OF EPPING FOREST.
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family are, though they are of little or no importance to us in
our present paper.
The fifth sub-family of the Cynipidae, namely the Cynipina,
contains the gall-making insects and the Inquilines living in
their galls, and includes all the oak-gall making species.
The following are the chief characters of the sub-family,
Cynipina : —
Wings with the areolet opposite to, or not much beyond, the base of the
radial cellule, which is usually elongate. The three cubital cellules are as a
rule complete. The cubitus arises from the middle of the transverse basal
nervure.
Legs with two spurs on the hind tibiae, no processes on the hind tarsi.
Scutelluiu punctured, wrinkled or alutaceous.
Hypopygium acute or ending in a hairy projecting point.
Basal Segments of the abdomen not subequal or subsessile ; the second
abdominal segment much longer than the others, not unusually half the length
of the abdomen.
Ovipositor spiral or semi-spiral.
The Egg has already been described and figured.
The Larva is apodal. Thirteen jointed, fleshy, and white to yellowish in
colour. Larval life varies much in duration in different species, from about a
month to as much as three years.
The Pupa, like the larva, is yellowish white in colour and is never
enclosed in a cocoon.
The Perfect Insect. (Chief general characters given above.)
(1.) Mouth parts. Labium fleshy, truncated or with a curved top.
Mandibles short, broad and toothed. Inner lobe of the maxillae obsolete.
Outer lobe broad and fleshy.
Labial palp 2-3 jointed.
Maxillary palp 4-5 jointed.
(2.) Antennae. These differ in the males and females, being longer and
thinner in the former.
(3.) Wings. Not always present. Seldom longer and sometimes shorter
than the body. Hairs may be present on the surface and round the margin.
When present the wings are four in number and membranous.
(4.) Thorax. This is well developed. The pro-thorax laterally reaches
the tegulae, the pleural region being specially prominent. In front the pro-
thorax is but slightly developed, bearing, however, a keel which is often
incised presenting two tubercle-like bodies. The parapsidal furrows are
often absent from the meso-thorax, when present they may be complete or
incomplete.
The scutellum may be shining or opaque and varies much, having either
one or two basal foveae. It usually overhangs the meta-thorax and median
segment.