 
nection  with  the  Eurytomidae  (Claridge,  1958a). 

Most  of  the  misunderstandings  concerning  the  natural  system 
in  recent  literature  have  been  concerned  with  the  equation  of 
natural  classifications  with  phylogeny,  in  the  total  absence  of 
adequate  fossil  records.  In  order  to  produce  a  phylogenetic 
classification,  detailed  phylogenetic  data  are  required.  Such 
data  can  only  be  obtained  from  fairly  complete  fossil  records, 
which  are  very  rare  and  almost  unknown  in  insects.  The  natural 
system,  based  on  comparative  data  of  living  forms  only,  may 
take  no  account  of  parallel  and  detailed  convergent  evolution  and 
may  even  tend  to  obscure  such  phenomena.  Undoubtedly  it  is 
probable  that  in  many  cases,  those  species  which  in  a  natural 
classification  are  said  to  be  closely  allied,  are  truly  phylogenetically 
close.  However,  we  can  never  be  sure,  and  as  more  and  more 
groups  are  hypothetically  related  the  probability  of  the  system 
representing  phylogeny  becomes  increasingly  less.  As  Cain 
(1959c),  in  discussing  avian  taxonomy,  has  said  “  .  .  .  .  ;  the 
theory  [of  evolution]  is  now  so  strong  that  it  will  not  matter 
if  we  have  to  say  we  just  don’t  know  the  phylogeny  of  80%  of 
passerine  birds”.  This  applies  perhaps  with  even  greater  force  to 
almost  all  insect  groups. 

An  important  consequence  of  the  application  of  a  natural 
generic  system  in  practice  will  usually  be  a  reduction  in  the 
number  of  genera  in  a  group,  since  often  they  have  been  erected 
only  for  couplets  of  an  artificial  key.  There  are  many  cases  of 
such  single  character  genera  in  the  Chalcidoidea.  A  good  example 
is  A  chrysopophagus  Girault  (Encyrtidae)  distinguished  from 


169 


1961] 

Cheiloneurus  Westwood  only  by  its  extruded  ovipositor  ( vide 
Claridge,  1958b).  Many  species  with  exserted  ovipositors  show 
greater  affinity  with  some  species  of  Cheiloneurus  than  with 
others  with  extruded  ovipositors.  The  value  of  such  completely 
artificial  genera  is  very  slight.  However,  since  unfortunately  it 
is  necessary  to  place  a  species  generically  before  it  can  be 
described,  a  taxonomist  without  the  time  and  material  available 
to  revise  the  group  completely  may  have  to  erect  more  such 
genera. 

The  great  advantage  of  a  natural  classification  is  that  it  is  a 
reservoir  of  the  maximum  amount  of  information  about  a  group, 
and  thus  it  allows  at  least  limited  generalizations  to  be  made 
about  its  components.  Also  it  provides  a  background  against 
which  phylogenetic  speculation  can  be  made,  but  such  speculation 
should  not  be  allowed  to  affect  the  system. 


Consideration  of  Eurytomid  Genera 

In  the  Eurytomidae,  probably  since  morphological  diversity 
is  relatively  slight,  there  have  not  been  so  many  genera  described 
as  in  some  other  Chalcidoid  families  such  as  the  Encyrtidae. 
Of  workers  on  Palaearctic  forms,  Walker  (1832,  1846,  etc.) 
recognized  only  four  major  genera,  though  several  others  were 
also  erected,  mostly  for  tropical  and  oriental  species.  Thomson 
(1875)  recognized  only  the  four  of  Walker  and  more  recently 
Ferriere  (1950)  has  included  eight  in  four  subfamilies  from  a 
rather  wider  geographic  area  within  the  Palaearctic.  Many  more 
genera  were  included  by  Ashmead  (1904)  in  his  classification  of 
world  Chalcid  genera.  Of  those  of  Ashmead  described  for 
Nearctic  species,  some  have  been  synonymized  by  Peck  (1951), 
who  recognized  only  fourteen  genera  from  America  north  of 
Mexico.  Burks  (1958)  recognizes  a  further  four  from  the  same 
area.  I  have  not  been  able  to  study  sufficient  Nearctic  material 
to  produce  any  reliable  correlation  with  Palaearctic  forms,  but 
it  seems  probable  that  the  genera  as  recognized  here  include  a 
greater  diversity  of  form.  My  system  is  based  mainly  on  European 
species. 

With  the  key  given  below  it  should  be  possible  to  identify  any 
known  European  species  to  a  genus,  though  it  is  hoped  that  it  may 
also  serve  as  a  basis  for  eastern  Palaearctic  and  Nearctic  forms. 
The  characters  of  the  occiput  have  not  been  used  extensively 
before.  Though  not  completely  diagnostic  for  the  genera  as 
recognized  here,  they  make  possible  the  construction  of  such  a  key 
and  fail  only  for  odd  species  groups,  particularly  of  Eurytoma. 
The  arrangement  of  the  key  is  entirely  artificial  and  intended  as 
an  aid  to  identification  only. 

The  figures  of  antennae  were  prepared  from  slide-mounts  in 
Canada  balsam.  However,  such  mounts  should  not  be  necessary 
for  generic  identification. 


170 


[April 


Terminology 

Richards  (1956)  has  been  followed  for  the  terminology  of  most 
morphological  features,  but  unless  otherwise  stated  the  term 
thorax  is  taken  to  include  the  propodeum. 

