IIYMENOPTERA. 591 



fSoe the monograph of British Chrysides published by Shuckard in the Entomological Magasine, and the more 

 recent one of Klu°;, and Spinola's memoir in the French Entomological Society's Transactions, as well as riaiut 

 Fargeau's, in the Mcmoiret du Museum. 



The second section of the Ilymenoptera, the Aculeata, differs from the first in wanting 

 a borer; a sting, composed of three pieces, which is concealed and retractile within the 

 abdomen, ordinarily replaces it in the females and in the neuters of such species as are 

 united in societies. Sometimes, as in some Ants, this sting does not exist, and the insect 

 defends itself by ejecting an acid liquid secreted in special reservoirs under the form 

 of glands. 



The Ilymenoptera of this section have always the antennae simple, and composed of a con- 

 stant number of joints, namely, thirteen in the males and twelve in the females; the palpi 

 are ordinarily filiform ; the maxillary palpi often longer, have six joints, and the labial four. 

 The mandibles are smaller, and often more toothed in the males than in the other individuals. 

 The abdomen, united to the thorax by a peduncle, or slender thread, is composed of seven 

 joints in the males and six in the females. The four wings are always veined, and offer the 

 different sorts of ordinary cells. 



'1 he larvae have never any feet, and subsist upon food which the females or neuters provide 

 them with, consisting either of the dead bodies of insects, or the honey of flowers; and in 

 some species of a mixture of pollen, stamens, and honey. 



This section is divided into four families, [lleterogyna, Fossores, Diploptera, and 

 Anthophila], 



THE FIRST FAMILY OF THE ACULEATED IIYMENOPTERA, 



The Heterogyna — 



Is composer! of two or three kinds of individuals, of winch the most common, or the neuters, or 

 females, have no wings, and rarely ocelli distinct. All of them have the antenna; elbowed, and the 

 lower lip small, rounded, and vaulted or spoon-like. 



Some of these live in society, and present three kinds of individuals, of which the males and females 

 are winged, and the neuters wingless; in the last two kind of individuals the antennae are thickened 

 to the tips, and the length of the basal joint is at least equal to one-third of their entire length ; the 

 second is nearly as long as the third, and in the form of a reversed cone. The upper lip of the 

 neuters is horny, and shuts perpendicularly beneath the mandibles. These Ilymenoptera compose 

 the genus 



Formica, Linn, (or the Ants), — 



So celebrated for their foresight, and of which some are so well known for the injury they commit in 

 our gardens and the interior of our houses, where they attack saccharine matters, preserved viands, &C, 

 giving them a disagreeable scent of musk ; whilst others arc equally obnoxious to trees, by gnawing 

 the interior, in order to make for themselves a habitation where they may breed. 



The Ants have the peduncle of the abdomen like a scale or knot, either single or double, whereby 

 they are easily distinguished. They have the antenna: elbowed, generally rather thicker at the tips ; 

 the head triangular, with the eyes oval or rounded, and entire; the dypeua large] the jaws werj 

 strong in a great number, but of which the form varies in the neuters ; the maxilla 1 and labium 

 small : the palpi filiform, those of the maxilla; being longest ; the thorax compressed a! the rides, 

 the abdomen nearly oval, furnished in the females and workers either. With ■ Sting or with glands 

 situated near the anus, which secrete a peculiar acid, called formic acid. 



They live in society, often of great extent, each species consisting of malei and females, which have 

 wings which are much less veined than in the majority of this section, and which easily fall off 

 Well as Of neuters, which an 1 destitute of wings, and which are only females with the ovaries imperfect. 

 The two former kind of Individuals are only found temporarily in the Ants' nest, from which they 

 make their escape almOSl as soon as thc\ have gained their wines. The males are much smaller in 

 size than the females, as arc also their heads and mandibles, and the eyes larger. The anion of the 



