CARL F. W. MUESEB Nearctic Species of
Scelionidae
(Hymenoptera:
Proctotrupoidea)
that Parasitize the
Eggs of Grasshoppers
SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY NUMBER 122
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INTERNATIONAL WOK YEAR ? 1*72
SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO
ZOOLOGY
NUMBER 122
CaH F. w. Muesebeck Nearct ic Species of
Scelionidae
(Hymenoptera:
Proctotrupoidea)
that Parasitize the
Eggs of Grasshoppers
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION PRESS
CITY OF WASHINGTON
1972
ABSTRACT
Muesebeck, Carl F. W. Nearctic Species of Scelionidae (Hymenoptera: Procto-
trupoidea) that Parasitize the Eggs of Grasshoppers. Smithsonian Contributions to
Zoology, number 122, 33 pages, 51 figures, 1972.?All the known North American
species of Proctotrupoidea that are parasitic in the eggs of grasshoppers belong to
the genera Scelio Latreille and Synoditella, new genus. This paper treats nineteen
species of Scelio, of which ten are new, and two species of Synoditella. A new
generic name, Sceliocerdo, is proposed for an Indian species, which is discussed
because of its similarity to Synoditella. The females of Synoditella and Sceliocerdo
attach themselves to female grasshoppers in order that they may be transported to
the oviposition sites of their hosts.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Muesebeck, Carl Frederick William, 1894-
Nearctic species of Scelionidae (Hymenoptera: Proctotrupoidea) that parasitize the eggs of
grasshoppers.
(Smithsonian contributions to zoology, no. 122)
Bibliography: p.
1. Scelionidae. 2. Parasites?Insects. 3. Locusts?Disease and pests. I. Title. II. Series:
Smithsonian Institution. Smithonian contributions to zoology, no. 122.
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Contents
Page
Introduction 1
Acknowledgments 2
Key to the Scelionid Genera of Grasshopper-egg Parasites 2
Scelio Latreille 3
Key to the North American Species of Scelio Latreille 3
Doubtful Species 21
Synoditella, new genus 21
Sceliocerdo, new genus 23
Literature Cited 23
Figures 26
Index 32
Grasshopper Hosts 32
ui

Carl F. W. Muesebeck Nearctic Species of
Scelionidae
(Hymenoptera:
Proctotrupoidea)
that Parasitize the
Eggs of Grasshoppers
Introduction
The North American species of Scelionidae that de-
velop as parasites in the eggs of grasshoppers belong
to two genera. These are Scelio Latreille, which con-
tains most of our known species, and Synoditella,
new genus, to which two described North American
species belong. An interesting characteristic of the
latter is the phoretic behavior of the females. They at-
tach themselves firmly to female grasshoppers in or-
der that they may be transported to the oviposition
sites of their hosts. There seems to be no record of
phoresy in the case of any known species of the
genus Scelio.
Nothing is known concerning the habits and host
relationships of many of the species of Scelio, but
all forms that have been reared develop parasitically
in grasshopper eggs and it is assumed that this habit
is characteristic of the group as a whole. Uvarov
(1928:115) listed the species, with their hosts, that
had been reported up to that time as having been
reared; and Greathead (1963:488) gave a longer
list of reared species of Scelio with literature refer-
ences to the published records although the names of
Carl F. W. Muesebeck, Research Associate, Department of
Entomology, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
20560.
the hosts were omitted. Eight of the North American
species treated in this paper have been recorded as
having been reared from grasshopper eggs, but for
only one of these, S. opacus (Provancher), have
some detailed biological data been published. Pick-
ford (1964) reared this species in the laboratory,
established its life history and described and figured
the immature stages. Putnam (1953) had published
earlier on what was probably the same species. He
did not give, however, a specific name and his paper
dealt principally with the extent of parasitization of
grasshopper eggs in the Prairies Provinces of Canada.
Noble (1935, 1938) studied an Australian species,
S. fulgidus Crawford, in the field and laboratory and
made detailed observations on field behavior, oviposi-
tion, larval development, hibernation and length of
life cycle. He also considered the importance of this
species as a factor in the biological control of the so-
called Australian Plague Locust, Chortoicetes termi-
nifera (Walker). Two Malayan species, Scelio
pembertoni Timberlake and S. serdangensis Timber-
lake, were studied by Pemberton (1933) in connec-
tion with efforts to introduce and establish these para-
sites of Oxya eggs in Hawaii. Pemberton discussed
the manner of oviposition, described and figured the
egg and larva of S. pembertoni, and gave data on
the duration of the life cycle under a variety of con-
ditions. Many thousands of the parasites were reared
1
SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTION TO ZOOLOGY
and released in Hawaii. Scelio pembertoni became
definitely established but the other species gradually
died out. Murai (1962) summarized the information
on the life history and behavior of two Japanese
species, S. muraii Watanabe and S. tsuruokensis
Watanabe, which he had published previously in a
series of short papers, Vinokurov (1927), in con-
nection with a discussion of grasshopper outbreaks
in eastern Siberia, described oviposition by S. javani-
cus Roepke in eggs of Valanga nigricornis (Bur-
meister), and Greathead (1963:439-442) gave a
brief summary of the published information on the
biology and habits of Scelio.
Some authors (Vinokurov, 1927; Pickford, 1964)
have indicated that newly hatched eggs seem to be
preferred by Scelio spp. for oviposition, but Murai
found that oviposition occurred readily in older eggs.
Pemberton (1933) obtained successful oviposition
in eggs that had been held in refrigeration about 30
days.
According to published observations, adults of
Scelio live only a very short time, at least when held in
the laboratory and fed honey and water. Noble
(1938) indicated a maximum of 21 days for S.
fulgidus; Pemberton (1933) found that adults of
S. pembertoni and S. serdangensis seldom lived
longer than three weeks, and Murai reported that
laboratory longevity of S. murai and S. tsuruokensis
usually was about 10 days. To what extent these ob-
servations approach the conditions existing in nature
is unknown. The longevity of Scelio adults may dif-
fer in different species with different types of life
cycle. In January 1970, W. H. Tyson brought me
a series of eleven females and one male of S. striati-
ventris Kieffer, all living, which he had just then ob-
tained from an old fungus on the side of a dead tree.
Apparently these individuals were hibernating as
adults. On the other hand, hibernation as first-instar
larvae within the host eggs was indicated for S. opacus
by Pickford (1964), for S. fulgidus by Noble (1938)
and for Scelio sp. by Richards and Waloff (1954).
This summarizes briefly the published information
on the life history and development of the species of
Scelio. In the case of Synoditella nothing has been
published except on the phoretic association of S.
bisulcata (Kieffer) with various species of grass-
hoppers. This has been discussed by Lanham and
Evans(1958, 1960).
Species of Scelio occur in all parts of the world
where grasshoppers live, and the different kinds are
probably more numerous than is indicated by the
number of published descriptions. Specimens of the
genus seem not to be commonly taken in general
collecting, for most insects collections?except those
that contain a considerable amount of reared ma-
terial?have comparatively few specimens of Scelio,
and rearing has been largely confined to the abundant
and economic species of grasshoppers. At present
more species of Scelio are known from Australia and
Africa than from other major regions of the world.
Most of the Australian species have been described
by Dodd (1913 and numerous later publications);
those of Africa largely in two papers, one by Pries-
ner (1951) and the other by Nixon (1958). The
North American material of Scelio available to me
for study contained nineteen species (ten of them
new) and only eight species were represented by both
sexes. One species, S. pallidipes Ashmead, is known
only in the male sex and nine species are known only
from females. Various authors (Dodd, 1913; Pem-
berton, 1933; Noble, 1935; Murai, 1962; Richards
and Waloff, 1954; Pickford, 1964) stated that there
was a preponderance of females in the species of
Scelio they investigated. This condition probably
does not apply to all species of the group, but it may
be sufficiently general to account for the relative
scarcity of males in collections.
The distribution of the two new genera appears to
be very limited. Thus far Synoditella is known only
from the United States and Mexico, and Sceliocerdo
only from India.
Acknowledgments
I am indebted to various persons for the loan of help-
ful material, and particularly to Dr. Lubomir Masner,
Canada Department of Agriculture; Dr. Howard E.
Evans, Museum of Comparative Zoology of Har-
vard University; Dr. J. Lafoon, Iowa State Univer-
sity; Dr. George W. Byers, University of Kansas;
Dr. H. A. Denmark, Florida State Department of
Agriculture; Dr. Thomas E. Moore, Museum of
Zoology of the University of Michigan, and Dr. S.
Kelner-Pillault, Museum National d'Histoire Nat-
urelle in Paris. I am also most grateful to Mrs.
Elsie H. Froeschner of the Department of Entomol-
ogy, National Museum of Natural History, for the
careful preparation of all the illustrations.
NUMBER 1 2 2
Key to the Scelionid Genera of Grasshopper-egg Parasites
1. Inner edge of antennal scape completely and sharply carinate; head from in front subtri-
angular; thorax strongly depressed; inner tooth of mandible very short. Known species
phoretic 2
Inner edge of antennal scape at most carinate apically; head from in front subcircular, oval
or subrectangular; thorax not noticeably depressed; teeth of mandibles subequal. Species
not phoretic Scelio Latreille
2. Maxillary palpi 2-segmented; labial palpi 1-segmented; mandible with a sharp denticle on
outer edge beyond middle (Figure 51) ; occipital carina without teeth; lateral ocelli well
removed from eyes Synoditella, new genus
Maxillary palpi 3-segmented; labial palpi 2-segmented; mandible without a denticle on
outer edge; occipital carina with a sharp tooth on each side at level of lower eye margins;
lateral ocelli close to eyes Sceliocerdo, new genus
Scelio Latreille
Scelio Latreille, 1805:226. Type-species, Scelio rugulosus
Latreille. Designated by Latreille, 1810.
Scelionus Rafinesque, 1815:125. Emendation of Scelio La-
treille.
Serlion Say, 1820:80. Error for Scelio Latreille. Say mistak-
enly used the name for a species of the encyrtid (chalci-
doid) genus Homalotylus.
Aleria Marshall, 1874:208. Type-species, Aleria flavibarbis
Marshall, by monotypy.
Caloptenobia Riley, 1878:306. Type-species, Caloptenobia
ovivora Riley, by monotypy.
Discelio Kieffer, 1908b: 116, 124. Type-species, Scelio thora-
cicus Ashmead. Designated by Kieffer, 1926.
Dichacantha Kieffer, 1908b: 118, 147.?Dodd, 1920:348.
Type-species, Trimorus luteus Cameron, by monotypy and
original designation.
Enneascelio Kieffer, 1910:293; 1926:347. Type-species,
Enneascelio exaratus Kieffer, by monotypy and original
designation.
Above is the currently recognized synonymy of the
genus Scelio Latreille. Perhaps Lepidoscelio Kieffer,
1905, should be added as a synonym of Scelio, but I
have seen no authentically identified material of that
genus and I hesitate to suppress the name on the
basis of the original description only.
Dodd (1927:129) suppressed Discelio as a
synonym of Scelio and I am accepting this synonymy
for the present although S. thoracicus Ashmead,
the type-species of Discelio, exhibits certain distinc-
tions that may warrant resurrection of that name
after there has been an opportunity to study more
material from various parts of the world and es-
pecially from the Neotropical region. The paired
teeth on the middle of the metanotum are very
prominent and may not be homologous with the
low bilobed flange found in occasional species of
Scelio. Moreover, S. thoracicus is the only species
of the group I have seen which has a complete row
of long erect setae on the subcosta.
In the subfamily Scelioninae the antennae of both
sexes are normally 12-segmented, but in the genus
Scelio they are 12-segmented in the female and 10-
segmented in the male. The wing venation of mem-
bers of this genus is also characteristic. The sub-
costa does not attain the costal margin of the wing
and terminates in a more or less circular stigma,
which replaces the marginal vein. In addition, the
subcosta is normally without the usual row of erect
setae. Usually there is also a short stigmal vein al-
though this is sometimes very faint or not at all de-
veloped. The radial vein is indicated by a fold which
is usually hyaline though sometimes a little pig-
mented, and which sets off a long and narrow radial
cell. The postmarginal vein is wanting. These unusual
features of the antennae and wings are found also
in the two new genera of grasshopper-egg parasites
described in this paper.
Otherwise Scelio may be characterized as follows:
head transverse or subquadrate; occiput more or less
excavated; lateral ocelli close to eyes; eyes bare;
maxillary palpi short, 3-segmented; labial palpi also
very short and 2-segmented; mandibles rather long,
curved, and bidentate, the teeth subequal; notaulices
wanting or more or less indicated but rarely sharply
defined; propodeum angulate laterally behind; abdo-
men sessile, depressed, the lateral margins acute;
six tergites present in the female abdomen and eight
in the male, the last two tergites in the male very
short, the last sometimes visible only from behind.
SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTION TO ZOOLOGY
Key to the North American Species of Scelio Latreille *
1. Frons uniformly rugose reticulate or rugose punctate except for a narrow space above in-
sertion of antennae 2
Frons either largely smooth or more or less vertically striate on lower half 4
2. Eyes enormous, the shortest distance between them only two-thirds the eye height; temples
at mideye point only one-third as wide as eyes; malar space less than one-third eye height.