The  terminology  of  the  antennal  segments  poses  a  number  of 
problems  which  have  been  discussed  elsewhere  (Claridge,  1959b). 
The  term  flagellum  is  here  used  for  that  part  of  the  antenna  distal 
to  the  anellus:  that  is  it  does  not  include  the  latter.  Though 
contrary  to  most  general  entomological  usage,  such  a  terminology 
is  very  valuable  for  those  groups  of  Chalcidoidea  in  which  there 
is  no  clear  distinction  between  a  funicle  and  club. 

In  discussing  characters  of  the  occiput  I  have  previously 
(1958a)  used  the  terms  hypostomal  carina  and  hypostomal 
lamella  for  the  distinctive  structures  of  some  Eurytoma  species 
(figs.  1  and  2).  Prof.  O.  W.  Richards  has  pointed  out  to  me 
(personal  communication)  that  the  carina  is  unlikely  to  represent 
the  boundary  of  the  true  hypostoma  and  that  the  terms  post 
genal  carina  and  lamella  would  probably  be  preferable.  These 
terms  seem  to  represent  a  better  interpretation  of  the  structures 
and  will  be  used  here. 


Key  to  genera  of  Northern  Palaearctic  Eurytomidae 

1.  Antennae  (figs.  24  and  25)  with  anelli  indistinct  and  not 
clearly  differentiated  from  flagellar  segments  ..................... 

Archirileya  Silvestri. 
Antennae  (figs.  12-18,  26-28)  with  one  distinct  anellus,  clearly 
differentiated  from  flagellar  segments  . . . .  2. 

2.  Occipital  carina  strongly  developed  and  post  genal  lamella 
present  (figs.  1  and  2) ;  occiput  highly  polished,  unlike  rugose 

face  . . . .  Eurytoma  Illiger  (partim). 

Occipital  carina  variably  developed ;  post  genal  lamella  never 
present;  occiput  usually  sculptured  similarly  to  face,  but 
polished  in  Ahtola  and  some  Eudecatoma  . .  3. 

3.  Female  gaster  with  petiole  elongate,  at  least  one  and  a  half 

times  as  long  as  wide,  from  above;  remainder  of  gaster 
flattened  laterally  and  distinctly  globular  (figs.  9  and  10). 
Forewings  with  more  or  less  developed,  pigmented  sub¬ 
marginal  band  below  marginal  vein  (figs.  21-23).  Male 
antenna  (fig.  16)  little  specialised,  resembling  that  of  female, 
but  with  only  4  free  basal  flagellar  segments  ................. _ 

Eudecatoma  Ashmead 
Female  gaster  with  petiole  shorter,  rarely  longer  than  wide. 
Forewings  without  distinctly  pigmented  submarginal  band. 
Male  antenna  (figs.  13,  18,  26,  28)  with  flagellar  segments 
longer  and  bearing  variably  arranged  long  hairs  ... _ .....  4. 


171 


1961] 

4.  Occipital  carina  strongly  developed;  occiput  polished;  post 
genal  lamella  not  present  (fig.  4).  Post  marginal  vein  well 
developed,  almost  as  long  as  marginal;  longer  than  stigmal 

vein  (fig.  20)  . . . . .  Ahtola  gen.  nov. 

Occipital  carina  weakly  developed  or  absent  (figs.  3  and  5); 
occiput  not  clearly  differentiated  from  face  in  sculpture.  Post 
marginal  vein  less  well  developed  and  shorter  .  5. 

5.  5th  segment  of  female  gaster  longest,  about  twice  as  long  as 

4th  in  dorsal  view  (figs.  7  and  8)  ...  Eurytoma  Illiger  ( partim ). 
5th  segment  of  female  gaster  not  longest;  segments  either 
subequal  (fig.  11)  or  another  segment  longest  . . 6. 

6.  Marginal  vein  short,  about  as  long  as  or  slightly  longer  than 
stigmal  vein.  Small,  short  species  with  gaster  shorter  than 
head  and  thorax  together.  Male  antenna  with  only  four 

clearly  separate  basal  flagellar  segments  (fig.  18)  . .  7. 

Marginal  vein  longer;  usually  more  than  twice  as  long  as 
stigmal  vein.  Mostly  elongate  species.  Male  flagellum  of 
seven  distinctly  separate  segments  (figs.  26,  28) ;  terminating 
in  a  short  spine,  sometimes  very  short  ...  Tetramesa  Walker. 

7  .  Female  basal  flagellar  segments  clearly  narrower  than  suc¬ 
ceeding  segments  (fig.  14).  Sculpture  of  head  and  thorax 
regularly  alutaceous,  rarely  with  slight  traces  of  shallow 

umbilicate  punctures  . .  Systole  Walker. 

Female  basal  flagellar  segment  little  narrower  than  succeed¬ 
ing  segments  (fig.  17).  Sculpture  of  head  and  thorax 
irregularly  rugose,  with  scattered  shallow  umbilicate 
punctures  . . .  Bruchophagus  Ashmead. 


Classification 

The  suprageneric  classification  within  the  family  Eurytomidae 
has  received  little  attention,  probably  because  of  the  extreme 
morphological  homogeneity  of  the  group.  Ashmead  (1904),  in 
revising  the  world  genera,  recognised  five  tribes,  viz. — Aximini, 
Isosomini,  Eurytomini,  Riley  ini,  and  Decatomini.  These  tribes 
have  all  been  raised  to  subfamilies  by  various  more  recent 
authors.  Ferriere  (1950)  grouped  the  Palaearctic  genera  into  four 
subfamilies,  viz. — Rileyinae,  Harmolitinae  ( =  Isosomini  Ash¬ 
mead),  Decatominae,  and  Eurytominae.  The  only  one  of 
Ashmead’s  tribes  not  included  was  the  Aximini  which  includes 
aberrant  forms  mostly  confined  to  central  America. 

