Aphelinid Biologies with Implications for Taxonomy1

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Abstract
When a biologist ventures to discuss the taxonomic implications of insect behavior, his reasons for doing so are necessarily extraordinary. In the present instance the first reason, of course, is the invitation to present to you the biologies of the Hymenoptera in which I am most specially interested, relating the discussion of biology to taxonomy insofar as this is practicable. Secondly, and basic in my case, is the frustration exhibited by a colleague of mine, a specialist in the taxonomy of the Aphelinidae, when, confronted with populations of certain aphelinids, he attempts their classification. Although admitting that such populations have the appearance of distinct entities and behave as different species, he still cannot segregate the morphological characters that distinguish them. Thus I know from experience that when the morphologist is at a loss, the biologist must step in and fill in the blanks. If the following discussion is something more than such filling in, then let my frustrated colleague bear the blame.

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