PISON.— TKYPOXYLON. 39 



PISON. 



Pison, Spinola, Ins. Lig. Spec. Nov. ii. fasc. iv. p. 256 (1808). 

 Tachybulus, Latreille, Gen. Crust, et Ins. iv. p. 75 (1809). 

 Nephridia, Bralle, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. ii. p. 408 (1833). 

 Pisonitus, Shuckard, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. ii. p. 79 (1837). 

 Pisonoides, Smith, Journ. Proc. Linn. Soc, Zool. ii. p. 104 (1858). 

 Parapison, Smith, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1869, p. 298. 

 Taranga, Kirby, Trans. Ent. Soc. 1883, p. 201. 



A genus of wide-world range, and of which nearly sixty species are known. The two 

 (one doubtful) species recorded from our region belong to Pison " sensu stricto." 



^ 1. Pison conforme. 



Pison conformis, Smith, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1869, p. 297 \ 

 Hab. Mexico 1 . 



[2. Pison fasciatum. 



Pison fasciatum, Kohl, Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, 1883, p. 339 \ 

 Hab. " America," Mexico aut Peru *.] 



TKYPOXYLON. 



Trypoxylon, Latreille, Pr6c. Car. gen. Ins. p. 121 (1796) j Fabricius, Syst. Piez. p. 180 (1804) ; 

 Kohl, Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, 1884, p. 189. 



Nearly eighty members of this genus have been described. Trypoxylon is represented 

 in all the zoological regions, but by far the larger number of known species are from 

 the Neotropical. They make their nests in twigs or in holes in wood, or form a mud- 

 nest attached to twigs, and they store their nests with spiders. 



Of our species, T. albitarse is the only one whose habits have been described. 

 According to Mr. Peckolt (quoted by Mr. F. Smith, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1868, 

 p. 133), it is called in Cantagallo, Brazil, " Marimbonda da Casa," or house- wasp, from 

 its building its nest especially in rooms ; but it also builds out of doors on the vines 

 &c. " It makes a clay-nest in the form of a long cylinder ; .... there are from four 

 to six divisions, and in each cell is laid one egg ; the cell is filled with some kind of 

 spider, and hermetically sealed ; and it is curious that precisely the required number of 

 spiders is stored up, just sufficient to perfect the wasp, since none are ever found after 

 the insect eats its way out of the earthen cell " (Smith, loc. tit.). 



