Platy gaster (plat i gaster)

[NL. (Latreille, 1809) (cf. Gr. πλατυγάστωρ, flat-bellied), + Platy gaster her rick i. (Cro shows natural size.) insects of the family Proctotrypidæ, typical of the subfamily Platy gaster inæ. It is separated from other genera by negative characters, and contains a large number of species, more than 100 being known in Europe alone. P. is a common parasite of the fly in North America. 2. A genus of true bugs of the family Lygæidæ, erected by Schilling in 1829.-3. A genus of fishes erected by Swains on in 1839.-4. A genus of flies of the family Acroceridæ, erected by Zetterstedt in 1840: same as Sphærogaster. Platy gaster inæ (plat-i-gas-te-ri'nē), n. pl. [ pidæ, consisting of minute black insects having the fore tibite one-spurred, the mandibles toothed, and the anterior wings without marginal and stigmal veins. Over 20 genera have been founded, though the group has been little studied. The species seem be mainly parasitic on dipterous larvæ.