S. insolitus, new species
Eyes normal; distance between eyes, width of temples and length of malar space not as
above 3
3. Temples strongly receding; mesopleural impression transversely striate; legs including coxae
testaceous, except that hind coxae are slightly darkened basally; second, third, and fourth
tergites in female each with a large basal spot of reddish brown . S. venatus Brues
Temples rounded; mesopleural impression punctate or rugulose, not striate; legs with at
least all the coxae more or less darkened; abdomen completely black . S. ernestii Riley
4. Lower part of frons smooth and polished, at most with some weak and short striae radiating
from above attachment of mandibles and not extending to level of lower eye margins;
third, fourth, and fifth abdominal sternites not longitudinally striate 5
Lower part of frons striate or aciculate at sides, the ribs extending to, or nearly to, the level
of the middle of the eyes; third, fourth, and fifth abdominal sternites usually longitudi-
nally striate, at least laterally 8
5. Head and thorax reddish yellow; temples at least 0.8 as wide as eyes and bulging.
S. rufulus, new species
Head and thorax black or blackish; temples not more than two-thirds as wide as eyes .. .6
6. Wings hyaline in both sexes; subcosta hyaline except at base, indistinct apically; first ab-
dominal tergite at middle not more that 0.4 as long as second; hind coxae often darkened.
S. oedipodae Ashmead
Wings distinctly somewhat infumated, at least in the female; subcosta and stigmal vein
well developed, somewhat pigmented; first tergite at middle nearly or quite half as long
as second; hind coxae testaceous 7
7. Third, fourth, and fifth abdominal tergites largely longitudinally striate; malar space barely
half as long as eye height 5. solus, new species
Third, fourth, and fifth abdominal tergites finely rugulose, not striate; malar space more
than half as long as eye height S. conformis, new species
8. Head and some areas of thorax covered with broad, white, appressed scale-like hairs.
S. squamosus, new species
Head and thorax without scale-like hairs 9
9. Shortest distance between eyes noticeably greater than eye height 10
Shortest distance between eyes subequal to or shorter than eye height 14
10. Thorax of female testaceous (male unknown) ; temples bulging and nearly or quite as wide
as eyes S. semirufus, new species
Thorax black; temples not as above 11
11. First abdominal tergite medially about four-fifths as long as second; abdominal tergites 2
to 5 rather strongly longitudinally striate 12
First abdominal tergite not so long; tergites 3 to 5 rather finely rugulose aciculate 13
12. All coxae yellow; wings clear hyaline (known only in male sex) S. pallidipes Ashmead
Coxae more or less darkened in male; wings of both sexes somewhat darkened.
S. striativentris Kieffer
13. Notaulices not at all indicated; abdomen short and broad, just about as long as head and
thorax combined. Small, the only known specimen hardly 3 mm long.
S. pumilus, new species
Notaulices indicated; abdomen considerably longer than head and thorax combined and
strongly narrowed from third segment to apex S. opacus (Provancher)
14. Occiput completely carinately margined 15
Occiput margined only at the sides 16
15. Pronotal neck transversely striate; notaulices not indicated; lateral areas of propodeum not
densely covered with pile, the sculpture apparent; second tergite entirely closely sculp-
tured iS. singularis, new species
Pronotal neck smooth anteriorly, rugulose posteriorly; lateral areas of propodeum so densely
N U M B E R 1 2 2
covered with pale pubescense that the sculpture is concealed; second tergite largely
smooth on posterior half S. commixtus, new species
16. Wings clear hyaline; first abdominal tergite at middle not half as long as second; propo-
deum with two complete subparallel median carinae setting off a narrow median area;
stigmal vein indistinct S. hyalinipennis Ashmead
Wings, at least in the female, somewhat infumated; first tergite at least half as long as
second medially; propodeum without a long, narrow, median area defined by carinae;
stigmal vein well developed 17
17. Abdomen rather stout; fifth and six tergites twice as broad at base as long; lateral areas
of propodeum not densely pubescent S. ovivorus (Riley)
Abdomen relatively narrow, sharply acute at apex; fifth and sixth tergites not nearly twice
as broad at base as long; lateral areas of propodeum densely covered with pale, short
hairs 18
18. Tegulae yellow; pronotal shoulders rounded; fourth tergite narrowly smooth and polished
down the middle; inner ribs of frontal striae curving around upper end of the median
smooth and polished area S. incertus, new species
Tegulae dark; pronotal shoulders subangulate; fourth tergite completely striate; ribs of
inner frontal striae short and rather straight, not curving around upper end of the median
smooth and polished area S. floridanus Ashmead
* Key based largely on the female sex since males of many species are unknown.
Scelio commixtus, new species
FIGURES 6, 14, 37, 50
Although the type-series is from British Honduras it
seems advisable to include this form in a treatment
of the Nearctic species since it has been reared to-
gether with S. ernstii Riley from the same egg pods
of Schistocerca americana (Drury) and many occur
throughout the range of that host. It somewhat re-
sembles S. ernstii superficially, but it is actually very
different from that species and is exceedingly similar
to S. ovivorus (Riley). From the latter it differs in
having the first tergite of the abdomen relatively
shorter and broader; the second, third, and fourth
tergites smooth and polished medially on the pos-
terior half; and the sixth tergite weakly and incom-
pletely sculptured; also in having the lateral parts of
the dorsal surface of the propodeum so densely
covered with pale appressed hair that the sculpture
of those areas is obscured. It appears to be similar
to S. tripartitus Kieffer, which was described from a
single male from Nicaragua, but the description of
that species is too incomplete to permit definite
identification.
FEMALE.?Length around 4.5 mm. Head barely
wider than thorax, in front view subrectangular, about
1.25 times as wide as high, in dorsal view about 1.7
times as wide as its maximum length; temples
gradually receding, at mideye point about half as
wide as eyes, coarsely rugose; malar space not more
than 0.4 as long as eye height; shortest distance be-
tween eyes hardly as long as eye height; lower part
of frons laterally and the malar spaces coarsely
striate; a rather large, smooth, and polished area
medially on frons above insertion of antennae; upper
half of frons, vertex, and occiput coarsely rugose
punctate; occipital carina complete; first flagellar
segment of antenna only a little shorter than pedicel;
club about three times as long as thick.
Thorax stout; neck of pronotum not transversely
striate but smooth anteriorly and rugulose posteriorly;
pronotal shoulders angulate; mesoscutum coarsely
longitudinally rugose reticulate; notaulices indicated;
disk of scutellum coarsely reticulate punctate; pro-
podeum very short, medially coarsely reticulate, the
large lateral areas of the dorsal surface densely cov-
ered with long, pale, appressed hair which conceals
the sculpture; a curved transverse ridge on propodeum
setting off a large arcuate impressed area around
posterior margin that is largely smooth and very
shiny; posterior lateral angles of propodeum promi-
nent, acute; the large oblique impression on meso-
pleuron with a series of transverse rugae that are
very strong above but fade out below leaving the im-
pression there largely smooth and shining; mesopec-
tus coarsely rugose; subcosta complete although weak
apically; stigmal vein distinct; hind coxae largely
shagreened.
Abdomen at least as broad as thorax, usually
broader, and usually only barely twice as long as its
greatest width; first tergite less, or at least no more,
than half as long medially as second and about five
times as broad on posterior margin as long, coarsely
longitudinally rugulose striate; second tergite longi-
SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTION TO ZOOLOGY
tudinally rugose laterally, the middle two-thirds longi-
tudinally striate although medially the raised lines
fade out posteriorly leaving a median smooth and
polished area on posterior half; third tergite at least
twice as broad as long, more or less rugulose striate,
but the striae on posterior half usually distinct only
each side of the middle, the median posterior area
being smooth; fourth and fifth tergites largely finely
longitudinally rugulose striate, the fourth smooth
medially behind; fifth tergite nearly twice as broad
at base as long; sixth very broadly triangular, smooth
or finely alutaceous anteriorly, rugulose punctate
posteriorly; third, fourth, and fifth sternites more or
less extensively longitudinally striate, usually smooth
medially.
Black; mandibles piceous; scape and pedicel of
antenna testaceous, the flagellum darkened; fore-
wings rather strongly infumated; tegulae dark; legs,
including all coxae, testaceous.
MALE.?Essentially like the female except for the
antennae (Figure 50), the darkened coxae, the
relatively somewhat smaller eyes, the broader and
less receding temples, and the less well-defined striae
on the lower frons.
HOLOTYPE.?USNM 71614.
DISTRIBUTION.?Described from 10 females, one
the holotype, reared from Schistocerca americana
(Drury) at Belize, British Honduras, in 1941 by
J. F. Wood, and two females and one male collected
at Middlesex, British Honduras, in 1965 by E. C.
Welling. The three specimens from Middlesex are in
the Canadian National Collections.
Scelio conformis, new species
FIGURES 8, 15, 33
This is exceedingly similar to S. oedipodae Ashmead.
It differs, however, in its relatively longer first abdomi-
nal tergite, in its distinctly infumated wings with sub-
costal and stigmal veins well developed, and in having
all coxae yellow. In addition, the head and abdomen
are darker than they are generally in S. oedipodae.
FEMALE.?Length about 4.5 mm in the available
specimens. Head rather strongly transverse, in dor-
sal view about 1.75 times as broad as long, in front
view subcircular, nearly as wide as high; temples
rounded but receding, at mideye point about two-
thirds as wide as eyes; malar space more than half as
long as eye height; shortest distance between eyes
slightly longer than eye height; lower part of frons
smooth and polished, with only some short and
weak raised lines radiating from above the man-
dibles; upper part of frons and vertex rugose punc-
tate; occiput coarsely rugose punctate, somewhat
more coarsely so than in S. oedipodae, and com-
pletely margined; pedicel of antenna nearly as long
as first and second flagellar segments combined; club
about three times as long as its maximum thickness.
Neck of thorax weakly transversely roughened;
pronotal shoulders subangulate; mesoscutum coarse-
ly rugose punctate, the posterior lateral corners
more or less smooth and shining; notaulices indi-
cated posteriorly; propodeum strongly rugose reticu-
late laterally and with a few strong longitudinal
carinae medially, the posterior lateral angles promi-
nent and acute; the large oblique impression on
mesopleuron finely transversely aciculate but incom-
pletely so, the impression being smooth and shining
below; a small area immediately below the impres-
sion finely longitudinally lineolate; hind coxae
smooth and polished; subcostal and stigmal veins
well developed.
Abdomen about as broad as thorax but narrowing
rather strongly caudad from apex of third segment;
first tergite medially about half as long as second,
longitudinally striate; second tergite very finely longi-
tudinally striate; third, fourth, fifth, and sixth tergites
rugulose, not at all striate even laterally; third tergite
not distinctly longer than fourth; fifth about twice
as broad at base as long; third, fourth, and fifth
sternites smooth and shining but with numerous,
though well separated, evenly spaced, small seti-
ferous punctures.
Black; scape brownish yellow; pedicel and first
flagellar segment of antenna brown, the following
segments brownish black; mandibles reddish; legs,
including all coxae, reddish yellow; tegulae black;
forewings distinctly somewhat infumated; venter of
abdomen brown.
MALE .?Unknown.
HOLOTYPE.?USNM 71615.
Known only from three female specimens taken
at Plummers Island, Maryland, by K. V. Krombein,
the holotype and one paratype 3 July 1959, and one
paratype 28 June 1958; and another female collected
at Beltsville, Maryland, 26 June 1948 by D. G.
Shappiro.
N U M B E R 1 2 2
Scelio ernstii Riley
FIGURES 4, 19, 34, 42
Scelio ernstii Riley, 1885:22.
Scelio fuscipennis Ashmead, 1887:119; 1893:242, 243.
Scelio venezuelensis Marshall, 1892:74. New synonymy.
This is very distinct from all described Nearctic
species except S. venatus Brues, and from that it may
be separated by its large size, its generally darker
coxae and abdomen, somewhat coarser abdominal
sculpture and its non-striate mesopleural impression.
The name ernstii was unintentionally validated
through comparison of the species with S. ovivorus
(Riley). Riley intended to publish a description
later but did not do so. His specimens are clearly
identical with S. fuscipennis Ashmead, which name
must fall as a synonym. By the kindness of Dr.
S. Kelner-Pillault of the Museum National d'His-
toire Naturelle in Paris, I have been privileged to see
specimens from the du Buysson Collection labeled
"venezuelensis." Apparently these are not from the
type-series, although they are part of the material
collected by Simon at Caracas and presumably were
identified by Marshall. They fit Marshall's descrip-
tion completely and are identical with the type-speci-
mens of S. ernstii.
FEMALE.?Length usually 5-5.6 mm. Head not
distinctly wider than thorax, in front view subcir-
cular, in dorsal view about 1.7 times as wide as its
maximum length; temples rounded but receding, at
mideye point about 0.7 as wide as eyes; malar space
about half as long as eye height and sculptured like
temples and cheeks; shortest distance between eyes
about equal to eye height; frons, cheeks, temples,
vertex and occiput all strongly rugose reticulate, the
lower frons not striate and the smooth and shiny
area immediately above insertion of the antennae
very narrow and small and usually with a low
median keel extending upward from the elevation
between the antennae; occiput carinately margined
only at the sides; first segment of antennal flagellum
at least as long as the long pedicel; club of antenna
(last six segments) about four times as long as
thick.