Though  I  only  recognize  eight  Palaearctic  genera  I  retain  the 
same  subfamily  grouping  as  that  of  Ferriere,  since  there  does 
seem  to  be  a  wider  gulf  between  the  genera  so  separated  than 
between  those  included  in  the  Eurytominae.  My  classification  is 
thus  as  follows :  — 


Archirileya  Silvestri 


Rileyinae 


172 


Eurytominae 


[April 


Eurytoma  Illiger 
Ahtola  gen.  nov. 

Systole  Walker 
Bruchophagus  Ashmead 

Harmolitinae 

Tetramesa  Walker 

Ailomorphus  Walker — probably  restricted  to  the  extreme  south¬ 
eastern  Palaearctic  and  the  Oriental  regions. 

Eudecatominae  ( =  Decatominae  Ferriere) 

Eudecatoma  Ashmead 


Rileyinae 

The  Rileyinae  seem  to  be  characterized  reliably  by  the  pre¬ 
sence  of  two  or  three  antennal  anelli,  which  are  not  clearly 
distinguishable  from  the  basal  flagellar  segments  (figs.  24  and  25), 
and  a  general  facies  quite  unlike  the  other  subfamilies,  lacking 
the  typical  umbilicate  punctation.  The  single  Palaearctic  genus 
Archirileya  Silv.  of  southern  and  central  Europe  is  represented  by 
two  described  species.  So  far  as  known  they  are  predators  of  the 
eggs  of  various  Orthoptera,  like  the  allied  Macrorileya  oecanthi 
(Ashm.)  of  North  America.  The  known  species  of  Rileya  Ashm. 
are  parasites  in  various  Cecidomyiid  galls. 

Archirileya  Silvestri 

1920,  Archirileya  Silvestri,  Boll.  Lah.  Zool.  Portici ,  14:  223-225. 
1951,  Anarchirileya  Boucek,  Acta  Mus.  nat.  Prag.,  27:  54-56. 
1957,  Sidonia  Erdos,  Ann,  hist.  nat.  Mus.  hung.,  8:  350-351. 

The  genus  is  characterized  by  its  elongate  body  form  in  which 
it  resembles  Macrorileya  Ashm.  Rileya  differs  in  its  shorter  body 
form  and  apparent  fusion  of  the  post  spiracular  sclerite  to  the 
mesepisternum . 

Boucek  (1958)  has  synonymized  Sidonia  podagrica  Erdos  with 
A.  inopinata  Silv.  and  has  included  his  own  genus  and  species 
Anarchirileya  femorata  in  the  genus  Archirileya. 

Neither  A.  inopinata  nor  A.  femorata  have  been  recorded  from 
northern  Europe  or  Britain. 

Eurytominae 

This  is  the  largest  and  most  difficult  to  define  of  the  sub¬ 
families  recognized  here.  There  is  an  extremely  wide  range  of 
habits,  from  endophagous  and  ectophagous  parasitism  (most 
Eurytoma  species)  to  complete  phytophagy  (Bruchophagus, 
Systole  and  some  Eurytoma  species). 


173 


1961] 


Figs.  1-6. — Female  occiput  in  posterior  view  of:  1,  Eurytoma  tibialis 
Boh.;  2,  E.  rufipes  Walk.;  3,  Bruchophagus  platypterus 
(Walk.);  4,  Ahtola  atra  (Wtalk.);  5,  Eurytoma  cynipsea 
Boh. ;  and  6,  Tetramesa  calamagrostidis  (v.  Schlecht.)  (to 
scale  a).  oc — occipital  carina;  pf — proboscidial  fossa; 

pg — post  gena;  pi — post  genal  lamella. 

Figs.  7-11. — Lateral  view  of  female  gaster  of:  7,  Eurytoma  salicvperdae 
Mayr;  8,  E.  cynipsea  Boh.;  9,  Eudecatoma  submutica 
(Thoms.);  10,  E.  mellea  (Curtis);  and  11,  Bruchophagus 
platypterus  (Walk.)  (to  scale  b). 


174 


[April 

The  status  of  Nikanoria  Nikol’skaya  (  =  Biro-Lajosia  Erdos, 
vide  Boucek,  1958)  is  uncertain.  I  have  not  been  able  to  examine 
either  of  the  included  species  from  central  Europe  and  the 
U.S.&R.,  but  it  is  probable  that  it  is  best  considered  as  a  part  of 
Eurytoma  Ill.,  as  suggested  by  Boucek  ( loc .  tit.). 


Eurytoma  Illiger 

1807,  Eurytoma  Illiger,  Mag.  Insektenk,  6:  192. 

1807,  Eurytoma  Illiger,  in  Rossi,  Fauna  Etrusca,  2nd  ed.,  2:  128. 
1811,  Decatoma  Spinola,  Ann.  Mus.  Hist.  Nat.,  17 :  138-152. 

Type  species — Chalcis  abrotani  Panzer — designated  by  West- 
wood  (1839). 

