INSECT LIFE IN INDIA. 



679 



habits they resemble solitary wasps, constructing either cells of clay 

 or burrows in the ground or tunnels in the wood and stems of 

 plants ; others form no special receptacle for their young, being 

 either parasitic or semi-parasitic or making use of the abodes of 

 other Insects, holes, etc. The habits of these Insects are carnivorous, 

 the cells, burrows, &c, formed being filled with Insect stores to serve 

 as food for the next generation. These Insects exhibit a wonderful 

 industry and skill in the preparation and stocking of their cells and a 

 remarkable variety in their habits, more especially marvellous when 

 it is remembered that they never see their progeny and thus the 

 young can have learnt nothing from their parents. Over 2,000 years 

 ago these Insects attracted attention and Aristotle made some ob- 

 servations on them, A curious Chinese tradition supposes that the 

 Insects forming and storing the cells are males and that having 

 buried the caterpillar it addressed a spell to it enjoining it to come out 

 as a wasp similar to itself. This tradition, ancient as it may be, is by no 

 means confined to China. Many instances of similar belief may be 

 found in India at the present day. 



The ScoliidcB are parasitic Fossoria and are large powerful hairy 

 insects with thick legs ; their colour is usually black with bands' or 

 spots of red and yellow ; the hind body is elongate and has only a 

 very short pedicel. Little is known about the habits of these insects 



in India. It is 

 not improbable 

 that, as with 

 their European 

 confreres, they 

 are parasitic 

 upon the larva* 

 of Lamellicorn 

 beetles; these 

 latter larva? live 

 in the soil or in 

 Fig. 76.— Scolia proeer. (India and Burma.) accumulations of 



debris and the female Scolia enters the ground and, first stinging the 

 grub, lays an egg in it. The Scolia grub feeds upon its host on hatch- 

 ing out, the latter remaining alive for a considerable time. Scolia pra- 

 cer (Fig. 76) is a common Indian insect. 