Neck of pronotum largely smooth and shining;
pronotal shoulders sharply rectangular; mesoscutum
and scutellum closely and coarsely rugose reticulate;
notaulices not indicated; propodeum with a large,
curved, depressed area around posterior margin
which is largely smooth and is weakly divided into
cells by short longitudinal septa; lateral dorsal parts
of propodeum rugulose but the sculpture of a narrow
strip along each side obscured by a dense covering
of pale appressed hairs; meso- and metapleura
coarsely rugose, the broad oblique impression on
mesopleuron punctate or rugulose punctate, not
striate; subcosta complete, it and the stigmal vein
well developed; radius also rather well indicated, de-
fining a long and narrow radial cell; hind coxae
largely smooth and polished above, more or less
punctate below.
Abdomen about as broad as thorax and narrowing
strongly beyond the third segment to the acute apex;
first tergite medially nearly or quite two-thirds as
long as second and coarsely longitudinally rugose or
striate; second, third, and fourth tergites strongly
longitudinally striate, the sixth rugulose; third tergite
only slightly longer than fourth; fifth not nearly twice
as broad at base as long.
Black; mandibles and scapes varying from yellow
to brown; pedicel and basal flagellar segments of
antenna sometimes pale but often darkened like the
club; tegulae brownish to black; forewings rather
strongly infumated; legs reddish yellow to piceous,
the coxae always more or less darkened.
MALE.?Very similar to the female except for the
very different antennae (Figure 42) ; the third seg-
ment of antennal flagellum greatly enlarged and
broader than long, the following four segments all
much narrower and shorter. The frons at its narrow-
est is usually a little wider than in the female and
the lateral ocelli are usually a little farther from the
eyes.
LECTOTYPE.?USNM 71497 (here designated).
A female labeled "3609. From Dr. A. Ernst, Caracas,
Venezuela, S. A. Jan. 22, '85" Lectotype of S.
fuscipennis Ashmead (Masner and Muesebeck, 1968:
43), USNM 24544.
DISTRIBUTION.?The type-series of S. ernstii, con-
sisting of 33 females and 3 males, is from Caracas,
Venezuela, reportedly reared from "Acridium pere-
grinum," which probably (according to Dr. A. B.
Gurney, United States Department of Agriculture
specialist in Orthoptera) is the species currently
known as Schistocerca paranensis (Burmeister).
The lectotype of Scelio fuscipennis is from Ft. George,
Florida; two males, which were labeled as part of the
8 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTION TO ZOOLOGY
type-series, are not the same species. Other material
I have seen includes isolated United States speci-
mens, all field collected, from points in Florida,
Alabama, South Carolina, and Texas. Neotropical
material is more abundant and, in addition to the
type-series from Venezuela, includes specimens, some
of them reared, from Mexico, Guatemala, British
Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Trinidad, Peru, and
Brazil. A long series from British Honduras in the
National Museum of Natural History is recorded as
having been reared from eggs of Schistocerca
americana (Drury), and some specimens from
Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica are labeled as
having been obtained from eggs of Schistocerca
paranensis (Burmeister).
Scelio floridanus Ashmead
FIGURES 11, 22, 40
Scelio floridanus Ashmead, 1893:242, 247.
This seems to be closely related to S. ovivorus
(Riley), from which it differs most noticeably in
being more slender, with the abdomen not wider than
the thorax and very strongly narrowed to the apex;
the abdomen also is differently sculptured, especially
on the third tergite.
FEMALE.?Length about 3.5 mm. Head in front
view rather subcircular, in dorsal view about 1.6
times as wide as its maximum length; temples very
coarsely rugose, slightly rounded but receding and
about 0.6 as wide at mideye point as eyes; eyes large,
ratio of width to height 67:75; malar space hardly
0.4 as long as eye height; shortest distance between
eyes not longer than eye height; lower frons laterally,
malar spaces and cheeks coarsely striate, the inner
ribs of the frontal striae not curving around to meet
above the median smooth and polished area above
insertion of antennae; upper part of frons deeply
and closely reticulate punctate; upper part of back
of head strongly transversely rugose; occiput cari-
nately margined at the sides, not distinctly so medially
above; pedicel of antenna a little longer than first
flagellar segment, the club (last six segments) less
than three times as long as thick.
Thorax slightly narrower than head; neck of prono-
tum finely rugulose posteriorly, nearly smooth an-
teriorly; pronotal shoulders nearly rectangular; mesos-
cutum and disk of scutellum coarsely and deeply
reticulate punctate, the cells tending to be longitudi-
nal; notaulices rather well indicated; propodeum
coarsely rugulose medially at base, finely rugulose
laterally, and toward the lateral margins thickly cov-
ered with short, pale, appressed hairs that more or
less conceal the sculpture; posterior part of propodeum
set off by a curved ridge, strongly impressed, smooth
and shining, and with some more or less distinct
short longitudinal ridges crossing it; the broad oblique
impression on mesopleuron irregularly transversely
striate; subcosta weak apically but complete; stigmal
vein weak but distinct; hind coxae finely shagreened.
Abdomen considerably longer than head and
thorax combined, at least 2.5 times as long as its
maximum width, in its widest part not wider than
thorax and narrowing strongly to the apex, which is
very acute; tergites 1 to 5 strongly longitudinally
striate, the first barely more than half as long medially
as the second; the third distinctly a little longer than
the fourth (in ratio of 80:70) ; the fifth fully as long
as the second and less than twice as broad at base as
long; sixth virtually an equilateral triangle, rugulose;
third, fourth, and fifth sternites usually strongly longi-
tudinally striate.
Black; scapes pale, remainder of antennae dark-
ened; mandibles testaceous; legs, including all coxae,
yellow; forewings distinctly infumated; tegulae dark-
ened ; abdomen usually brownish or piceous below.
MALE.?Essentially like the female. Eyes a little
smaller; abdomen narrowing strongly caudad but
fifth tergite relatively shorter and broader than in
the female, and the sixth strongly transverse, not
triangular; seventh tergite very short and finely rugu-
lose punctate; third segment of antennal flagellum
slightly longer than fourth, the third to seventh seg-
ments all broader than long.
LECTOTYPE.?USNM 2263 (designated by Mas-
ner and Muesebeck, 1968:43). The three remaining
specimens of the type-series are headless and are ap-
parently not the same species as the lectotype.
DISTRIBUTION.?In addition to the lectotype,
which is from Jacksonville, Florida, the National
Museum of Natural History has a female from
Gainesville, Florida, and a number of specimens
(both sexes) from California, most of them labeled
only as from grasshopper eggs but others recorded as
having been reared from eggs of Melanoplus differ-
entialis (Thomas) and M. sanguinipes (Fabricius). In
the Canadian National Collections there is a female
from Concordia, Sinaloa, Mexico.
N U M B E R 1 2 2
Scelio hyalinipennis Ashmead
FIGURES 38, 44
Scelio hyalinipennis Ashmead, 1887:119.
This appears to be most closely related to S. ovivorus
(Riley), but the lower frons is much more finely
sculptured, the hind coxae are much smoother, and
the wings are clear hyaline; moreover, the abdomen
in the female is largely brownish yellow above and
below. From those females of S. oedipodae in which
the abdomen is testaceous or brownish S. hyalinipen-
nis may be immediately distinguished by its closely
aciculate lower frons.
FEMALE.?Length of available specimens ranging
from 4 to 4.6 mm. Head very slightly wider than
thorax, in dorsal view about 1.75 times as wide as
its maximum length; temples hardly receding, at
mideye point about 0.6 as wide as eyes, and coarsely
rugose; malar space half as long as eye height; short-
est distance between eyes about equal to eye height;
lower frons, malar spaces and cheeks closely, rather
finely, aciculate; the median smooth and polished
area immediately above insertion of the antennae
very small and narrow due to crowding by the
lateral aciculate areas; upper part of frons, vertex,
and occiput strongly rugose; occiput carinately mar-
gined at the sides but not distinctly so medially;
pedicel of antenna a little longer than first flagellar
segment, the club barely three times as long as thick.
Neck of pronotum largely finely transversely rugu-
lose; pronotal shoulders subrectangular; mesoscutum
and disk of scutellum rugose reticulate or reticulate
punctate, not longitudinally so; notaulices only very
weakly indicated posteriorly; propodeum with a me-
dian longitudinal impressed area extending from
base to apex and defined by carinae that are slightly
bowed outward; sometimes this area is divided by a
rather strong, straight, median longitudinal carina;
lateral areas of propodeum rugulose and not thickly
pubescent, these areas defined posteriorly each side
by a more or less distinct oblique ridge; the broad
oblique impression on mesopleuron finely and irregu-
larly transversely aciculate, the surface below the im-
pression weakly longitudinally sculptured, some-
times more or less smooth anteriorly; subcosta com-
plete and stigmal vein developed but both hyaline
and rather indistinct; hind coxae smooth and
polished.
Abdomen about as broad as thorax, narrowing
strongly from the base of the fourth segment to the
apex, which is acute; first tergite medially not quite
half as long as second, more than four times as
broad on posterior margin as long down the middle
and strongly longitudinally striate; second tergite
closely and finely longitudinally striate; third, fourth,
and fifth tergites finely longitudinally rugulose or
rugulose striate; the sixth rugose; fifth tergite twice as
broad at base as long; third, fourth, and fifth sternites
very weakly longitudinally sculptured, sometimes
smooth medially.
Head and thorax black; mandibles yellowish; an-
tennae brown to piceous except the scapes which
are brownish yellow; tegulae blackish; wings clear
hyaline; legs, including all coxae, yellow; abdomen
with first tergite, also the second and third tergites
except narrowly along the sides, and the fourth
medially, brownish yellow; apex of abdomen above
black; venter testaceous.
MALE.?A single male, which was taken at the
same time and place as three females of this species,
is presumably S. hyalinipennis although it differs
from the female in having the abdomen entirely
black and differently sculptured and the notaulices
rather well indicated; the third and fourth tergites
are reticulate and the fifth and sixth closely punc-
tate, none of the third to fifth being longitudinally
sculptured as they are in the female, and the second
tergite is only weakly and irregularly longitudinally
sculptured on a shagreened ground; moreover, the
venter of the abdomen is not at all longitudinally
sculptured, even laterally, but is rather shallowly
punctate there. Antennal flagellum (Figure 44) un-
usually short, the fourth to seventh flagellar segments
twice as broad as long, the third noticeably larger
than the others.
LECTOTYPE.?USNM 2856, (designated by Mas-
ner and Muesebeck, 1968:44), a female from Jack-
sonville, Florida. None of the remaining specimens
of Ashmead's type-series is the same as the lectotype;
the males are S. opacus (Provancher), while the fe-
male cannot be identified as any described species
and it is too poor for description.
DISTRIBUTION.?In addition to the lectotype,
which is from Florida, I have seen only five specimens
of this species: One female from Willis, Texas, col-
lected 16 May 1903, by J. C. Bridwell, and three
females and the male described above, all of which
were taken by H. F. Howden on Hilton Head
Island, South Carolina, 11?23 July 1965, and are in
10 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTION TO ZOOLOGY
the Canadian National Collections. Morgan (1901)
recorded S. hyalinipennis from eggs of Melanoplus
differentialis (Thomas) but I suspect that the para-
site in this case was S. opacus (Provancher).
Scelio incertus, new species
This is exceedingly similar to S. floridanus Ashmead,
but although the differences are subtle I believe it to
be a distinct species. The abdomen is less coarsely
and rather less completely striate than in S. flori-
danus; the pronotal shoulders are somewhat more
rounded; the lower frons is more finely striate, with
the ribs extending farther up and the inner ones
curving around the upper end of the median smooth
area; the fourth tergite is smooth and polished down
the middle; and the tegulae are yellow or brownish
yellow whereas they are piceous to black in all
specimens of S. floridanus I have seen.
FEMALE.?Length around 3.2 mm. Head distinctly
a little wider than thorax, in dorsal view 1.5 times as
broad as long, in front view subcircular; temples
rugose, receding, at mideye point hardly half as wide
as eyes; malar space about 0.4 as long as eye
height; shortest distance between eyes a little less than
eye height; lower frons laterally finely striate, the
inner ribs meeting or crossing at upper end of the
median smooth and polished space; malar space and
cheeks striate; temples coarsely, vertically rugose;
upper part of frons and vertex rugulose reticulate; oc-
ciput transversely rugose, carinately margined at the
sides; pedicel of antenna longer than first flagellar
segment, club about three times as long as thick.
Pronotal neck more or less shagreened or mi-
nutely transversely lineolate; pronotal shoulders
rather evenly rounded off, not angulate; mesoscutum
and disk of scutellum completely coarsely reticulate,
the cells large and irregular; notaulices indicated, at
least posteriorly; propodeum finely rugulose except
in the arcuate impressed area at posterior margin;
lateral surfaces of propodeum thickly covered with
short hair that more or less obscures the sculpture;
the broad oblique impression on mesopleuron finely
transversely striate, the surface below it confluently
punctate or rugulose punctate; hind coxae sha-
greened and somewhat punctate; subcosta complete
but weak apically; stigmal vein developed.
