118 BURMA, ITS PEOPLE AXD PRODUCTIOXS. 



Sub-order FOS SORES. 

 These are the fossorial Hynionoptera, inchiding wasps and liornets ; but many 

 species make elaborate nests on the branches of trees, wliilst othei-s burrow in tho 

 ground or inside decayed trunks, or build nests of mud oi' various ibrms, and either 

 sin<;le or many-celled. Tho larvae of the ' inud-buildcrs ' are carnivorous, and feed on 

 the bodies of spiders or caterpillars, which the mother places in the cell for them, first 

 disabling the victims in some way which deprives them of all power of motion or 

 offence, without destroying their vitality. It is a pretty sight to see a large female 

 hunting for spiders to stow in that dread mortuary of their race, tho mud-cell wherein 

 she has deposited an egg. She flies lightly along the ground in large circles, just 

 skimming it, and as she goes, kicks over the leaves with her feet. Soon a spider is 

 disturbed and endeavours to fly to a safer spot. Instantly the wasp is on its track, 

 and if she loses sight of it, makes several rapid casts, turning over the leaves with 

 redoubled activity, all the while giving out a terrific humming by the rapid vibration 

 of her wings, which must have a paralyzing effect on the terrified spider ; and rarely 

 does the wretched quany escape. It is pounced on, a nip given which makes it 

 helpless, and in a few seconds this terror to most insects is himself crammed unresist- 

 ingly into a narrow cell to form the food of a puny grub. 



Family Mutillidae. 



" Stinging ants, as they are denominated, are very common, and their sting quite 

 insufferable. They are not, howe^■er, ants, but a tribe of sand wasps, the females of 

 which are destitute of wings" (Mason). 



Family Scoliidae. 



SCOLIA DIMIDIATA, Gucr. 



,, INSTAEILIS, Smith. 



,, EUEiGiNOSA, Fabr. 



,, ANNULATA, Fabr. 

 Elis Lindexi, St. Fargeau. Tenasserim. 



Iliacos analis, Fabr. Tenasserim. 



Family Bembicidse. 

 Bembex fessohitts, Smith. Tenasserim. 



Family Eumenidae. 

 EHTNcnnrM carnaticum. 

 EuMENES AncuATtJs, Fabr. Tenasserim. 



Family Vespidae. 



PoLYBiA Sttmatrexsis, Sauss. Tenasserim. 



,, OMENTALis, Sauss. Tcuasserim. 

 PoLisTES HEBLiEus, Fabr. 



Yespa basalis, Smith. Yunan. 



„ DOKYLLoiDEs, Sauss. Tonasserim. 



„ Bellona, Smith. Yunan. 



Family Poneridse. 

 Diacamma scalpatram, Smith. Tenasserim. 



Family SphegidSB. 

 AMMOpmiA NiGRiPES, Smith. Tenasserim. 



Chloeion lobatdm, Fabr. Tenasserim. 