Eurytoma  is  the  oldest  described  genus  in  the  family  and  a 
large  number  of  species  have  been  described,  including  a  number 
from  all  the  major  geographic  regions.  The  generic  limits  are 
very  difficult  and  I  have  found  it  impossible  to  give  completely 
diagnostic  key  characters  without  recognizing  artificial  assem¬ 
blages  of  species.  In  most  of  the  species  groups  the  occiput  is 
strongly  margined  and  polished  with  the  post  genal  lamella  well 
developed  (figs.  1  and  2).  This  complex  of  characters  provides 
the  best  means  of  identifying  the  genus.  However,  it  is  not 
present  in  the  cynipsea  Boh.  group  (fig.  5),  saliciperdae  Mayr 
group,  and  a  few  odd  species  such  as  E.  setigera  Mayr.  The 
lengthened  fifth  tergite  of  the  gaster  distinguishes  these  groups 
from  species  of  Bruchophagus  and  Systole.  It  would  be  possible 
to  restrict  the  genus  to  those  species  with  the  occipital  characters, 
but  the  species  groups  so  included  have  no  more  relationship 
with  each  other  than  with  the  excluded  groups.  Thus  an 
extremely  artificial  system  would  result. 

I  have  not  examined  specimens  of  Ipideurytoma  Boucek  & 
Novitsky  (1954),  but  it  seems  probable  that  it  is  best  considered 
as  a  very  distinct  species  group  of  Eurytoma,  characterized  by 
the  very  curious  flattened  head.  The  single  European  species, 
I.  spessivtsevi  Bek.  &  Nov.,  has  not  been  recorded  from  Britain. 


Ahtola  gen.  nov. 

Type  species — Isosoma  atrum  Walker  (1832). 

The  species  of  Ahtola  may  be  separated  from  Eurytoma  by 
the  following  combination  of  characters :  — 

Occiput  (fig.  4)  strongly  margined;  polished;  sculptured 
differentially  to  face;  post  genal  carina  clearly  differentiated,  but 
not  formed  into  a  lamella.  Forewings  (fig.  20)  with  post  marginal 
vein  well  developed,  as  long  as  or  longer  than  marginal  vein; 


175 


1961] 

thickly  haired  with  small  submarginal  speculum.  Gaster  (fig.  19) 
clearly  petiolated;  tergites  subequal,  fifth  not  or  little  longer  than 
fourth. 

Ahtola  resembles  superficially  some  species  of  Tetramesa,  but 
is  separable  by  means  of  the  occipital  characters.  The  latter 
together  with  the  structure  of  the  male  antenna  (fig.  13)  place  the 
genus  in  the  Eurytominae. 

Isosoma  atrum  together  with  Eurytoma  globiceps  Boucek 
(1954)  and  E.  cylindrica  Thomson  (1875)  represents  a  distinct 
natural  group  which  I  believe  warrants  generic  status.  I  had 
supposed  that  Eurytomocharis  Ashmead  might  be  congeneric 
with  atrum.  However,  Dr.  B.  D.  Burks,  Washington,  informed  me 
(in  litt.)  that  in  his  opinion  it  was  not  congeneric  with  the  type 
species  of  Eurytomocharis,  E.  minuta  Ashm.,  and  that  it  probably 
represented  an  undescribed  genus.  Thus,  at  present  it  seems  best 
to  give  a  new  generic  name  even  though  it  may  have  to  be 
synonymized  later. 

Ahtola  atra  (Walker)  comb.  nov. 

1832,  Isosoma  atrum  Walker,  Ent.  Mag.,  1  :  14. 

The  following  is  a  redescription  based  on  modern  material :  — 

Female.  Predominantly  black  species.  Tarsi  and  extreme 
apex  of  femora  and  base  of  tibiae  rufo-fuscous ;  venation  fuscous ; 
disc  of  wing  variably  infumate,  particularly  in  large  specimens. 
Maximum  length  about  4-2  mm. 

Head,  in  frontal  view,  distinctly  transverse,  width  to  height 
as  about  11:  8  (cf.  fig.  4);  cheeks  evenly  narrowed  to  mouth; 
antennae  inserted  at  or  slightly  above  lower  level  of  eyes ; 
antennal  scrobes  strongly  margined;  surface  sculpture  consisting 
of  distinct  umbilicate  punctation,  with  short  white  hairs  arising 
from  each  puncture.  Head,  from  above,  distinctly  transverse, 
varying  from  about  twice  as  wide  as  long  to  distinctly  less; 
rather  gibbous  between  eyes;  POL:  OOL,  measured  from  edges 
of  ocelli,  as  slightly  more  than  4:3.  Malar  space  to  height  of 
eye  as  about  3 :  4.  Antennae  (fig.  12)  with  scape  simple,  reaching 
to  about  level  of  ocelli;  pedicel  short  globular;  anellus  distinctly 
transverse:  seven  clearly  distinct  flagellar  segments,  sixth  and 
seventh  closely  associated ;  proportions  of  flagellar  segments 
rather  variable;  rhinaria  well  developed,  tending  to  form  two 
rows  on  each  segment. 