Abdomen about 1.3 times as long as head and
thorax combined and not wider than thorax, narrow-
ing strongly caudad beyond the third segment; first
tergite medially only slightly more than half as long
as second, coarsely longitudinally striate; second
tergite more finely but completely striate; third
longitudinally rugulose or rugulose striate; fourth
longitudinally rugulose striate laterally but smooth
down the middle; fifth weakly longitudinally rugulose
striate; sixth rugulose; fifth tergite not nearly twice
as broad at base as long; third, fourth, and fifth
sternites smooth and polished medially, finely acicu-
late laterally.
Black; mandibles and scapes yellow, also all legs
including the coxae; tegulae yellowish; forewings dis-
tinctly somewhat infumated except basally where they
are nearly or quite hyaline; abdomen black, some-
times weakly suffused with dark brown, especially
below.
MALE.?Unknown.
HOLOTYPE.?USNM 71616.
DISTRIBUTION.?The holotype and 8 female para-
types are labeled "In cotton fields, Brownsville,
Texas, 1956." Another female paratype was taken
1 June 1938 in a peach orchard at Sugarland, Texas.
Scelio insolitus, new species
FIGURES 2, 17, 36
This species is remarkable for its extraordinarily
large eyes and for its correspondingly very narrow
temples and very short malar spaces; also for the
unusually coarse sculpture of the mesonotum. It is
quite unlike all other known Nearctic species.
FEMALE.?Length of holotype 3.8 mm. Head in
dorsal view a little wider than thorax and about
twice as wide as its maximum length, in front view
subcircular; temples sharply receding from eye mar-
gins and at mideye point less than one-third as wide
as eyes; malar space less than one-third as long as
eye height; shortest distance between eyes only two-
thirds as long as eye height; distance between lateral
ocelli hardly three times the diameter of one of them;
frons, malar spaces, cheeks, temples and vertex
coarsely rugose reticulate, the lower frons not at all
striate or aciculate; occipital carina complete, very
prominent at the sides; first segment of antennal
flagellum fully as long as pedicel.
Thorax short and stout; neck of pronotum with
some weak transverse roughening; pronotal shoul-
ders rectangular; mesoscutum and disk of scutellum
extremely coarsely rugose reticulate; notaulices not
N U M B E R 1 2 2 11
at all indicated; propodeum coarsely rugose medially
in front, finely rugulose laterally, and with a broad
and deep, smooth and shining, semicircular impres-
sion around the posterior margin; the broad oblique
impression on mesopleuron not aciculate but finely
rugulose; remainder of mesopleuron, as well as
mesopectus and metapleuron, coarsely rugose; wings
very densely hairy; subcosta complete although hya-
line apically and rather obscured there by the thick
covering of dark hairs; stigmal vein well developed.
Abdomen at widest point hardly as wide as
thorax, narrowing strongly beyond the third segment
and acute at apex; first tergite down the middle more
than 0.6 as long as second, coarsely longitudinally
striate; second, third, fourth, and fifth tergites all
completely longitudinally striate, the third noticeably
the longest; none of the tergites smooth and polished
along the posterior margins; venter of abdomen com-
pletely, finely, longitudinally striate.
Body entirely deep black; antennal scapes light
brown, remainder of antennae black; all coxae black;
trochanters and extreme bases of femora pale, other-
wise the femora blackish; tibiae and tarsi brown;
wings strongly infumated except at extreme bases;
tegulae black.
MALE .?Unknown.
HOLOTYPE.?In the Canadian National Collec-
tions, Ottawa.
DISTRIBUTION.?Known only from the holotype,
which was collected at Paul Smiths, Franklin County,
New York, 20 July 1962, by J. R. Vockeroth.
Scelio oedipodae Ashmead
FIGURES 13, 24, 41
Scelio oedipodae Ashmead, 1893:242, 245.
Scelio rufiventris Ashmead, 1893:242, 245. New synonymy.
This appears to be most closely related to Scelio
rufulus, new species, and S. conformis, new species.
From the former it differs especially in color and in
its narrower and receding temples; from the latter it
may be distinguished as pointed out in the treatment
of that species. It seems that S. oedipodae and S.
rufiventris are clearly the same species. They agree
nicely in all essential details of structure, differing
only more or less in color, and it is evident from the
available material that color varies rather widely in
this form.
FEMALE.?Length normally ranging from 3.6 to
4.2 mm. Head strongly transverse, as viewed from
above nearly twice as broad as long, as seen from in
front subcircular, only a little broader than high;
cheeks not bulging; temples more or less receding, at
mideye point about 0.6 as wide as eyes; malar space
more than half, sometimes nearly two-thirds, as long
as eye height; shortest distance between eyes a little
longer than eye height; lower frons and malar space
smooth and polished, with only a few weak and very
short raised lines radiating from above bases of
mandibles; cheeks and temples more or less vertical-
ly rugulose, the lower part of cheeks often largely
smooth; upper part of frons and vertex punctate to
rugulose punctate; occiput transversely rugulose and
completely margined although weakly so medially;
pedicel of antenna considerably longer than first
flagellar segment; club fully three times as long as
broad.
Neck of pronotum usually largely smooth al-
though with some faint transverse sculpture an-
teriorly; pronotal shoulders weakly rounded off; me-
soscutum largely rather coarsely rugulose punctate,
the small lateral areas usually partly smooth and
shining; notaulices well marked, especially pos-
teriorly; disk of scutellum sculptured like the middle
posterior part of mesoscutum; propodeum rugulose,
usually with several prominent short carinae radiating
from posterior margin and often with two subparallel
median carinae enclosing a narrow median area; the
large oblique impression on mesopleuron finely trans-
versely aciculate, the area below it more or less
longitudinally striate; mesopectus largely smooth
and shining; hind coxae smooth and polished, though
usually with a little very weak, transverse sculpture
at their bases; subcosta apically indistinct or very
weak; stigmal vein not distinct.
Abdomen at least as broad as thorax, usually a
little broader; first tergite medially not more than 0.4
as long as second and coarsely longitudinally striate
or rugulose striate; second tergite usually finely longi-
tudinally rugulose striate, sometimes more or less
granulose in part; third, fourth, and fifth tergites
finely rugulose or granularly rugulose, the sixth more
coarsely roughened; third tergite barely longer than
fourth; fifth very nearly twice as broad at base as
long; third, fourth, and fifth sternites almost entirely
smooth and shining although with some scattered,
faint and minute punctures medially.
Color variable, ranging from almost entirely black
to largely reddish or yellowish brown; front of head,
12 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTION TO ZOOLOGY
especially on lower half, nearly always more or less
reddish; occasionally the thorax on the sides, and
usually the abdomen both above and below, more
or less reddish or yellowish brown; scape and pedicel
of antennae brownish yellow, the flagellum dark-
ened; wings hyaline; tegulae piceous, coxae, especial-
ly the posterior pair, usually more or less darkened
except when the abdomen is entirely red.
MALE.?Unknown.
Lectotype of S. oedipodae (Masner and Muese-
beck, 1968:44), USNM 24547; holotype of S.
rufiventris, USNM 25458.
DISTRIBUTION.?The two females of the type-
series of S. oedipodae are labeled as having been
reared from eggs of Oedipoda species taken at Ar-
lington, Virginia; the male which Ashmead included
in his type-series is S. opacus (Provancher). The
holotype of S. rufiventris is from Fort George, Florida.
In addition to the types I have seen specimens,
none of them reared, from Florida, Texas, Colorado,
and Montana in the United States, and from Ontario,
Canada. Morgan (1901) recorded this species from
eggs of Melanoplus differentialis (Thomas), but I
have seen no specimens of it from that host and I
suspect that the parasite he reared was S. opacus
(Provancher).
Scelio opacus (Provancher)
FIGURES 9, 27, 30, 43
Acerota opaca Provancher, 1887:184.
Scelio opacus (Provancher).?Ashmead, 1893:242, 245.
Scelio calopteni Riley, in Ashmead, 1893: 242, 246.?Snod-
grass, 1941:38-39, pi. 10, figs, Q, R.?Pickford, 1964:
1167-1172. New synonymy.
Scelio luggeri Riley, in Ashmead, 1893:242, 246. New
synonymy.
Scelio ashmeadi Viereck, 1903:74. New synonymy.
Scelio striatigena Kieffer, 1904:530; 1906:269. New
synonymy.
Scelio albipennis Kieffer, 1906:270. New synonymy.
Scelio melleipes Kieffer, 1908:29, 30. New synonymy.
This seems to be decidedly the most abundant and
most widespread Nearctic species of Scelio. I have
seen many hundreds of specimens from numerous
localities, ranging across Canada from Nova Scotia
to British Columbia and in the United States from
New Hampshire to Florida and west to the Pacific
(from Oregon to southern California). It seems to
be primarily a parasite in the eggs of various species
of Melanoplus. Material I have examined includes
numerous long series from M. sanguinipes (Fabri-
cius), and others from M. femurrubrum (DeGeer),
M. devastator Scudder, M. differentialis (Thomas),
and M. bivittatus (Say). In addition, some series
from Manitoba and Saskatchewan are recorded as
having been reared from eggs of Camnula pellucida
(Scudder), and three specimens are labeled as
having been obtained from eggs of Ageneotettix
deorum (Scudder).
As indicated above six names are being suppressed
as new synonyms of S. opacus. Although I have
seen a paratype of S. albipennis I have been unable
to obtain for study type-specimens of the other two
Kieffer species. All three species, however, seem
rather clearly to be S. opacus.
FEMALE.?Length normally ranging from 3.2 to
3.8 mm. Head slightly wider than thorax, nearly
circular as seen from in front and usually about 1.6
times as wide as long in dorsal view; temples some-
times noticeably receding but usually broadly round-
ed, at mideye point from 0.6 to 0.75 as wide as eyes,
irregularly vertically rugulose; malar space usually
a little more than half as long as eye height; shortest
distance between eyes ranging from 1.1 to 1.25 times
eye height; lower frons laterally, malar spaces and
cheeks finely striate; upper part of frons usually with
well separated, very shallow punctures on a sha-
greened ground; vertex and occiput generally more
or less like upper part of frons but sometimes vir-
tually smooth; occiput normally completely mar-
gined although often weakly so medially; pedicel of
antenna noticeably longer than first flagellar seg-
ment, club (last six segments) at least three times
as long as thick.
Neck of pronotum finely transversely striate; pro-
notal shoulders subrectangular; mesoscutum usually
finely rugulose punctate but sometimes more or less
smooth anteriorly and in the posterior lateral corners;
notaulices usually rather well indicated; disk of
scutellum sculptured like posterior part of mesoscu-
tum; propodeum largely rugulose, usually with two
more or less complete longitudinal keels medially
and a little depressed around the posterior margin,
only very sparsely hairy; mesopleuron finely rugu-
lose, the broad oblique impression finely trans-
versely aciculate; subcosta normally complete though
largely hyaline; stigmal vein indistinct; hind coxae
usually a little shagreened or finely transversely
lineolate outwardly and below.
N U M B E R 1 2 2 13
Abdomen about as wide as thorax and consid-
erably longer than head and thorax combined,
strongly narrowed from the third segment to the apex
where it is acute; first tergite on anterior margin
usually about twice, on posterior margin about three
times, as wide as long down the middle, its median
length at least half that of the second tergite, which
is shorter than the third or fourth and about as long
as the fifth; the third barely longer than the fourth;
the fifth usually, but not always, about twice as broad
at base as long; first tergite coarsely longitudinally
rugose or striate; the second, third, fourth, and fifth
tergites very finely longitudinally rugulose aciculate
on a granulose ground, the fourth and fifth often a
little smooth medially; third, fourth, and fifth sternites
finely longitudinally aciculate or rugulose except
medially where they are usually smooth.
Black or blackish, the abdomen sometimes suf-
fused with red or brownish yellow and the pronotal
neck nearly always lighter than the mesonotum; legs
yellow, rarely the hind coxae slightly darkened; an-
tennal scapes yellowish, remainder of antennae dark-
ened; forewings usually distinctly a little infumated
although sometimes nearly or quite hyaline; tegulae
brownish yellow to piceous.
MALE.?Darker and usually more coarsely sculp-
tured than the female; antennal scapes and the legs,
at least the coxae, more or less darkened; wings
whitish hyaline. Third segment of antennal flagellum
not enlarged as it is in many species of the genus,
not longer than the fourth. Temples usually broader
than in the female and the first tergite, compared with
the second, relatively longer.
Lectotype of S. opacus (selected by Gahan and
Rohwer, 1917:304) in the Quebec Provincial Mu-
seum Collection, Laval University, Sainte Foy, Que-
bec, Canada. The lectotypes of S. calopteni and
S. luggeri (selected by Masner and Muesebeck,
1968:43 and 44, respectively) in the National Mu-
seum of Natural History and the holotype of S.
ashmeadi in the Academy of Natural Sciences of
Philadelphia. The location of the holotypes of the
three species described by Kieffer is unknown.
DISTRIBUTION.?As indicated above the species
occurs throughout continental United States, except
Alaska, and at least throughout southern Canada.
Scelio ovivorus (Riley)
FIGURES 3, 23, 39, 49
Caloptenobia ovivora Riley, 1878:306.
Scelio famelicus (Say).?Riley, 1880:270.?Ashmead, 1887:
119.
