12b Abdomen short, 

 purpi Ish bee-l ike 

 Wasps) Fig. 237. 



Figure 237. 



HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS 



Antennae short. Metallic green, blue or 

 Insects, heavily punctured. (The Cuckoo- 



Fanlly 45, CHRYSIDIDAE 



Fig. 237. Chrysls trldens (Lep.) 



Brilliant metallic greon with brassy 

 or bluish lustre. Eyes, antennae, 

 \^elns of wings and tarsi black. Length 



a-11 mm. 



For beauty of coloring and sculDture 

 these Interesting wasps are hard to 

 beat. Host of them are a brilliant 

 .Tietalllc green, often with blue or vio- 

 let shades. The whole body Is covered 

 with large uniform punctures, which 

 greatly enhance Its beauty and Interest. 

 Like the European cuckoo, these wasps depend upon their neighbors 

 to raise their children. The eggs are laid In the nests of wasps 

 or bees. 



13a First segment of hind tarsus enlarged, more or less flat- 

 tened, and usually covered with hairs for carrying pollen. 

 Bees 18 



13b First segment of hind tarsus near- 

 ly naked and usually cylindric. 

 Wasps 14 



14a Pronotum touching the tegulae 



(Fig. 238 A) 15 



14b Pronotum not touching the tegulae 

 (Fig. 238 B) (The Typical Sphecoid 

 Wasps) Fig. 239. pamjiy 53, SPHECIDAE Figure 238. 



Fig. 239. Sceliphron coementarlun 

 (Dru.) 



The Black and Yellow Mud-Dauber 

 Black, marked on thorax, legs and 

 abdomen with bands of yellow. 

 Wings yellowish brown. Builds 

 nests of clay which It provisions 

 with spiders. Length 20-28 mm. 



Nest building takes many forms 

 with the Sphecolds. Som.e burrow, 

 some dig In the stems of plants, 

 some are masons, while others 

 look for a suitable hole to pro- 

 vision. Caterpillars and spiders 

 Some tend their nests and feed the larvae as 

 they grow; the more usual scheme Is to fill the nest with food 

 and let the young help themselves. 



i-igure 



are the usual food. 



15a Wings not folded when at rest 16 



15b Wings folded once longitudinally when at rest. Eyes 

 with notch on inner side. (The Typical Wasps) Fig. 240. 



Family 55, VESPIDAE 



111 



