

8. 

 CHRYSIS FULGIDA. 



Order Hymenoptera. Fam. Chrysiditlge. 



Type of the Genus, Chrysis ignita Linn. 



Chrysis Linn., Fab., Lat., Panz., Jur., Curt., &;c. — Vespa Geoff. 



AntenncE inserted close to the base of the clypeus, subfusiform, geni- 

 culated, 13-jointed, basal joint long, robust and slightly hairy, the re- 

 mainder velvety, 2nd small, 3rd longer than the following, the re- 

 mainder decreasing in length to the apex, the terminal one being very 

 small, compressed and subovate (1). 



Labrum transverse, somewhat oval, ciliated with long hairs (2). 

 Mandibles elongate-trigonate, slightly hairy externally, bent and acute 

 at the apex, with 1 or 2 notches on the inside (3). 

 Maxillce furnished with a narrow internal lobe, the external one large, 

 suborbicular and pilose, the internal portion thickened and forming a 

 slight projecting point on the margin. Palpi rather long pilose and 

 5-jointed, basal joint a little shorter than the 2nd and 3rd, the latter 

 being dilated, 4th and 5th joints long, the former clavate, the latter 

 nearly linear (4). 



Mentum oblong, the sides concave (5 a). Palpi pilose and formed of 

 3 short equal joints, the 1st and 2nd subobovate, 3rd scarcely so stout 

 and oval (b). Labium subtrigonate, the sides recurved (c). 

 Male smaller than the female. Head transverse : face concave. Eyes ovate. 

 Ocelli 3 iti triangle. Thorax oblong, collar large, postscutellum broad 

 and short, the sides acuminated. Bodv contractile into a ball. Abdomen 

 attached by an exceedingly short petiole elongate-ovate, semicylindric, being 

 convex above and fiat or concave beneath, composed of 3 segments, the 

 2nd very large, the last with a deep transverse suture bearing a row of 

 strong punctures, the margin generally dentated. Ovipositor long, com- 

 posed of several coriaceous tubes, terminated by 2 strong pilose cylindric 

 appendages with an aculeus between them. Superior wings with one large 

 perfect marginal cell, submarginal cells imperfect, two discoidal cells, the 

 superior one large with a short branch next the limb ; interior wings with 

 the nervures very obscure. Legs ; posterior the longest. Thighs short. 

 Tibiae short and spurred, anterior with a long dilated spine at the apex. 

 Tarsi 5-jointed, basal joint the longest, emarginate on the inside at the 

 base, in the anterior pair. Claws and Pulvilli distinct (8). 



FuLGiDA Linn. Faun. Suec. p. 415. n. 1669. — Curtis's Guide, Gen. 659. 1 1 . 

 In the Cabinets of the British Museum, Mr. Dale, S;c. 



Nothing can exceed the splendour and brilliancy of the Chrysi- 

 didge, which have been compared by Latreille to precious stones, 

 and very aptly called by Jurine the Humming-birds of" entomolo- 

 gists. It must be confessed that Nature has been lavish in adorn- 



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