Thorax  variable,  from  about  twice  as  long  as  wide  to 
distinctly  less — length  to  width  as  about  8:5;  pronotum  similarly 
variable,  from  about  twice  as  wide  as  long  to  distinctly  less — 
width  to  length  as  about  15:9;  surface  sculpture  heavily 
alutaceous  with  densely  distributed  umbilicate  punctures ; 
mesepisternum  sloping  evenly  to  mid  coxa.  Propodeum  heavily 
and  variably  rugulose,  usually  with  distinct  median  furrow ;  often 


176 


[April 

with  tendency  to  develop  a  dorsal  face;  angle  of  slope  shallower 
in  narrow  specimens.  Forewings  (fig.  20)  densely  clothed  with 
short  hairs;  stigmal  vein  slightly  shorter  than  marginal  vein  and 
making  an  angle  of  about  30°  with  post  marginal  vein;  post 
marginal  vein,  though  fading  apically,  about  as  long  as  or  slightly 
shorter  than  marginal  vein;  submarginal  vein  broken  into  a  long 
basal  and  a  short  apical  section. 

Gaster  varying  from  about  as  long  as  thorax,  in  large  specimens 
(fig.  19)  to  clearly  longer,  usually  in  smaller  narrower  specimens; 
petiole  variable,  at  least  half  as  long  as  wide  in  dorsal  view ;  basal 
segments,  after  petiole,  subequal;  tergites  highly  polished;  short 
hairs  and  faint  alutaceous  sculpture  developed  dorsally  on  5th 
to  8  th  tergites. 

Male.  Resembles  female  closely.  Antennae  (fig.  13)  longer; 
scape  distinctly  swollen  medially;  seven  clearly  separate  flagellar 
segments,  flattened  laterally  and  bearing  dense  long  hairs  with 
tendency  to  be  arranged  in  whorls.  Abdominal  petiole  elongate, 
about  one  and  a  half  times  as  long  as  wide. 

A.  atra  is  subject  to  variation  in  body  width  like  many  other 
species  whose  larvae  inhabit  stems.  It  is  a  distinct  species,  but 
may  really  consist  of  a  number  of  very  closely  allied  forms  which 
it  has  not  yet  been  possible  to  separate  on  adult  morphology. 
Detailed  breeding  experiments  are  required  to  elucidate  the 
problem.  The  generic  characters  given  in  the  key,  together  with 
its  size,  should  immediately  separate  the  morphospecies  from  all 
other  British  Eurytomids. 

In  the  British  Museum  (Nat.  Hist.)  type  collection  there  is  a 
single  Walker  specimen  (B.M.  Type  Hym.  5.569)  bearing  a  green 
type  label.  This  specimen,  a  female,  fits  well  the  original  descrip¬ 
tion  and  is  here  designated  as  lectotype. 

Biology 

A.  atra  may  be  bred  from  stems  of  Alopecurus  species  together 
with  Eurytoma  tapio  Claridge  (1959b).  During  the  winter  I  have 
removed  large  numbers  of  last  instar  larvae  from  the  stems  where 
they  appeared  to  have  been  feeding  phytophagously.  However, 
the  exact  host  relationships  are  uncertain.  I  have  also  reared  a 
series  of  specimens  from  a  collection  of  stems,  thought  to  be  of 
Anthoxanthum  odoratum  L.,  but  this  record  requires  confirmation 
and  the  specimens  were  not  used  in  making  the  above  redescrip¬ 
tion. 

Material  Studied 

ENGLAND.  Berkshire,  Cothill,  Nat.  Grid  Ref.  SU4699 :  1  9 , 
26.V.1957.  Buckinghamshire,  Oakley  Wood,  Nat.  Grid  Ref. 
SP6111:  12  9  9,  2  6  d,  emerged  29.iv.-2.v.l958  from  larvae  in 
stems  of  Alopecurus  pratensis  L.;  1  9,  26.vi.1957.  Oxfordshire, 
Otmoor,  Nat.  Grid  Ref.  SP5514-5614:  4  9  9,  2  dd,  em.  1-2.V.1958, 
larvae  in  stems  A.  pratensis;  1  9,  3  6  d,  20.V.1958;  1  9,1  d, 
21.V.1957 ;  2  9  9,  1  d,  4.vi.l958;  1  d,  14.vi.1958  (all  coll.  M.  F. 
Claridge). 


1961] 


177 


Figs.  12-19 —Left  antenna  in  lateral  view  of :  12,  Ahtola  atra  (Walk.), 
female;  13,  A.  atra,  male;  14,  Systole  albipennis  Walk., 
female;  15,  Eudecatoma  mellea  (Ciirtis),  female;  16,  E. 
mellea,  male;  17,  Bruchophagus  platypterus  (Walk.), 
female;  18,  B.  platypterus ,  male  (figs.  12,  14-17  to  scale  a; 
figs.  13,  18  to  scale  b). 

Fig.  19.  Lateral  view  of  female  gaster  of  Ahtola  atra  (scale  c). 

Figs.  20-23.  Part  of  leading  edge  of  forewing  of:  20,  Ahtola  atra ; 

21,  Eudecatoma  submutica  (Thoms.);  22,  E.  flavicollis 
(Walk.);  and  23,  E.  concinna  (Boh.)  (figs.  20,  22  and  23 
to  scale  b;  fig.  21  to  scale  c). 


178 


[April 


Ahtola  cylindrica  (Thomson)  comb.  nov. 

1875,  Eurytoma  cylindrica  Thomson,  Hym.  Scand.,  4  :  52. 

I  have  only  been  able  to  examine  a  single  specimen,  the  type, 
of  this  species,  and  thus  cannot  evaluate  it  adequately.  It  seems 
to  differ  from  A.  atra  in  its  smaller  size  and  extremely  narrow 
body.  It  is  possible  that  it  is  a  very  small  specimen  of  A.  atra 
though  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  it  represents  a  good  species. 

