MASARIDAE 



8 9 



and most of its components appear to. be Insects of the greatest 

 rarity. In their appearance the Insects of this Family differ con- 

 siderably from the other Diploptera, and as the wings are only 

 imperfectly, or not at all, plicate, it must be admitted that the 

 systematic affinities of the group require reconsideration. The 

 pronotal structure is, however, completely that of Diploptera. 

 The typical form of the Family, Masaris vespiformis, though 

 described a hundred years since, is a species of such ex- 

 treme rarity, and its sexes are so different, that entomologists 

 have only recently been able to agree about it. It has been 

 found in Egypt and Algeria. The genera Ceramius, Jugurthia, 

 < t >"<trtenia and Coelonites are also members of the Mediterranean 

 fauna, while Paragia is Australian, and Trimeria South American. 

 Several species of the genus Masaris inhabit Xorth America, and 

 Cresson has recently described another 

 Masarid genus from the same country, 

 under the name of Et'j>i/i'i/i/i</. 



The little that is known of their 

 natural history is almost limited to an 

 account given by Giraud of the habits of 

 Ceramics lusitanicus, of which species he 

 found a colony near Briangon. The Insect 

 makes nests in the earth ; they are entered 

 by means of a chimney - like passage 

 analogous to what is formed by certain 

 Odynerus ; the gallery when completed is 

 about six centimetres long, and at its 

 extremity is an earthen cell in which the 

 larva lives ; this is fed by the mother, 

 who brings to it from time to time a 

 supply of a paste, described as being 

 somewhat like dried honey. The growth 

 of the larva is believed to be rapid. 



Some fragmentary observations made 

 by Lichtenstein on Coelonites abbreviatus have also been recorded. 

 This species, near Montpellier, constructs earthen cells ; they are 

 not, however, subterranean, but are placed side by side on the dry 

 stems of plants (Fig. 36); these cells are stored with a material 

 similar to that supplied by Ceramius lusitanicus to its young. 



FIG. 36. Cells constructed 

 by Coelonites abbreviatus. 

 (After Andre.) 