Scelio ovivora (Riley).?Riley, 1885:22.?Riley and How-
ard, 1885:124.?Ashmead, 1887:119; 1893:242, 244.
Scelio pallidicornis Ashmead, 1893: 242, 244. New synon-
ymy.
The identity of Sparasion jamelicum Say (1836:276)
is somewhat doubtful, but Riley's identification of
the species as the form which he had described
earlier as Caloptenobia ovivora is definitely incor-
rect, as he himself recognized later (1885). Al-
though Say's species is currently being placed in
Sparasion, in which it was originally described, I
do not believe it belongs there. The author's em-
phasis on the "much elongated" body and his descrip-
tion of the antennae appear to exclude Sparasion
but to fit Macroteleia. It seems quite possible that
S. jamelicum Say is the same as Macroteleia gold-
smithi Girault (1920:180) which was originally de-
scribed from Illinois. Apparently S. ovivorus is most
similar to S. floridanus Ashmead, but it is normally
somewhat larger, with the abdomen relatively broad-
er and not so acute at the apex. There are also dif-
ferences in the sculpture of the abdomen, the struc-
ture of the antennae and the color of the tegulae in
the female. I believe S. pallidicornis Ashmead to be
the male of S. ovivorus.
FEMALE.?Length normally 4.5?4.8 mm. Head a
little wider than thorax (in ratio of 7:6), as seen
from in front a little wider than high and from above
about 1.75 times as wide as long; temples receding,
at mideye point only about half as wide as eyes, and
coarsely rugose; malar space less than half as long
as eye height; shortest distance between eyes just
about equal to eye height; lower frons laterally,
malar space and cheeks coarsely striate; upper part
of frons and occiput coarsely rugoso-punctate; ver-
tex closely and coarsely punctate, sometimes con-
fluently so; occiput margined only at the sides;
pedicel of antenna only slightly longer than first
flagellar segment; club (last six segments) about
three times as long as broad.
Neck of pronotum minutely and faintly trans-
versely sculptured anteriorly, rugose punctate pos-
teriorly; pronotal shoulders subangulate; mesoscutum
and disk of scutellum entirely coarsely contiguously
punctate or rugoso-punctate; notaulices more or
less indicated; propodeum strongly rugose, the pos-
terior lateral angles prominent, acute; a strong
14 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTION TO ZOOLOGY
arched ridge setting off a transverse area at pos-
terior margin of propodeum that is usually crossed
by some irregular, weak, and short longitudinal
ridges; the large oblique impression on mesopleuron
more or less completely striate, the area below it as
well as the mesostemum strongly rugulose; hind
coxae largely finely shagreened or minutely granu-
lose; subcosta complete, stigmal vein well developed.
Abdomen large, its maximum width a little greater
than that of the thorax, not more than 2.3 times as
long as wide; first tergite coarsely longitudinally
rugose striate, its median length just about half that
of the second and its apical width not more than
four times its median length; second longitudinally
striate or rugulose striate; third irregularly rugulose
medially on basal half but longitudinally rugulose
striate laterally and posteriorly; fourth and fifth
tergites longitudinally striate; sixth rugulose; third
tergite longer than fourth; fifth fully twice as broad
at base as long; third, fourth, and fifth sternites
rather coarsely longitudinally striate except nar-
rowly down the middle.
Black; antennae dark brown to blackish, except
the scapes which are usually largely yellowish;
legs, including all coxae, entirely yellow; tegulae
yellow or brownish yellow; forewings distinctly some-
what infumated except at their bases.
MALE.?Differing from the female especially in
the antennae (Figure 49) and in the construction of
some of the abdominal segments; first tergite medially
more than half as long as second and fifth at least
2.5 times as broad at base as long. The antennae of
the type of S. pallidicornis are brownish yellow and
the tegulae and coxae are yellow, but other males
in the available material exhibit considerable varia-
tion in the color of these parts, the antennae, tegulae,
and hind coxae being sometimes darkened in varying
degrees.
Lectotype of S. ovivorus, USNM 2800 (Masner
and Muesebeck, 1968:45) Holotype of S. pal-
lidicornis, USNM 24546.
DISTRIBUTION.?The type-series of S. ovivorus is
labeled as having been reared in Massachusetts from
eggs of Dissosteira Carolina (Linnaeus) ; and the
unique type of S. pallidicornis was collected at Jack-
sonville, Florida. Other specimens (none of them
reared), which I identify as this species, are from
Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, District
of Columbia, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Illi-
nois, Iowa, Arkansas, and Texas.
Scelio pallidipes Ashmead
Scelio pallidipes Ashmead, 1893:242, 244.
This species, which is known from only five male
specimens, is exceedingly like S. striativentris Kief-
fer, which it resembles in the unusually long first
abdominal tergite, the closely striate abdomen and
the absence of notaulices, and it may prove to be the
same, but I feel compelled to hold it distinct for the
present, at least, because of certain minor, but ap-
parently significant differences and the difference in
distribution. All the coxae are completely yellow and
the forewings are hyaline, whereas in S. striativentris
the coxae of the males are usually more or less
darkened and the forewings are distinctly infumated;
moreover, the flagellar segments of the antennae are
relatively shorter than in the males of S. striativentris.
On the basis of the known material there is no over-
lapping of distribution of the two forms. Four of the
five known specimens of S. pallidipes are from Flor-
ida and the fifth is from Hilton Head Island, South
Carolina (at the extreme southern tip of the state) ;
S. striativentris, on the other hand, appears to be a
northern species, only one of the many specimens
I have seen being from as far south as North Carolina
and that was taken at an elevation of 1500 meters.
MALE.?Length about 3.5 mm. Head barely wider
than thorax, in dorsal view about 1.6 times as wide
as its maximum length, in front view broadly oval,
1.25 times as wide as high; temples a little more
than half as wide as eyes at mideye point, and to-
gether with the cheeks coarsely rugose; malar space a
little less than half as long as eye height; shortest
distance between eyes about 1.25 times as long as
eye height; lower frons and malar spaces coarsely
striate; upper part of frons, vertex and occiput coarse-
ly rugose reticulate; occiput carinately margined only
on the lower part of the sides; antennae short; first
flagellar segment a little longer than pedicel; third
flagellar segment a little swollen, wider than long;
the last four flagellar segments combined not as long
as scape.
Neck of pronotum shiny, weakly transversely
roughened anteriorly and laterally; pronotal shoul-
ders virtually rectangular; mesoscutum coarsely ru-
gose reticulate, with no indication of notaulices; pro-
podeum rugose, coarsely so medially, more finely so
laterally; an arched transverse keel setting off pos-
terior two-fifths of propodeum, this posterior, curved,
impressed area with several more or less distinct and
N U M B E R 1 2 2 15
short longitudinal rugae; dorsum of propodeum only
weakly hairy, even laterally, the sculpture not at all
obscured; posterior lateral angles not prominent; the
oblique impression on mesopleuron weakly, irregu-
larly, transversely roughened; subcosta distinct
basally but fading out apically; stigmal vein not dis-
tinct ; hind coxae largely smooth and polished.
Abdomen very nearly as wide as thorax; tergites
1?6, except narrowly along posterior margins,
rather strongly longitudinally striate, the spaces be-
tween the ribs minutely reticulate; first tergite nearly
0.9 as long medially as second, three-fifths as long as
broad at base and three-sevenths as long as broad
at apex; third tergite just about as long as fourth;
venter of abdomen largely very finely striate on a
shagreened ground.
Black; mandibles ferruginous; scape of antenna
brownish yellow; rest of antenna darkened; tegulae
brownish; wings clear hyaline; legs, including all
coxae, yellow.
FEMALE.?Unknown.
Lectotype (Masner and Muesebeck, 1968:45),
USNM 24545.
DISTRIBUTION.?The two specimens comprising
the type-series are from Jacksonville, Florida. In ad-
dition to these I have seen a male in the Canadian
National Collections from Hilton Head Island, South
Carolina, collected 11-23 July 1965 by H. F. How-
den; another in the collection of the Florida State
Division of Plant Industry that was collected at
Cassadaga, Florida, 11 May 1956 by H. V. Weems,
Jr., and one in the collection of the Museum of
Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, from San-
ford, Florida, labeled as collected 4 May.
Scelio pumilus, new species
FIGURES 12, 25, 29
This is the smallest Scelio I have seen. Although
sculpturally rather similar to S. opacus (Provancher)
it is readily distinguishable from that species by its
small size, relatively very short and broad abdomen,
stouter antennal club and the absence of any indica-
tion of notaulices.
FEMALE.?Length of holotype barely 3 mm. Head
in front view subrectangular, much broader than
high, in dorsal view 1.6 times as broad as long and
slightly broader than thorax; temples not receding
but virtually parallel, as seen from above, and at
mideye point about 0.8 as wide as eyes, very shiny
and rather smooth, with only some scattered, shal-
low punctures and a few weak vertical rugulae; malar
space half as long as eye height; cheeks somewhat
swollen, weakly and shortly aciculate at lower mar-
gins; shortest distance between eyes about 1.2 times
as long as eye height; lower frons and malar space
finely aciculate, the inner ribs curving toward each
other but not meeting and leaving a smooth and
polished space between them just above insertion of
antennae; upper frons, vertex and occiput smooth
and shining, with only some very shallow, well
separated punctures; occiput carinately margined at
the sides but not distinctly so medially; antennae
short and stout, pedicel slightly longer than first
flagellar segment, club (last six segments) only 2.5
times as long as thick.
Neck of pronotum completely transversely striate
as in S. opacus; pronotal shoulders a little rounded;
mesoscutum coarsely though shallowly reticulate ex-
cept on a small area medially in front which is largely
smooth and shiny with only scattered setiferous
punctures; notaulices not at all indicated; disk of
scutellum sculptured like posterior part of mesoscu-
tum; propodeum rugulose laterally, narrowly im-
pressed down the middle and smooth and shiny
medially at the posterior margin, with only a few
short longitudinal rugae there; the broad oblique im-
pression on mesopleuron irregularly transversely aci-
culate; wings of holotype in very poor condition, but
subcosta appears to be very weak and the stigmal
vein not apparent; hind coxae finely shagreened.
Abdomen short and broad, just about as long as
head and thorax combined and about twice as long
as its maximum width; first tergite longitudinally
striate, medially barely half as long as second, three
times as broad at base and four times as broad at
apex as long at the middle; second tergite very finely
and closely longitudinally striate; third longitudinally
finely rugulose aciculate, smooth and polished across
apex, and a little longer than fourth; fourth tergite
similarly but more weakly sculptured, broadly
smooth and polished across apex and medially; fifth
very weakly longitudinally aciculate on basal two-
thirds and at least three times as broad on anterior
margin as long; sixth rugulose; third, fourth, and fifth
sternites smooth medially, more or less longitudinally
striate laterally.
Black; mandibles, antennal scapes and the legs
completely, pale yellow; tegulae yellowish brown;
16 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTION TO ZOOLOGY
forewings apparently a little infumated; neck of pro-
notum light brown; venter of abdomen piceous.
MALE.?Unknown.
HOLOTYPE.?USNM 71617.
DISTRIBUTION.?Known only from a single female
labeled as having been collected in a cotton field at
Brownsville, Texas, in 1956.
Scelio rufulus, new species
FIGURES 7, 26, 35, 45
From S. semirufus, new species, which it resembles
superficially, this species differs in its very smooth
lower frons, the relatively shorter first segment of the
antennal flagellum, the better developed occipital
carina, the different abdominal sculpture, and the
usually entirely reddish body of the female (in S.
semirufus the head and abdomen are black). Struc-
turally S. rufulus is most similar to S. oedipodae
Ashmead, from which it differs especially in color
and in its unusually broad and bulging temples and
cheeks.
FEMALE.?Length normally ranging from 4 to 4.3
mm. Head very slightly wider than thorax, in dorsal
view about 1.65 times as broad as its maximum
length, in front view subrectangular; temples and
cheeks broadly rounded and bulging a little, the
temples at mideye point at least 0.8 as wide as eyes
and only weakly sculptured; malar space about two-
thirds as long as eye height; shortest distance be-
tween eyes about 1.25 times as long as eye height;
lower frons, malar spaces and cheeks smooth and
shining, a few very short and very faint striae radiat-
ing from above bases on mandibles; upper part of
frons, vertex, and occiput usually largely smooth but
sometimes somewhat rugulose punctate; occipital
carina well developed and usually complete; pedicel
of antenna about as long as first and second flagellar
segments combined, club a little more than three times
as long as thick.
Neck of pronotum very weakly, irregularly rough-
ened, shiny; pronotal shoulders a little rounded off,
not rectangular; mesoscutum largely rugulose punc-
tate but usually more or less smooth and shiny on the
middle lobe anteriorly and on the small lateral lobes;
notaulices indicated; disk of scutellum closely rugu-
lose punctate; propodeum nearly horizontal, largely
rugulose reticulate, without a transverse ridge setting
off a posteriorly depressed area but usually with
two subparallel median longitudinal carinae defin-
ing an elongate impressed area; posterior lateral an-
gles of propodeum prominent and acute; the broad,
oblique impression on mesopleuron strongly and
completely transversely striate; mesopectus smooth
and shining; subcosta apparently complete although
hyaline and very weak apically; stigmal vein usually
not distinct and at most represented by a faint hyaline
stub; hind coxae smooth and polished above.