I  have  seen  the  five  specimens  from  the  Thomson  collection 
which  stand  as  Eurytoma  cylindrica.  One  of  these  has  been 
provisionally  selected  as  lectotype  by  Dr.  A.  Jansson.  I  agree 
with  his  designation  and  here  validate  it.  The  specimen  has  been 
remounted  and  is  staged  on  a  pin  which  also  carries  a  male 
Tetramesa  species  and  a  printed  label  “Wit”.  The  other  specimens 
are  not  conspecific. 


Ahtola  glohiceps  (Boucek)  comb.  nov. 

1954,  Eurytoma  glohiceps  Boucek,  Acta  Mus.  nat.  Prag.,  29: 

72-74. 

Dr.  Z.  Boucek  has  kindly  sent  me  two  specimens  of  his  species 
Eurytoma  glohiceps.  It  is  closely  allied  to  A.  atra,  but  differs 
in  its  smaller  size,  more  gibbous  head  and  longer  abdominal 
petiole.  Its  biology  is  unknown,  but  Boucek  ( loc .  cit.)  believes 
that  it  is  probably  associated  with  grasses. 


Bruchophagus  Ashmead 

1888,  Bruchophagus  Ashmead,  Ent.  Amer.,  4:  42. 

1950,  Bruchophagus  Ferriere  ( partim ),  Mitt.  Schweiz,  ent.  Ges., 
23:  379. 

Type  species — Bruchophagus  horealis  Ashm. — designated  by 
Ashmead  (1894). 

The  group  of  species  represented  in  the  Palaearetic  region  by 
Eurytoma  platyptera  (Walk.)  and  closely  allied  forms,  is  here 
separated  from  Eurytoma  and  recognized  as  the  genus  Brucho¬ 
phagus.  It  differs  from  Eurytoma  in  its  shorter  gaster  without 
an  elongated  fifth  segment  (fig.  11),  and  in  the  lack  of  the 
occipital  carina  and  post  genal  lamella  (fig.  3).  The  only  western 
Palaearetic  species  that  have  been  studied  intensively  are  un¬ 
doubtedly  phytophagous  in  the  fruits  of  various  Papilionaceae — 
B.  platypterus  (Walk.)  ( =  gihhus  Boh.)  in  Trifolium  species 
(Claridge,  1959c),  and  B.  ononis  (Mayr)  in  Ononis  species 
(Crevecoeur,  1951).  In  this  habit  they  resemble  the  known 
Nearctic  species  (vide  Burks,  1957).  Nikol’skaya  (1952a,  b,  and 
1955)  has  described  several  phytophagous  species  from  the 
U.S.S.R.  including  one,  B.  mutahilis,  from  Primrose  seeds,  Primula 


179 


1961] 

species.  Burks  (loc.  cit.)  has  included  a  new  species  bred  from 
seeds  of  an  Aloe  species  (Liliaceae),  imported  from  South  Africa. 
It  seems  likely  that  all  the  species  attributable  to  Bruchophagus 
as  recognized  here  are  similarly  phytophagous.  Species  differ¬ 
entiation  within  the  genus  is  very  difficult  and  it  is  probable  that 
careful  breeding  experiments  will  show  there  to  be  more  species 
involved  than  the  adult  morphology  suggests. 

Ferriere  (1950)  introduced  the  genus  Bruchophagus  to  the 
Palaearctic  literature,  but  defined  it  almost  completely  on  the 
single  character  of  a  four  segmented  male  funicle.  As  I  have 
pointed  out  previously  (1959b),  such  a  character  may  be  difficult 
to  appreciate  and,  more  important,  usually  breaks  down  within 
any  natural  genus,  at  least  in  the  Eurytomidae.  Ferriere  included 
such  diverse  species  as  Eurytoma  cynipsea  Boh.  and  E.  setigera 
Mayr,  together  with  those  species  here  included.  Boucek  (1951) 
and  I  (1958a)  have  criticized  the  genus  as  recognised  by  Ferriere. 
I  believe  that  it  can  be  recognized  as  a  natural  unit  only  when 
some  of  the  species  which  resemble  the  platypterus  group  in  the 
possession  of  a  four  segmented  male  funicle  alone,  are  excluded. 
This  view  is  enhanced  by  the  biological  information. 


Systole  Walker 
1832,  Systole  Walker,  Ent.  Mag.,  1  :  22. 

1959,  Systole  Walker,  Claridge,  Ent.  mon.  Mag.,  95:  39. 

Type  species — Systole  alhipennis  Walk. — only  originally  in¬ 
cluded  species. 

I  have  previously  (1959c)  discussed  the  genus  and  given 
characters  by  which  it  is  distinguished  from  Eurytoma, 

The  species  of  Systole,  like  those  of  Bruchophagus,  form  a 
small  and  very  compact  group,  all  the  known  species  of  which 
are  phytophagous  exclusively  in  the  seeds  of  Umbelliferae.  The 
genus  is  recognized  on  rather  slight  characters,  but  again  like 
Bruchophagus,  the  biological  generalizations  which  can  be  made 
about  it  justify  its  recognition. 


Harmolitinae 

In  the  northern  Palaearctic  region  I  recognize  only  one  genus 
in  this  subfamily,  viz.,  Tetramesa  Walker.  It  may  be  divided 
into  a  number  of  species  groups  which  grade  into  each  other  and 
which  I  do  not  consider  to  warrant  generic  rank.  The  larvae  of 
all  known  species  are  phytophagous  in  grasses. 

