Fig. 369.—Stenophasmus ruficeps, female. Aru Islands. (After Westwood.)
Fam. VI. Stephanidae.
Antennae composed of many (thirty to seventy) joints; hind body attached to the lower and posterior part of the median dorsal plate. Wings with a distinct costal cellule; head globose, posterior femora frequently toothed.
This is a doubtful family, consisting of a few anomalous Insects. Schletterer assigns to it only two genera, Stephanus and Stenophasmus;[[481]] both have a wide distribution over the world, though we have no species in Britain. Nothing is known of their habits, and they are apparently all very scarce Insects. The definition is compiled from those of Cameron and Schletterer. There seems very little to distinguish these Insects from Braconidae.
Fam. VII. Megalyridae.
Hymenoptera with short broad hind body, which is not separated by a pedicel from the thorax. The female has a very long bristle-like ovipositor. Antennae with fourteen joints.
This family is constituted by the Australian genus Megalyra,[[482]] one of the most interesting of the numerous extraordinary Insect-forms found in that region; the species appear to be very rare and not numerous. Apparently nothing is known as to their habits. It is quite possible that these Insects will prove to be anomalous Braconidae.
Fam. VIII. Evaniidae.
Petiole of the abdomen attached to the upper part of the median dorsal plate; antennae not elbowed, of thirteen or fourteen joints. Wings with a moderate number of nervures. Larva of parasitic habits.
This family is composed of only three genera—Evania, Gasteruption, and Aulacus, each possessing a considerable number of species; they agree in the characters mentioned above, and may be readily recognised by the peculiar insertion of the hind body. This character occurs outside the limits of the Evaniidae only in one or two genera of Chalcididae and Braconidae; it is to this latter family that the Evaniidae must be considered most closely allied.