THE EPHIALTJE. 1 89 



There are two very distinct tribes of TchnaimonidcE ; the 

 Idincuiiions proper and the Braconidcs. The insects of the first 

 tribe have four joints to the palps of their lower lip, and those 

 of the last have only three. 



The species contained in the first tribe are usually tolerably 

 large, and the abdomen is rounded at its sides ; their ovipositor is 

 very small, and does not project from the hind part of the body 

 when the insect is at rest. They introduce their eggs into the 

 bodies of caterpillars, and other larvae which live in full daylight. 

 The genus Ichneiiuion forms part of this tribe, and its species have 

 the abdomen rather thick, and attached to the thorax by a 

 waist. These insects are elongate in form, and are usually 

 decorated with yellow or red bands and spots, which are rendered 

 striking by their black ground. The PimplitcE are those Ichneumons 

 which have the abdomen slightly narrowed at its commencement, 

 and very projecting ovipositors ; and the females of some kinds, 

 especially of the Ephialtce, have them longer than the rest of 



the body. 



The black Ephialtes, a common parasitic Hymenoptera of the 

 centre and north of Europe {Ephialtes manifcstaior) , may be seen 

 during the summer time in the avenues of woods, and resting on 

 flowers, or running upon the trees. The whole of its body is of 

 a shining black colour ; its transparent wings are slightly clouded, 

 its legs are long and slender, and are of a bright red colour, the 

 hind ones being brownish. The male is thin, and rather small, 

 but the female is very robust, and comparatively large. The 

 larvae of the Buprestis beetles, which live inside the roots of trees, 

 are afflicted by the females of this fine parasite, and there are few 

 things more interesting than the sight of the egg laying. In very 

 fine weather, when the sun is shining in great power, the insect 

 appears full of animation. Its antennae are perpetually vibrating 

 and moving in different directions ; its wings are trembling, and it 

 is constantly running over the trunk of a tree with great rapidity. 

 Every now and then the insect stops, runs to the right hand and 

 to the left, and goes over the ground like a hound that has lost 

 the scent. Then it seeks another locality, and the same vivacious 

 proceeding is repeated a hundred times. Suddenly the insect 

 appears to be satisfied that it has made a discovery, it stops, and 