Ailomorphus  rhopaloides  Walk.  (1871),  described  from  Hong 
Kong,  is  closely  allied  to  Tetramesa.  It  differs  in  having  the 
gaster  more  laterally  compressed  with  the  fifth  tergite  distinctly 
the  longest.  Of  species  known  to  me,  it  resembles  most  closely 


180 


[April 

T.  rornana  (Walk.)  of  southern  Europe.  A.  rhopaloides,  together 
with  an  undescribed  species  represented  in  the  British  Museum 
(Nat.  Hist.),  is  probably  best  kept  separate  from  Tetramesa  at 
least  until  the  south-eastern  Palaearctic  and  Oriental  forms  are 
better  known.  It  is  interesting  that  A.  rhopaloides  has  been 
recorded  as  phytophagous  in  Bamboo,  Phyllostachys  species 
(Gahan,  1924). 


0  2  mm 


Figs.  24-28. — Left  antenna  in  lateral  view  of :  24,  Archirileya  i/nopi- 
nata  Silv.,  female;  23,  A.  inopinata,  male;  26,  Tetramesa 
brevicornis  (Walk.),  male;  27,  T.  hyalipennis  (Walk.), 
female ;  28,  T.  hyalipennis ,  male  (figs.  24,  25,  27  to  scale 
a;  figs.  26,  28  to  scale  c). 

Fig.  29. — Part  of  leading  edge  of  forewing  of  Systole  tuonela  Clar. 
(to  scale  b). 


1961] 


181 


Tetramesa  Walker 

1832,  Isosoma ,  Walker,  Ent.  Mag.,  1  :  14  (preoccupied). 

1848,  Tetramesa  Walker,  List  spec.  Hym.  coll.  Brit.  Mus.,  2, 
Chalcidites,  appendix:  154,  London. 

1863,  Harmolita  Motschulsky,  Bull.  Soc.  Nat.  Moscow,  36  (3):  58. 
1871,  Philachyra  Walker,  Notes  on  Chalcidiae,  1  :  7-8,  London. 
1920,  Isthmosoma  Hedicke,  Archiv.  Naturgesch.,  86  (11):  165. 
1958,  Tetramesa  Walker,  Claridge,  Ent.  mon.  Mag.,  94:  84. 

Type  species — Tetramesa  iarbas  Walker  ( =  T.  crassicornis 
(Walk.)  (vide  Claridge,  1958a)) — only  originally  included  species. 

I  have  previously  ( loc .  cit.)  given  a  description  of  the  genus 
and  no  further  information  need  be  added  here.  A  complete 
diagnosis  will  be  given  in  a  revision  of  the  European  species  now7 
in  preparation. 


Eudecatominae 

The  Eudecatominae  is  the  Decatominae  of  Ferriere.  I  have 
previously  discussed  the  genus  Decatoma  Spinola  ( nec  auctt .) 
and  concluded  that  it  should  be  taken  as  a  synonym  of  Eurytoma 
(Claridge,  1959a).  Thus  the  group  name  based  on  it  cannot  be 
used  to  refer  to  a  group  not  including  it.  Since  the  only  genus 
attributable  to  the  subfamily  is  Eudecatoma  Ashm.,  I  suggest  the 
name  Eudecatominae. 


Eudecatoma  Ashmead 

1888,  Eudecatoma  Ashmead,  Ent.  Amer.,  4:  42. 

Type  species — Decatoma  batatoides  Ashm. — only  species  in¬ 
cluded  by  Ashmead  (1894). 

The  genus  is  characterized  as  follows :  — 

Often  extensively  pale  marked  species;  exact  marking  vari¬ 
able.  Female  flagellum  (fig.  15)  with  five  clearly  separate  basal 
segments.  Male  flagellum  (fig.  16)  resembles  that  of  female  but 
with  only  four  distinctly  separate  basal  segments.  Occiput 
variable — clearly  margined  and  polished  in  some  larger  species 
(cf.  E.  biguttata  (Swed.) — not  margined  and  sculptured  more 
or  less  as  face  in  most  smaller  species  (cf.  E.  mellea  (Curtis)). 
Forewings  with  distinct  pigmented  submarginal  band,  often  ex¬ 
tensive  (figs.  21  and  22),  but  sometimes  small  (fig.  23).  Gaster 
(figs.  9  and  10)  distinctly  petiolated  and  laterally  flattened;  in 
female,  rather  circular  in  outline,  with  ovipositor  clearly  directed 
dorsally  when  not  in  use. 

The  species  of  Eudecatoma  form  a  clearly  distinct  natural 
group.  I  have  previously  (1959a)  discussed  the  British  species. 


182  [April 

Evidence  suggests  that  at  least  some  of  the  species  are 
endoparasitic,  a  habit  rare  in  the  family. 


Phylogenetic  Speculation 

Several  authors  have  speculated  on  the  phylogenetic  relation¬ 
ships  of  the  Eurytomidae  and  of  the  genera  within  the  family 
(vide  Bugbee,  1936;  and  Nikol’skaya,  1956).  Particular  attention 
has  been  paid  to  the  importance  of  the  phytophagous  habit  in 
the  evolution  of  the  group.  Bugbee  concluded  that  “Whether  the 
primitive  Eurytomid  stock  was  parasitic,  phytophagous  or  both 
is  uncertain,  but  the  evidence  favours  a  plant  feeding  origin”. 
Nikol’skaya  on  the  other  hand  favours  a  parasitic  ancestry. 

