MB. NEWMAN ON A SUPPOSED SPECIES OP PELOP-2ETJS. 39 



Fig. 5. Themara ampla ; 5 a, head sideways ; 55, ditto in front ; 5 c, antenna ; 

 5 a", base of wing. 



Fig. 6. Valonia complicata -, 6 a, head sideways j 65, ditto in front; 6c, an- 

 tenna, g 



Plate II. 

 Fig. 1. SopMra venusta ; la, head sideways ; lb, ditto in front ; lc, antenna. 

 Fig. 2. Xiria antica; 2 a, head sideways ; 2b, ditto in front; 2 c, antenna. 

 Fig. 3. Eioxa lanceolata ; 3a, head sideways ; 3b, ditto in front ; 3c, antenna. 

 Fig. 4. Strumeta conformis; 4 a, head sideways ; 45, ditto in front. 

 Fig. 5. Texard compressa; 5 a, head sideways; 55, ditto in front; 5c, an- 

 tenna. 

 Fig. 6. Diopsis ^-guttata. 

 Fig. 7. Diopsis ^-guttata. 



Note on a supposed species of Pelopceus. By Edwaed Newman, 

 Esq., F.L.S. 



[Eead January 15th, 1856.] 



In No. 59 of the "Proceedings" of our Society is a letter 

 addressed to our Secretary on the economy of a certain Hymeno- 

 pterous insect as observed by the writer when at Bombay : seve- 

 ral of the explanations in this letter require correction, although 

 evidently written in good faith. The description of the insect 

 and its nest is fully sufficient to identify the tribe and even genus : 

 it is one of the ¥espina, and doubtless of the genus Pelopceus : 

 the name of "Mason-bee" is therefore assigned to it in error, 

 because there is a tribe of Mason-bees possessing a most wonderful 

 and interesting economy, and with that tribe the present insect 

 has nothing whatever to do. 



In the second place, the male is represented as the builder of 

 the nest, — a statement so opposed to all we know of the economy 

 of Hymenoptera, that it may safely be pronounced erroneous ; the 

 building insect was certainly not a male, and as certainly a female 

 or neuter. 



In the third place, the shining green insect, described as the 

 female, was unquestionably a parasite, probably of the genus 

 Clirysis : its presence in the nest of the Wasp was as an insidious 

 enemy, not as the legitimate partner and participator in domestic 

 care. 



