PROC. ENTOMOL. SOC. WASH. 87(4), 1985. pp. 843-858 TAXONOMIC STUDY OF THE NEARCTIC SPECIES OF ELACHERTUS SPINOLA (HYMENOPTERA: EULOPHIDAE) Michael E. Schauff Systematic Entomology Laboratory, IIBIII, Agricultural Research Service, % National Museum of Natural History, NHB 168, Washington, D.C. 20560. Abstract.— The nearctic species of Elachertus (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) are revised and an illustrated key is presented. A review of the known hosts and distributions of the species is also given along with a diagnosis and notes on types. Lectotypes are designated for proteotcratis Howard, cacoeciae Howard, glacialis Ashmead, hyphantriae Crawford, mmylandicm Girault, cidariae Ashmead, and loiiisiana Girault. The following new synonymies are proposed: coxalis (Howard, 1885); proteoteratis (Howard, 1885); and pini Gahan, 1927 = argissa (Walker, 1839); glacialis (Ashmead, 1902) and aeneoniger (Girault, \9\1) = cacoeciae (Howard, 1885); hyphantriae Crawford, 1911 and marylandicus (Girauh, 1916) = cidariae (Ashmead, 1898). Two new taxa (loh and atus) are described and illus-trated. All the species are primary parasites of the larvae of Lepidoptera including the pine tip moth (Rhyacionia frustrana). redbanded leafroller (Argyrotaenia ve-lutinana), and spruce budworm {Choristoneura fumiferana). Species of Elachertus are primary parasites of a variety of lepidopterous larvae. Some species are polyphagous, parasitizing hosts belonging to several different families. The larvae of these wasps are often gregarious and their pupae are frequently seen clustered on the surface of leaves or on the body of their host. They seem to prefer host larvae that occupy sheltered situations such as leafrolls or that bore inside twigs or growing tips. Several of these host species are of economic importance, being pests of various forest trees and ornamental plants. Nevertheless, the North American species of Elachertus have never been revised and no keys are available to aid in their identification. In addition, since the publication of the North American Hymenoptera catalog (Burks, 1979) several new host and locality records for a number of the species have been established and undescribed species have been reared. Finally, it has become apparent that taxonomic problems exist in this genus, e.g. undetected synonymy of some of the species and types not selected. This paper is an effort to address these problems and needs. All types (except atus n. sp.) are deposited in the U.S. National Museum of Natural History. Names of hosts follow Hodges et al. (1983) and common names of hosts are from Werner (1982). Terminology for morphological structures fol-lows Graham (1959) and for sculpturing Harris (1979). New host and locality records established during the course of this study are marked by an asterisk. Measurements and ratios were made with an eyepiece reticle. Widths and lengths
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