Abdomen at widest point usually slightly wider
than thorax; first tergite medially less than half as
long as second, coarsely longitudinally rugulose; sec-
ond finely longitudinally rugulose striate; third
largely minutely rugulose; fourth and fifth tergites
usually shagreened or finely granulose; third and
fourth tergites subequal in length, the fifth twice as
broad at base as long, the sixth broadly triangular;
third, fourth, and fifth sternites smooth and shining,
at most vaguely longitudinally sculptured laterally.
Ferruginous, the abdomen sometimes slightly
darker than head and thorax; legs and tegulae con-
colorous with thorax; forewings hyaline or faintly
infumated on apical two-thirds.
MALE.?Differs from the female in the antennae
(Figure 45), in having the upper frons, temples,
and vertex more densely sculptured, and in having
the head, thorax, and abdomen black; the coxae and
femora also are black or blackish, and the wings are
clear hyaline.
HOLOTYPE.?USNM 71618.
DISTRIBUTION.?Described from 13 females (one
the holotype) and 3 males reared from eggs of an
unknown grasshopper in Greeley County, Kansas.
21 October 1938, by F. L. McDonald; 2 females
from grasshopper eggs, Russell County, Kansas,
May 1938, R. W. Portman; and 8 females and 1
male from grasshopper eggs, Smith County, Kansas,
2 October 1938, R. W. Portman. Also belonging
here, although not included in the type series are:
1 female from Halsey, Nebraska, taken 30 June
1958, by R. Henzlik; 1 female collected at Phoenix,
Arizona, 27 May 1938; 2 females collected in wind
vane traps in Idaho, 1 at Tuttle, 1 July 1932, and
1 at Wendell, 15 October 1930, and 1 female and
2 males from Winnett, Petroleum County, Montana,
collected 30 July 1969, by A. G. Hamilton. In one
of the female paratypes from Smith County, Kansas,
the eyes are unusually small and the lateral ocelli
are removed from the eyes by more than their own
diameter.
N U M B E R 1 2 2
Scelio semirufus, new species
FIGURES 1, 20, 28
This seems to be most similar to S. rufulus, new
species, which it particularly resembles in the shape
of the head, with broad and somewhat bulging
temples and broad frons, but it is readily distinguished
from that species by its black head and abdomen,
by the distinctly aciculate condition of the lower part
of the frons, by the character of the abdominal
sculpture and the relatively longer first tergite.
FEMALE.?Length about 4.5 mm. Head barely
wider than thorax, in front view subrectangular, in
dorsal view about 1.5 times as wide as its maximum
length; temples not receding but rather bulging a
little and at mideye point at least 0.9 as wide as
eyes, sometimes nearly smooth but usually with some
weak vertical rugulosity; malar space a little more
than half as long as eye height; lower frons, except
for a narrow, vertical, smooth, and polished strip
immediately above insertion of antennae, and also
the malar spaces and cheeks, finely striate; upper
part of frons closely punctate; vertex also punctate
but not so closely or so deeply as upper part of
frons; upper part of back of head transversely rugu-
lose; occipital carina well developed only at the
sides; pedicel of antenna only a little longer than
first flagellar segment, club about 3.5 times as long as
broad.
Thorax stout, broadest at the roundly rectangular
pronotal shoulders; pronotal neck irregularly and
very weakly transversely sculptured; sculpture of
mesoscutum variable; in the available specimens the
scutum is sometimes entirely covered with rather
large contiguous punctures but in other specimens
the punctures are smaller and well separated, and
in still others the scutum is largely smooth anterior-
ly and only finely and shallowly punctate posteriorly;
notaulices not clearly indicated; disk of scutellum
sculptured like posterior part of mesoscutum; pro-
podeum coarsely rugose reticulate, the posterior
lateral angles projecting prominently, acute; the
broad oblique impression on mesopleuron finely
transversely striate; subcosta indistinct apically; stig-
mal vein indistinct; hind coxae largely smooth and
polished.
Abdomen about 1.3 times as long as head and
thorax combined, at broadest point just about as
broad as thorax, narrowing sharply caudad from
17
the end of the third segment, acute at apex; first ter-
gite medially slightly more than half as long as
second and coarsely longitudinally rugose striate;
second, third, fourth, and fifth tergites more finely
longitudinally rugulose, sixth rugulose; fifth tergite
not nearly twice as broad at base as long; third,
fourth, and fifth sternites smooth medially, very
finely and closely, longitudinally rugulose laterally.
Head black, except the mandibles and the an-
tennal scapes, which are reddish; thorax red, the
disk of scutellum and the metanotum sometimes a
little darkened; tegulae and legs concolorous with
thorax; forewings noticeably infumated; abdomen
brownish black to black.
MALE.?Unknown.
HOLOTYPE.?USNM 71621.
DISTRIBUTION.?Known only from a series of 13
females, one the holotype, that were reared from
eggs of Mermiria maculipennis Bruner which had
been collected in "Central S. Dakota or N. W. Ne-
braska" in September 1944, by R. C. Newton. Some
of the specimens are not in good condition.
Scelio singularis, new species
Although this species closely resembles S. striativen-
tris Kieffer it may be immediately distinguished from
that form by its relatively shorter first abdominal
tergite, its strongly receding temples and completely
margined occiput and its larger eyes with a corre-
spondingly narrower frons and shorter malar space.
In the transversely striate neck of the thorax it is
very similar to S. opacus (Provancher), from which
it differs, however, in its more evenly and more
coarsely sculptured head and thorax, absence of
notaulices, coarser sculpture of the abdomen and
larger eyes.
FEMALE.?Length of holotype 4 mm; of paratype
3.7 mm. Head slightly wider than thorax, as seen
from above hardly 1.6 times as wide as its maximum
length, in front view noticeably broader than high;
temples receding, at mideye point about half as
wide as eyes, strongly vertically rugose; eyes large;
malar space less than half as long as eye height
(in ratio of 35:80); shortest distance between eyes
just about equal to eye height; lower frons, malar
space and cheeks coarsely striate; upper part of
frons, vertex and occiput coarsely rugose punctate;
18 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTION TO ZOOLOGY
occipital carina sharp and complete; first segment of
antennal flagellum nearly as long as pedicel, the
club (last six segments) more than three times as
long as thick.
Neck of pronotum closely transversely striate; pro-
notal shoulders rectangular; mesoscutum and disk of
scutellum completely coarsely rugose punctate; no-
taulices wanting; propodeum nearly horizontal,
strongly rugose and without any noticeable hair
covering, there being only a few scattered hairs
toward lateral margins; posterior lateral angles of
propodeum rather prominent; hind coxae largely
smooth and polished; subcosta complete though
hyaline apically, stigmal vein very weak and short.
Abdomen a little wider than thorax, evenly nar-
rowed toward base and apex; first tergite about half
as long medially as second, strongly longitudinally
striate; tergites 2 to 5 more closely and more finely
striate, the sixth rugose; third only just longer than
fourth; fifth just about twice as broad at base as long;
third, fourth, and fifth sternites finely longitudinally
aciculate laterally, smooth and polished medially with
only a few punctures there.
Black; mandibles and antennal scapes brownish;
neck of pronotum black; tegulae brownish piceous;
legs brownish yellow, the hind coxae slightly dark-
er; forewings distinctly a little infumated; abdomen
black above, a little suffused with brownish below.
MALE.?Unknown.
HOLOTYPE.?USNM 71619.
DISTRIBUTION.?Known only from the holotype fe-
male, which was collected at Ames, Iowa, 28 Septem-
ber 1963, by L. W. Asell, and which has been
donated to the National Museum of Natural His-
tory by Iowa State University; and a female para-
type from Benzie County, Michigan, taken 8 Sep-
tember 1966, by R. W. Carlson and presented to the
National Museum of Natural History by Dr.
Carlson.
Scelio solus, new species
Very near Scelio conjormis, new species, but differ-
ing especially in its shorter malar space and in the
more striate sculpture of the abdomen.
FEMALE.?Length of holotype 3.8 mm. Head in
dorsal view about 1.75 times as broad as its maxi-
mum length, in front view broadly oval; temples
rounded, gradually receding, at mideye point about
two-thirds as wide as eyes; malar space barely half
as long as eye height; shortest distance between
eyes just equal to eye height; lower part of frons
smooth and polished, with only a few weak and
very short striae above bases of mandibles; upper
part of frons with large, though shallow, closely
placed punctures; vertex and occiput confluently
punctate or rugulose punctate; occipital carina com-
plete; cheeks and temples largely smooth although
finely vertically lineolate adjacent to eyes and with
some very shallow, elongate punctures; pedicel of
antenna fully as long as first and second flagellar
segments combined; club (last six segments) slightly
more than three times as long as thick.
Neck of pronotum very shiny and with only a
little faint, transverse sculpture; pronotal shoulders
broadly rounded off; mesoscutum closely and coarse-
ly punctate, confluently so posteriorly, more or less
smooth and shining in the posterior lateral angles,
with only scattered punctures there; notaulices indi-
cated posteriorly; disk of scutellum closely rugose
punctate; propodeum strongly rugose and with two
irregular longitudinal carinae bordering a narrow me-
dian longitudinal impression; the broad oblique im-
pression on mesopleuron largely transversely striate,
narrowly smooth and polished below, the area im-
mediately below the impression finely longitudi-
nally sculptured; mesopectus largely smooth and shin-
ing although with some weak punctures; hind coxae
smooth and polished; subcosta and stigma very well
developed.
Abdomen not broader than thorax; first tergite
medially slightly less than half as long as second
and strongly longitudinally striate; the second com-
pletely and finely striate; third not longer than fourth,
both largely longitudinally rugulose striate; more
weakly so medially; sixth rugose; third, fourth, and
fifth sternites smooth and shining but with numerous,
rather evenly spaced, small setiferous punctures.
Black, venter of abdomen brown; scape, pedicel,
and base of antennal fiagellum light brown; rest of
antenna brownish piceous; legs, including all coxae,
testaceous; forewings distinctly a little infumated
except at bases; tegulae piceous.
MALE.?Unknown.
HOLOTYPE.?In the Canadian National Collections.
DISTRIBUTION.?Known only from the holotype,
which was collected at Mount Pleasant, Florida, 1
May 1952, by G. S. Walley.
N U M B E R 1 2 2 19
Scelio squamosus, new species
FIGURE 18
This is immediately distinguishable from all other
known Nearctic species of Scelio by having the head
and much of the thorax covered with long and
broad, white, recumbent or semirecumbent, scale-
like hairs. Species with similar vestiture are known,
however, from South America, the Philippines and
Australia.
FEMALE.?Length of holotype 3.8 mm. Head
rather strongly transverse, in dorsal view about 1.75
times as broad as its maximum length, in front
view subcircular; temples rugose, narrow, and re-
ceding, at mideye point not nearly half as wide as
eyes; malar space just about half as long as eye
height and shortest distance between eyes just equal
to eye height; lower frons, except medially above
insertion of antennae, finely striate up to level of
middle of eyes; malar spaces and cheeks striate,
upper part of frons and vertex finely rugulose, the
back of the head, below lateral ocelli, somewhat
transversely rugulose; sculpture of head rather ob-
scured by the covering of broad, white, recumbent,
scale-like hairs, only the narrow, smooth, and pol-
ished area just above insertion of antennae being
without them; occipital carina complete although
weak medially; pedicel of antenna a little longer than
first flagellar segment; club more than three times as
long as thick.
Thorax noticeably narrower than head; neck of
pronotum strongly transversely striate; pronotal
shoulders only weakly rounded; mesoscutum shal-
lowly but rather coarsely reticulate, with some punc-
tation or fine rugulosity in the cells; notaulices
wanting; disk of scutellum finely rugose reticulate;
mesoscutum and scutellar disk with some broad,
scale-like hairs like those on head (in the holotype
some of these have been rubbed off) ; propodeum
finely rugulose, with two weak and irregular, sub-
parallel carinae down the middle; the broad oblique
impression on mesopleuron weakly and irregluarly
rugulose aciculate; the surface below this impres-
sion rugulose but the sculpture somewhat obscured
by a thick covering of long, white, semirecumbent
broadened hairs, some of them scale-like; metapleu-
ron rugulose, also rather thickly covered with long
white hairs some of which are broad and scalelike;
hind coxae shagreened; subcosta distinct only basal-
ly; stigmal vein not developed.
Abdomen barely longer than head and thorax
combined and not quite as broad as thorax; median
length of first tergite barely one-third the basal width
of the tergite and less than half the median length of
the second; third tergite longer than fourth (in ratio
of 70:60), fifth shorter than second and twice as
broad at base as long; first tergite rather strongly lon-
gitudinally rugose striate, the second finely and close-
ly longitudinally aciculate on an alutaceous ground,
the third, fourth, and fifth tergites weakly and irregu-
larly longitudinally aciculate on an alutaceous or
granulose surface; sixth tergite regulose reticulate;
venter of abdomen smooth medially, finely sha-
greened laterally.
Head black but covered with conspicuous, white,
scale-like hairs; mandibles brownish; scape and ped-
icel of antenna brownish yellow, flagellum brown
basally, the club black; dorsum of prothorax and
mesothorax black; propodeum and all of the sides
and the venter of thorax reddish testaceous; legs
entirely testaceous; forewings a little infumated but
hyaline basally; tegulae brown; abdomen black or
blackish.
