HYMENOPTERA. 597 



liave only two complete cubital cells; the middle and tne fore margin of the dypeaa is I margin. ite, 

 receiving the labrum in the emargination. The tribe is named after the typical genus, 



MaSARIB, Fabricius. 

 Masaris proper, has the antenna; rather longer than the head and thorax, and the abdomen long. 

 Celonites, Latr., has the antenna; scarcely longer than the head, and the abdomen scarcely lunger than the 

 thorax. 



The second tribe of the Diploptera, that of the Vesparle, is composed of the genus 



Vbsfa, Linn., — 

 The antennae of which are distinctly 13-jointed in the males, 12-jointed in the females, and terminated 

 by an elongated mass, which is pointed and sometimes hooked at the tip (in the males) ; they are 

 always elbowed, at least in the females and neuters. The lower lip is sometimes divided into four 

 plumose filaments, and sometimes into three lobes, with four glandular points at the tip, the middle 

 lobe being notched at the tip. If we except a very few species, the upper wings have three complete 

 cubital cells. The females and neuters are armed with a powerful sting. Many live in societies, 

 consisting of males, females, and neuters. 



The larvae are vermiform, without feet, and each is inclosed in a cell, where they feed either upon 

 the dead bodies of insects which the parent Wasp had deposited at the same time as the egg, or upon 

 the honey of flowers, the juice of fruits, or of animal matters, elaborated in the stomach of the females 

 or neuters, and which these individuals feed them with daily. M. Saint Ililairc discovered a species 

 in Brazil which makes an abundant provision of honey, which, like common honey, is under some 



circumstances poisonous. (Mem. du Mux. /lis/. Nat.) 



Ceramius; Latr., has the fore wings extended and Hat, and only two cubital cells. [Exotic species, one of which, 

 C. lusitaiiicus, appears to be allied to Masaris.] In all the rest the fore wings are doubled [longitudi nally when 

 at rest], and have three complete cubital cells. 



Some have the mandibles longer than broad, and beak-like ; the labium is narrow and elongate, with the clypeus 

 cordate or oval. 



These are solitary Wasps, each species consisting of males and females, which last lay up a store of provisions 

 for their young before they are born, and for the whole period of their larva state. Their nests ire formed of 

 earth, sometimes concealed in holes in walls, in the earth, or old wood, and sometimes they are fixed upon plants, 

 the parents storing them with caterpillars or spiders, having previously wounded them with their stu 



Si/mii/rix, Latr., has t lie labium divided into four long plumose filaments, without glandular points at the apex. 

 [S. eornuta, and other African species.] 



Bumenet, Latr., has the labium divided into three pieces ; the middle one bifid, and all glandular at the tips. 



In some of these the abdomen is ovoid, or conic, and thick at the base, as in 



Pterochilus, king, having an elongated proboscis. | Pt. phalerata, a German species). 



Vth/iicnu, Latr. (and RyggcktMtn, Spin.), i" which the lower parts. of the mouth arc short. The female of 

 Y. muraria forms burrows 111 the saml several inches deep, at the mouth of which she constructs a curved earthy 

 tube ; she pro\ isions her nest with six or eight green Larva; without feet, and with them deposits an .,;-, and then 

 Closes the mouth of the cell, and destroj s tie- tube. [There are numerous lirilish species.] 



In the others the abdomen has the basal joint narrow, long, and [pear-shaped, and the second bell-sha] e.l. 



niwsflinw proper I B atari tata, Pab.), the typical species, constructs Its spherical nesl upon tie- stems ol plants, 



es pee i.illy heath, in which it deposits an ■ ■gic, together with u supply Ol honey, ae. unlm; tO < " "llYoy. 



In Bumenet the mandibles form a long and pointed beak j m Zetkue they are shorter, and themixillar] palpi 

 not longei than the maxillae. In DieeteUue, which resemble.-, Zethna in the mandibles, the maxillary , 

 are longer. 



The remaining species of Wasps have the mandibles icarcel] longer than broad, with ■ broad and oblique trun- 

 cation at the tip •, the labium i.s short, and the clj pen-- neai u square. I he> form the genua 



Vetpa proper land Polittee, Latr.), and are united in societies, often »ery numerous, composed <t i 

 females, and neuters. The two latter kinds of individuals form, with ims of old wood or bark, and which they 



detach with their jaws and reduce to a pulp-like paper, horizontal layers Of hexagonal CCilS, like bOOey-COmb, 



suspended from above by several short pillars and opening downwards, and winch are solely used to lodge, m an 

 isolated manner, the larva and pupa. The number ol these Layers In a Wasp'a nest varies. The nest Is some- 

 t nnes opm and sometim , ed in a cuoiin;, with apertures Leading to the cells, its figure Ls rai led In the 



different species. 

 The females commence the nest [in the spring , and deposit eggs, which produce neuters, or workers, which 



assist in enlarging the nest, ami tending the subsequent b Ls, until the beginning "t autumn. The SOdetJ i 'in- 

 sists only of these two kinds of individuals; at that period, however, tie- young males ami females appear, all the 

 Larva? and pupa which do not undergo their anal change before Novembei an- destroyed bj the neuters, which 

 likewise perish, as well as the males, with the cold; a fen females alone remain, to become the foundn sses of ft 

 colonies in the following spring, Wasps feed upon other insects, meat, fruit, ami teed their young with the jo 



