THE CHRYSIDID^.. I95 



nificent spectacle, and they resemble fiery pearls rushing to and 

 fro. They have no industrial habits, and do not lay eggs within 

 other insects. Their larvee, however, only live upon living prey, 

 and the instinct of the female leads her to lay her eggs where 

 the future offspring will be protected against danger. She has 

 no hesitation about laying them in the nests of the other 

 Hymenoptcra, and especially where there is some provision being 

 laid up for the larvae. She does not care for the solitary bee or 

 a Bembex, for she has a terrible sting and a hard cuirass, which 

 is not to be pierced by ordinary insect weapons. 



The female introduces herself into the nest of the bee, for 

 instance, and rolls herself up if attacked, and then, being victorious, 

 lays her eggs on the food which has been stored up. The little 

 parasites are hatched, and live upon this food with the larva; of 

 the original tenant, and when the store has been devoured they 

 attack the larvae, and suck their juices. They make a cocoon 

 before undergoing their metamorphosis, but very little is known 

 nbout their transformations. 



The Chrysis ignita is very common in England, and may be 

 seen in constant motion, running upon walls and palings ; it lays 

 its eggs in the nests of hornets, sand wasps, and solitary wasps. 



Some beautiful insects of the genus Hedychruui have habits like 

 those of the Chrysis just mentioned. Lepeletier de Saint-Fargeau 

 describes the attack of a sand bee upon one of them which 

 had invaded its dwelling in order to lay eggs. The Osmia^ 

 .a sand bee, discovered the intruder in the act, and immediately 

 proceeded to turn her out by laying hold of her with its 

 mandibles. But the Hcdychrum rolled herself up like a ball, 

 and was invulnerable. The bee carried her out, gave her a good 

 shaking, bit her wings off, and left her. She had her way for 

 all that, and crawled back again into the nest, and laid her 



The Stilbi have a very convex abdomen, and are inhabitants 

 of warm climates, but a species is found in Central France. The 

 species of Parnopes are green insects, with flesh-coloured abdomens, 

 Parnopes carnei lays its eggs in the nests of the Bcuibcx. 



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