Bugbee,  after  giving  a  very  useful  summary  of  the  comparative 
anatomy  of  the  Nearctic  genera,  wTent  on  to  suggest  that  certain 
features  were  phylogenetically  primitive  and  others  more  recent 
from  the  results  of  his  preceding  comparative  account  alone. 
With  regard  to  the  structure  of  the  antennae  for  example,  he 
uses  six  definite,  but  unjustifiable,  a  priori  criteria  for  determining 
phylogenetic  relationships.  These  include :  — 

“  .  .  .  2.  The  more  alike  the  male  and  female  antennae, 
the  more  primitive  are  the  insects. 

3.  Reductions  in  the  number  of  segments  is  a  sign 
of  recent  development.  ...” 

Such  criteria  are  entirely  subjective  and  without  fossil  evidence 
mean  nothing.  Bugbee’s  conclusions  on  such  grounds  are  that 
the  Harmolitinae  include  structurally  the  most  primitive  forms. 
This  may  be  so,  but  all  known  species  are  specialized  plant  feeders 
associated  with  Gramineae.  Probably  they  represent  a  branch  or 
branches  derived  from  the  ancestral  Eurytomids  which  early  took 
up  the  phytophagous  habit  and  radiated  following  their  host 
plants.  Modern  species  seem  to  be  restricted  mainly  to  the  grass¬ 
lands  of  the  Holarctic  region. 

The  genera  of  Eurytominae  exhibit  the  widest  range  of  habit, 
structure  and  geographical  range  known  within  the  family.  It 
seems  most  likely  that  the  subfamily  includes  forms  nearer  to 
the  ancestral  Eurytomid  than  do  the  others.  Within  it  a  number 
of  forms  have  independently  taken  up  the  phytophagous  habit. 
Some  such  as  Systole  and  Bruchophagus  species  specialized  as 
seed-eaters.  Many  species  of  Eurytoma  are  only  parasitic  for  a 
short  period  and  complete  their  development  phytophagously, 
e.g.  E.  flavimana  Boh.,  a  parasite  of  Tetramesa  linearis  (Walk.), 
a  gall-former  in  stems  of  Agropyron  species.  Larvae  of  the  allied 
E.  suecica  von  Rosen  are  completely  phytophagous  in  stems  of 
Wheat,  Triticum  species  (v.  Rosen,  1956).  Such  a  habit  probably 
evolved  from  a  condition  such  as  that  found  to-day  in  E.  flavi¬ 
mana,  Thus  there  is  little  doubt  that  the  phytophagous  habit  has 
arisen  many  times  within  the  subfamily. 


183 


1961  ] 

The  Eudecatominae  and  Rileyinae  show  a  number  of  possibly 
specialized  features  and  probably  represent  rather  early  divergents 
from  the  ancestral  stock.  It  seems  most  likely  that  the  ancestral 
Eurytomids  were  parasitic  forms,  probably  associated  with  insect 
galls.  The  modern  forms  then  specialized  in  various  directions, 
thus  retaining  only  some  of  the  ancestral  characters.  Without 
the  help  of  a  good  fossil  record  such  characters  cannot  be  differ¬ 
entiated  from  the  specialized  and  more  recent  features.  However, 
since  the  phytophagous  habit  can  be  shown  almost  certainly  to 
have  arisen  several  times  within  the  Eurytominae,  there  is  no 
reason  why  it  should  not  have  done  so  in  the  Harmolitinae.  In 
fact,  any  of  the  subfamilies  or  genera  could  be  polyphyletic  in 
origin  and  any  supposed  phylogeny  can  be  read  in  either  direction. 
We  simply  have  to  admit  that  in  the  final  analysis  we  just  do 
not  know. 


Acknowledgments 

Much  of  the  work  for  this  paper  was  carried  out  in  the  Hope 
Department  of  Entomology,  University  Museum,  Oxford,  during 
the  tenure  of  a  research  studentship  of  the  Department  of 
Scientific  and  Industrial  Research.  I  should  like  to  express  my 
thanks  to  Dr.  M.  W.  R.  de  V.  Graham,  Dr.  B.  M.  Hobby,  Prof. 
O.  W.  Richards,  and  Prof.  G.  C.  Varley  for  their  criticisms  of  parts 
of  the  manuscript  at  various  stages  in  its  preparation.  I  should 
like  also  to  thank  Dr.  A.  J.  Cain,  Dr.  B.  W.  Staddon,  and  Dr.  H. 
H.  Williams  for  their  valuable  criticism  and  discussion,  particu¬ 
larly  concerning  the  first  section.  I  wish  also  to  express  my 
thanks  to  the  following  who  have  given  or  loaned  much  valuable 
material :  — Dr.  B.  D.  Burks,  Washington ;  Prof.  P.  Brinck  and 
Prof.  C.  II.  Lindroth,  Lund;  and  Dr.  Z.  Boucek,  Prague.  Mr.  G. 
J.  Kerrich  and  Mr.  R.  D.  Eady  of  the  Commonwealth  Institute 
of  Entomology  and  Mr.  J.  F.  Perkins  of  the  British  Museum  (Nat. 
Hist.)  have  always  given  me  every  assistance  in  examining  the 
collections  in  their  care,  for  which  I  am  very  grateful. 


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