MALE.?Unknown.
HOLOTYPE.?USNM 71620.
DISTRIBUTION.?Known only from the holotype,
which is labeled as having been collected at Gaines-
ville, Florida, 28 January 1958, by K. W. Cooper.
Scelio striativentris Kieffer
FIGURES 5, 21, 32, 46
Scelio striativentris Kieffer, 1908a: 29, 33.
This is a rather common northern species which su-
perficially somewhat resembles the most common and
most widely distributed Nearctic form, S. opacus
(Provancher). It is easily distinguished from S.
opacus, however, by its unusually long first abdomi-
nal tergite, the complete absence of notaulices, the
more strongly striate abdomen, the well-infumated
wings of the male, and by characters of the antennae
of both sexes.
FEMALE.?Length around 3.8 mm. Head in dorsal
view about 1.5 times as wide as long, in front view
short oval, only a little wider than high; temples
normally rounded or even bulging slightly, at mid-
eye point usually about 0.8 as wide as eyes and
coarsely rugose reticulate; malar space hardly half
as long as eye height; shortest distance between eyes
20 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTION TO ZOOLOGY
usually about 1.15 times the eye height; lower frons
laterally, malar spaces and cheeks coarsely striate, a
narrow vertical area above insertion of antennae
smooth and polished; upper half of frons, as well as
the vertex and occiput, coarsely rugose reticulate;
occiput not distinctly carinately margined except low
on the sides; first segment of antennal flagellum
about as long as pedicel, club (last six segments)
fully three times as long as thick.
Thorax slightly narrower than head; pronotal
neck sometimes largely smooth but usually finely
rugulose posteriorly and more or less transversely
aciculate anteriorly; shoulders nearly rectangular;
mesoscutum and disk of scutellum entirely coarsely
rugose reticulate, the former with no indication of
notaulices; propodeum largely finely rugulose but
with a curved, depressed area around posterior mar-
gin that is usually divided into a number of smooth
and shiny areas by short, more or less distinct, longi-
tudinal septa; posterior lateral angles of propodeum
rather blunt; the broad, oblique impression on
mesopleuron irregularly transversely striate; subcosta
distinct basally, weak or indistinct apically; stigmal
vein not developed or very indistinct; hind coxae
largely smooth and polished.
Abdomen slightly wider than thorax, evenly nar-
rowed toward base and apex; first tergite medially
about 0.8 as long as second, closely rugose, often
longitudinally so but not evenly striate; tergites 2 to 5
closely, longitudinally striate; sixth rugulose; third
and fourth tergites about equal in length; the fifth
twice as broad at base as long; third, fourth, and
fifth sternites strongly longitudinally striate though
usually smooth and very shiny medially.
Black; pronotal neck sometimes dark brown; an-
tennae dark except the scapes which are yellowish;
forewings distinctly infumated; tegulae and legs
brownish yellow.
MALE.?Antenna (Figure 46) with third flagellar
segment conspicuously enlarged and about as long
as broad, the last four segments of flagellum com-
bined as long as scape; the scapes and usually the
legs, especially the hind coxae, more or less darkened;
otherwise the male is essentially similar to the female.
DISTRIBUTION.?The male type, which was from
Toronto, Canada, has not been found, but I am rea-
sonably confident that I have correctly identified the
species, which seems to occur rather commonly in
Canada from Nova Scotia to Manitoba. Numerous
specimens in the Canadian National Collections from
Manitoba are labeled as having been reared from
eggs of Malanoplus bivittatus (Say). In addition I
have seen many specimens from the United States
including material from Vermont, New Hampshire,
Massachusetts, New York, Maryland, Virginia, North
Carolina (at elevation of 1500 meters), Michigan
Wisconsin, Kansas, and North Dakota. A series from
Bristol, Maryland, is labeled as having been ob-
tained by W. H. Tyson in January 1970, from an
old fungus on the side of a dead tree, which suggests
that the species may hibernate in the adult stage.
Scelio venatus Brues
FIGURE 48
Scelio venata Brues, 1906c: 228.
Through the kindness of Dr. George W. Byers of the
University of Kansas, I have had an opportunity to
study the holotype of this species. Unfortunately, the
abdomen of the specimen is missing, but it was rather
well described by Brues. Although somewhat smaller,
S. venatus resembles S. ernstii Riley very closely, and
particularly in general habitus, in the coarse, non-
striate sculpture of the frons, the absence of notaulices
and the darkened wings. It differs from S. ernstii in
being somewhat smaller, in its relatively wider frons
and relatively narrower thorax and in having the
broad mesopleural impression transversely striate and
the second, third, and fourth tergites of the female
partly reddish brown.
FEMALE.?Length of holotype 4.25 mm, accord-
ing to Brues. Head a little wider than thorax (in
ratio of 60:50), in dorsal view 1.65 times as broad
as its maximum length; temples strongly receding, at
mideye point about two-thirds as wide as eyes; malar
space about half as long as eye height; shortest dis-
tance between eyes somewhat longer than eye height
(in ratio of 90:80 in holotype) ; distance between
lateral ocellus and eye about equal to diameter of an
ocellus; frons, cheeks, malar spaces, temples, vertex,
and occiput coarsely and strongly rugose reticulate,
only a small area medially above insertion of an-
tennae smooth.
Pronotal shoulders not prominent, not rectangu-
lar; mesoscutum and disk of scutellum strongly rugose
reticulate, sculptured like the head; notaulices not
apparent; propodeum strongly rugose, with an irregu-
ar, strongly arched transverse ridge setting off the
N U M B E R 1 2 2 21
posterior part; mesopleuron rugulose reticulate, the
broad oblique impression striate; subcosta and stig-
mal vein well developed; hind coxae smooth and
polished.
According to the original description the "first
abdominal segment striated, but little wider than
long, narrowed basally; second segment two times as
wide as long, the third large, a little wider than long,
the fourth a trifle shorter; entire surface of abdomen
finely aciculated."
Black; antenna with scape Jight brown and pedicel
only slightly darker but the following segments dark
brown to blackish; mandibles except teeth testaceous;
tegulae darkened; wings infumated except basally;
legs brownish yellow, the hind coxae a little dark-
ened basally; according to Brues the abdomen has
"the second, third, and fourth segments each with a
large spot of reddish brown."
MALE.?The single known male is 4.2 mm long.
The head is thicker than that of the female, in dorsal
view about 1.5 times as wide as long, and the temples
are broader and more rounded, being very nearly as
wide as the eyes at the mideye point; the malar
space is more than half as long as the eye height and
the frons at its narrowest point is 1.25 times as wide
as the eye height; distance from a lateral ocellus to
eye slightly greater than diameter of an ocellus and
more than half the distance between the median and
lateral ocelli; first segment of antennal flagellum con-
siderably longer than pedicel, the third much en-
larged, thicker than the rest, as long as wide, and
about as long as the fourth and fifth segments com-
bined; median length of first abdominal tergite about
two-thirds the basal width of the tergite; first and sec-
ond tergites rather strongly longitudinally striate, the
third, fourth, and fifth largely longitudinally rugu-
lose, very narrowly smooth medially; third, fourth,
and fifth sternites largely smooth and shining though
with scattered setiferous punctures and very weak
longitudinal sculpture narrowly at the sides. Coxae
slightly darkened; abdomen darker than in the female
holotype.
HOLOTYPE.?In the collection of the University of
Kansas.
DISTRIBUTION.?Known only from the holotype,
which is from "Bill William's Fork," Arizona, and
the male described above, which was taken at Los
Angeles, California, 29 July 1897, by A. P. Morse,
and is in the collection of the National Museum of
Natural History.
Doubtful Species
Scelio caloptenorum Riley
Scelio caloptenorum Riley, 1885:22.
Riley may have used this name for the species which
he described in 1893 as Scelio calopteni, but his state-
ment that it is intermediate in size between S. ernstii
and S. ovivorus does not fit (S. calopteni) = S. opacus
(Provancher), which is smaller than both of those
species. In view of this discrepancy, and since no fur-
ther characterization is given, I leave the name as
representing a doubtful species.
Synoditella, new genus
TYPE-SPECIES.?Sceliomorpha bisulca Ashmead.
This genus is related to and has been confused
with Scelio Latreille, from which it differs especially
in its 2-segmented maxillary palpi and 1-segmented
labial palpi; in the structure of the mandible, which
has a very short inner tooth and a small, sharp
accessory tooth just beyond the middle on the outer
edge (Figure 51) ; in having the antennal scape com-
pletely and sharply carinate on the inner edge; in the
subtriangular head, and in the strongly depressed
body of the female. Some of its distinguishing features
are presumably modifications to suit its phoretic habit.
Phoresy is apparently characteristic of the two
known species of the genus. Females of both have
been found attached by their mandibles to the bodies
of living female grasshoppers. Rather extensive obser-
vations on the phoretic associations of S. bisulcata
(Kieffer) have been recorded by Lanham and Evans
(1958,1960).
Synoditella bisulca (Ashmead)
(?) Sceliomorpha bisulca Ashmead, 1893:240.
Ashmead's type-material consisted of two female
specimens, one from Texas (Belfrage Collection)
and the other from Florida. They appear to repre-
sent two distinct forms. On the basis of presently
available material I think it advisable to treat them
as separate species although eventually the differences
may prove to be merely subspecific. The lectotype,
selected by Masner and Muesebeck (1968:43), is
the specimen from Florida and the name bisulca will,
accordingly, need to be retained for this form, which
at present is known from only seven specimens from
22 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTION TO ZOOLOGY
Florida. The other entity is evidently much more
abundant and more widely distributed although I
have seen no specimens of it from Florida. The
Florida specimens differ from the others in averag-
ing slightly larger; in having all coxae yellow and the
mesoscutum not striate but largely rugulose punctate
and closely sculptured on the areas laterad of the
notaulices as well as medially, and in the relatively
longer malar space.
FEMALE.?Length of available specimens ranging
from 3.6 to 4 mm. Head strongly transverse and
deeply hollowed out behind, a little wider than thorax,
in dorsal view about twice as broad as its maximum
length, and in front view subtriangular, nearly as
high as broad; malar space a little more than half as
long as eye height; temples strongly receding and at
mideye point less than half as wide as eyes, very
shiny and with only a few weak, irregular, vertical
ridges; shortest distance between eyes at least 1.3
times eye height; lower frons a little convex, and
finely transversely striate, the ribs curving downward
laterally; no median smooth area medially above an-
tennae; upper part of frons and the vertex rather
strongly rugulose or rugulose punctate; distance be-
tween lateral ocellus and eye distinctly greater than
diameter of an ocellus and fully half the distance
between lateral and median ocelli, but distance be-
tween median ocellus and compound eye four times
diameter of ocellus; upper part of back of head finely
transversely rugulose; occiput sharply margined at the
sides; pedicel considerably larger than first flagellar
segment of antenna; the club somewhat flattened and
hardly 2.5 times as long as broad; clypeus with a
small but distinct and very acute median denticle on
the anterior margin.
Thorax noticeably flattened; pronotal neck long
and largely finely rugulose; pronotal shoulders
rounded, not at all angular or subangular; mesoscu-
tum uniformly rugulose punctate or rugulose reticu-
late, even laterad of the shallow notaulices, which
usually do not attain anterior margin of scutum; disk
of scutellum flat and finely rugulose punctate; pro-
podeum rugulose except for the large, impressed,
arcuate area along posterior margin, and with two
short, longitudinal median ridges at base; the large
oblique impression on mesopleuron finely, transverse-
ly rugulose striate; subcosta complete and stigmal
vein developed though short, the subcosta, stigma
and stigmal vein all hyaline and sometimes not readily
seen.
Abdomen also rather flattened; first tergite medial-
ly slightly more than half as long as second and
longitudinally striate; the second to fifth tergites also
longitudinally striate but very finely and irregularly
so and the striae themselves minutely punctate; sixth
tergite rugulose; third and fourth tergites just about
equal in length.
Black or blackish; antennae brown except scapes
which are yellowish; forewings-a little smoky; legs,
including all coxae yellow.
MALE.?Unknown.
DISTRIBUTION.?In addition to the lectotype,
which is from Jacksonville, Florida, I have seen one
specimen in the collection of the Museum of Com-
parative Zoology, Harvard University, which was
taken at Fort Myers, Florida, 14 November 1911;
one in the Canadian National Collections collected
29 March 1953 at Orlando, Florida; one in the col-
lection of the University of Michigan from Ocala
National Forest, Marion County, Florida, taken 27
July 1931, and three, in the same collection, from
Sanford, Florida, found 3 May 1931 on specimens of
the grasshopper Radinotatum carinatum (Walker).
Synoditella bisulcata (Kieffer)
FIGURES 10, 16,31,47, 51
Scelio bisulcatus Kieffer, 1904:531; 1906:269.
Scelio monticola Brues, 1906a: 184.
Scelio striaticollis Brues, 1906b: 222. New synonymy.
Scelio bisulcus (Ashmead).?Muesebeck and Walkley, 1951:
702.?Lanham and Evans, 1958:213; 1960:84-87.
