HYMENOPTERA 977 



by the rightful owners of the nest. The species that are known co 

 be parasites are Vespa drctica, which infests the nests of Vespa 

 diaholica, and Vespa austriaca, v^hich. infests the nests of Vespa riifa 

 in Europe. Vespa austriaca fias been found in this country but Vespa 

 nifa is not known to occur here. The American host of Vespa 

 austriaca has not been definitely ascertained, but is thought to be 

 Vespa consobrina. See Wheeler and Taylor ('21). 



The members of the subfamily Vespinse found within the limits 

 of our territory are commonly included in a single genus, Vespa; but 

 some writers place all of our species except Vespa crabro in a separate 

 genus Vespula; Only a few of our species can be mentioned here. 



The giant hornet, Vespa crabro. — This is our largest species, 

 measuring from 18 to 22 mm. in length. It is brown and yellow in 

 color and is found around New York City, on Long Island, and in 

 Connecticut. It builds its nests in hollow trees and within buildings 

 suspended from the roof. 



The white-faced hornet, Vespa maciddta. — This is the common, 

 large black and white hornet. It is widely distributed in the United 

 States and Canada. The nest, which is sometimes very large is 

 usually attached to the limb of a tree. 



The yellow-jackets.- — This common name is applied to several 

 small, black and yellow species of Vespa, which are so closely related 

 that it is difficult to distinguish them. Most of the species build 

 their nests in the ground ; these are the brownish paper nests described 

 above. Sometimes the nest is built in a stump or under some object 

 lying on the ground. On one occasion I found a fine large nest under 

 the base-board of one of my bee-hives, and into which I inadvertantly 

 thrust my toes, with sad results, while examining the hive. The nest 

 is now in the Cornell collection. 



SUPERFAMILY SPHECOIDEA 



The Sphecoid-wasps and the Bees 



The superfamily Sphecoidea resembles the two preceding super- 

 families in the presence of an anal lobe in the hind wings, except in 



ig- _ _ _ 



Head and thorax of a sphecoid-wasp, p, pronotum, p. I., posterior lobe of the 

 pronotum; /, tegula. 



some specialized genera of the Ampulicidae and some bees; it differs 



