BY W. W. FROGGATT. 33 



PisoN DECIPIENS, Smith, Trans. Eat. Soc. London, 1869, p. 294. 



This little wasp was described from Champion Bay, W.A;, but 

 is also very plentiful in most parts of N. S. Wales. 



Length 3 lines; broad black head and thorax, with the antennae 

 and legs dull yellow ; abdomen small, much constricted at the 

 segmental divisions, base of the first segment, a narrow line at base 

 of second, about two-thirds of the basal portion of third, and faint 

 markings on the anal ones black, the rest of abdomen horn-yellow. 



The nest consists of four or five rounded, elongate, irregularly 

 formed, clay cells, 4-6 lines in length, and 3-4 lines in diameter, 

 with a smooth finely granulated surface, very thin and delicate ; 

 they are provisioned with small spiders, and the larvae before 

 pupating spin a stout dark brown silken cocoon. 



They are not particular where they build, sometimes coming 

 into the house and attaching the nests to clothes hanging up in a 

 room or upon a wall in a most haphazard manner ; in the bush 

 they are sometimes attached to blades of grass or leaves. Each 

 cell is formed separately, but they are usually attached to each 

 other, and sometimes look like three or four little eggs made of 

 clay. 



The larvae are much infested by one of the cuckoo or ruby-tailed 

 flies (Chrysis transversus, Sm.). This is a very small species, 2| 

 lines in length, somewhat smaller than its host. Head, thorax, 

 and abdomen closely and deeply punctured, of a brilliant metallic 

 blue colour with green tints upon the sides. 



The nests from which I bred these specimens were sent to me 

 by Miss King of Horaebush. 



PiSGN SPINOL^E, Shuck., Trans. Ent. Soc. ii. p. 79, 1837. 



This is a short, stout, black wasp, six lines in length, with the 

 face and thorax covered with fine short hairs, the abdomen oval, 

 with the divisions of the segments marked with a silvery pubes- 

 cence forming a distinct band ; the wings are large, transparent, 

 slightly clouded with brown, darkest at tips. 

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