As indicated in the foregoing description of Synoditella
bisulca (Ashmead) the two species are exceedingly
similar, but the presence of certain rather constant
differences in the known material suggest specific
distinction. The detailed description of S. bisulca
applies to S. bisulcata except as follows:
FEMALE.?Length normally 3?3.6 mm; malar
space less than half as long as eye height; mesoscutum
shiny and more or less longitudinally striate or rugu-
lose striate medially, the areas laterad of the
notaulices more weakly sculptured, sometimes largely
smooth; disk of scutellum shiny and weakly longitudi-
nally sculptured; rarely entire mesoscutum and scutel-
lar disk virtually smooth. The color of the two species
is similar except for the coxae. In S. bisulcata the
coxae are darkened and range from brown or piceous
to black.
N U M B E R 1 2 2 23
MALE.?The antennae are largely yellowish and
differently constructed than in the female (Figure
47) ; the temples are broader and less strongly reced-
ing and usually more coarsely sculptured; the thorax
is less flattened and the pronotal shoulders less
strongly rounded off; and the middle of the mesoscu-
tum is usually more irregularly regulose. Finally, the
wings are virtually hyaline.
HOLOTYPE.?Location unknown. The species was
described from Belfrage material from Texas (prob-
ably from the same lot as the paralectotype of Ash-
mead's Synoditella bisulca). Through the kindness of
Dr. G. W. Byers I have had the opportunity of
examining the holotypes of Scelio monticola Brues
and S. striaticollis Brues, which are in the collection
of the University of Kansas.
DISTRIBUTION.?The type of Synoditella bisul-
cata is from Texas, as already mentioned. That of
Scelio monticola is from Hamilton County, Kansas,
and that of Scelio striaticollis was taken at Galves-
ton, Texas. Other material I have seen is from Texas,
Kansas, South Carolina, Tennessee, Michigan, Illi-
nois, South Dakota, Arizona, California, and Mexico.
Some of these specimens are recorded as having
been reared from eggs of Melanoplus species, M.
differential (Thomas), and M. sanguinipes (Fabri-
cius). Others were collected from the bodies of fe-
male grasshoppers of the following species: Melano-
plus confusus Scudder, M. differentialis (Thomas),
M. femurrubrum (DeGeer), M. keeleri luridus
(Dodge), Dichromorpha viridis (Scudder), and
Chortophaga viridifasciata (DeGeer). Lanham and
Evans (1958) recorded up to three specimens of
Synoditella bisulcata on a single female grasshopper
but noted that usually there was only one. The para-
sites were firmly attached to the grasshoppers by
their mandibles, having seized the intersegmental
membranes in the anterior part of the abdomen. All
the parasites and their grasshopper hosts were adult
females.
To my knowledge there is only one other described
species of Scelionidae that is a parasite in the eggs of
grasshoppers, exhibits phoresy, and is superficially
very similar to the two known species of Synoditella
treated above. This is the form described by Brues
(1917a) as "1 Lepidoscelio viatrix." Although it is
known only from India, and is therefore outside the
normal scope of this paper, it seems desirable to com-
ment on it here because of its striking similarity to
the species of Synoditella in habitus and behavior.
In my opinion it does not belong in Lepidoscelio
Kieffer. Although I have not seen L. fuscipennis
Kieffer, the type-species of the genus, it was originally
distinguished from Scelio (Kieffer, 1905:129) only
by the presence on the metanotum of a transverse,
bilobed, lamelliform elevation, a character which as
was pointed out by Dodd (1927:129) when he sup-
pressed Discelio Kieffer as a synonym of Scelio, is
probably not of generic significance here. I have seen
specimens of Brues' species and believe that it must
be given a new generic name. It seems to be very
closely allied to Synoditella, although its general re-
semblance is apparently due to convergence result-
ing from its similar phoretic association with grass-
hoppers. Structurally it differs in having 3-segmented
maxillary palpi and 2-segmented labial palpi, in lack-
ing an acute denticle on the outer edge of the man-
dible, in the presence of a distinct, sharp tooth on
each side in the occipital carina at the level of the
lower eye margins, and in having the lateral ocelli
situated close to the compound eyes as in Scelio. A
new generic name seems to be required.
Sceliocerdo, new genus
TYPE-SPECIES.?Lepidoscelio viatrix Brues, 1917a:
139.
Along with his description of L. viatrix, Brues
wrote of the phoretic association of this species with
the grasshopper Colemania sphenarioides Bolivar
and referred to this again later the same year (1917b).
Ramachandra Rao (1952) and Basavanna (1953a,
1953b) have also recorded observations of phoresy
in this species. The latter (1953b) photographed a
female of Orthacris carli Uvarov with six individuals
of the parasite attached to it.
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Muesebeck, C. F. W., and Luella M. Walkley
1951. Superfamily Proctotrupoidea. In Muesebeck et
al., Hymenoptera of America North of Mexico?
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Murai, S.
1962. Studies on Scelio muraii Watanabe and Scelio
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NUMBER 1 2 2 25
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26 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTION TO ZOOLOGY
FIGURES 1?6.?Head, thorax and abdomen, from above: 1, Scelio semirufus, new species; 2, S.
insolitus, new species; 3, 5". ovivorus (Riley) ; 4, S. ernstii Riley; 5, S. striativentris Kieffer;
6, S. commixtus, new species.
N U M B E R 1 2 2 27
FIGURES 7-13.?Head, thorax and abdomen, from above: 7, Scelio rufutus, new species; 8, S.
conformis, new species; 9, S. opacus (Provancher); 10, Synoditella bisulcata (Kieffer); 11,
Scelio floridanus Ashmead; 12, S. pumilus, new species; 13, S. oedipodae Ashmead.
28 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTION TO ZOOLOGY
14 15
19 20
FIGURES 14^20.?Head, front view: 14, Scelio commixtus, new species; 15, S. conformis, new
species; 16, Synoditella bisulcata (Kieffer) ; 17, Scelio insolitus, new species; 18, S. squamosus,
new species; 19, S. ernstii Riley; 20, S. semirufus, new species.
NUMBER 1 2 2 29
21
23
FIGURES 21-27.?Head, front view: 21, Scelio striativentris Kieffer; 22, S. floridanus Ashmead;
23, S. ovivorus (Riley); 24, S. oedipodae Ashmead; 25, S. pumilus, new species; 26, S. rufulus,
new species; 27, S. opacus (Provancher).
30 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTION TO ZOOLOGY
32
37
38
FIGURES 28-39.?Female antennae: 28, Scelio semirufus, new species; 29, S. pumilus, new
species; 30, S. opacus (Provancher); 31, Synoditella bisulcata (Kieffer); 32, Scelio striativentris
Kieffer; 33, S. conformis, new species; 34, S. ernstii Riley; 35, S. rufulus, new species; 36, S.
insolitus, new species; 37, S. commixtus, new species; 38, S. hyalinipennis Ashmead; 39, S.
ovivorus (Riley).
N U M B E R 1 2 2 31
40
41
43
44
45
47
46
49
50 51
FIGURES 40-51.?Antennae and mandibles: 40-41, female antennae: 40, Scelio floridanus
Ashmead; 41, S. oedipodae Ashmead. 42-50, male antennae: 42, Scelio ernstii Riley; 43, S.
opacus (Provancher) ; 44, S. hyalinipennis Ashmead; 45, S. rufulus, new species; 46, S. striati-
ventris Kieffer; 47, Synoditella bisulcata (Kieffer); 48, Scelio venatus Brues; 49, S. ovivorus
(Riley); 50, S. commixtus, new species. 51, mandibles of Synoditella bisulcata (Kieffer).
Index
(Page numbers of principal accounts in boldface)
albipennis, Scelio, 12
Aleria, 3
ashmeadi, Scelio, 12, 13
bisulca, Sceliomorpha, 21
Synoditella, 21, 22, 23
bisulcata, Synoditella, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 30, 31
Scelio, 22
bisulcus, Scelio, 22
calopteni, Scelio, 12, 13, 21
Caloptenobia, 3
caloptenorum, Scelio, 21
commixtus, Scelio, 4, 5, 26, 28, 30, 31
conformis, Scelio, 4, 6, 11, 18, 27, 28, 30
Dichacantha, 3
Discelio, 3, 23
Enneascelio, 3
ernstii, Scelio, 4, 5, 7, 20, 21, 26, 28, 30, 31
exaratus, Enneascelio, 3
famelicum, Sparasion, 13
famelicus, Scelio, 13
flavibarbis, Aleria, 3
floridanus, Scelio, 5, 8, 10, 13, 27, 29, 31
fulgidus, Scelio, 1, 2
fuscipennis, Lepidoscelio, 23
Scelio, 7
goldsmithi, Macroteleia, 13
hyalinipennis, Scelio, 5, 9, 10, 30, 31
incertus, Scelio, 5, 10
insolitus, Scelio, 4, 10, 26, 28, 30
javanicus, Scelio, 2
Lepidoscelio, 3
luggeri, Scelio, 12, 13
lutens, Trimorus, 3
Macroteleia, 13
melleipes, Scelio, 12
monticola, Scelio, 22, 23
muraii, Scelio, 1, 2
oedipodae, Scelio, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 27, 29, 31
opaca, Acerota, 12
opacus, Scelio, 1, 2, 4, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 27,
29, 30, 31
ovivora, Caloptenobia, 13
ovivorus, Scelio, 5, 8, 9, 13, 14, 21, 26, 29, 30, 31
pallidicornis, Scelio, 13, 14
pallidipes, Scelio, 2, 4, 14
pembertoni, Scelio, 1, 2
pumilus, Scelio, 4, 15, 27, 29, 30
rufiventris, Scelio, 11, 12
rufulus, Scelio, 4, 11, 16, 17, 27, 29, 30, 31
rugulosus, Scelio, 3
Scelio, 1, 2, 3
albipennis, 12
ashmeadi, 12, 13
bisulcatus, 22
bisulcus, 22
calopteni, 12, 13, 21
caloptenorum, 21
commixtus, 4, 5, 26, 28, 30, 31
conformis, 4, 6, 11, 18, 27, 28, 30
ernstii, 4, 5, 7, 20, 21, 26, 28, 30, 31
famelicus, 13
floridanus, 5, 8, 10, 13, 27, 29, 31
fulgidus, 1, 2
fuscipennis, 7
hyalinipennis, 5, 9, 10, 30, 31
incertus, 5, 10
insolitus, 4, 10, 26, 28, 30
javanicus, 2
luggeri, 12, 13
melleipes, 12
monticola, 22, 23
muraii, 1, 2
oedipodae, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 27, 29, 31
opacus, 1, 2, 4, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 27, 29, 30,
31
ovivorus, 5, 8, 9, 13, 14, 21, 26, 29, 30, 31
pallidicornis, 13, 14
pallidipes, 2, 4, 14
pembertoni, 1, 2
pumilus, 4, 15, 27, 29, 30
rufiventris, 11, 12
rufulus, 4, 11, 16, 17, 27, 29, 30, 31
rugulosus, 3
semirufus, 4, 16, 17, 26, 28, 30
serdangensis, 1, 2
singularis, 4, 17
solus, 4, 18
squamosus, 4, 19, 28
striaticollis, 22, 23
striatigena, 12
striativentris, 2, 4, 14, 17, 19, 26, 29, 30, 31
thoracicus, 3
tripartitus, 5
tsuruokensis, 1, 2
venata, 20
venatus, 4, 7, 20
venezuelensis, 7
Sceliocerdo, 2, 3, 23
viatrix, 2, 3, 23
Scelionus, 3
semirufus, Scelio, 4, 16, 17, 26, 28, 30
serdangensis, Scelio, 1, 2
Serlion, 3
singularis, Scelio, 4, 17
32
NUMBER 122 33
solus, Scelio, 4, 18
Sparasion, 13
squamosus, Scelio, 4, 19, 28
striaticollis, Scelio, 22, 23
striatigena, Scelio, 12
striativentris, Scelio, 2, 4, 14, 17, 19, 26, 29, 30, 31
Synoditella, 1, 2, 3, 21, 23
bisulca, 21, 22, 23
bisulcata, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 30, 31
thoracicus, Scelio, 3
tripartitus, Scelio, 5
tsuruokensis, Scelio, 1, 2
venata, Scelio, 20
venatus, Scelio, 4, 7, 20
venezuelensis, Scelio, 7
viatrix, Lepidoscelio, 23
Sceliocerdo, 2, 3, 23
GRASSHOPPER HOSTS
Ageneotettix deorum, 12
Camnula pellucida, 12
Chortoicetes terminifera, 1
Chortophaga veridifasciata, 23
Colemania sphenarioides, 23
Dichromorpha viridis, 23
Dissosteira Carolina, 14
Melanoplus bivittatus, 12, 20
Melanoplus confusus, 23
Melanoplus devastator, 12
Melanoplus differentialis, 8, 10, 12, 23
Melanoplus femurrubrum, 12, 23
Melanoplus keeleri luridus, 23
Melanoplus sanguinipes, 8, 12, 23
Mermiria maculipennis, 17
Oedipoda sp., 12
Orthacris carli, 23
Oxya sp., 1
Radinotatum carinatum, 22
Schistocerca americana, 5, 6, 8
Schistocerca paranensis, 7, 8
Valanga nigricornis, 2
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1972 184-317,24



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