78 NOTE ON THE ECONOMY OF HEDYCHRUM. 



I will here leave the subject, and shall be very glad to see 

 it follovv^ed by your own remarks. Mr. Hope, to whom I 

 showed the insects at the Meeting of the British Association 

 last year, was of opinion that they were neither of them para- 

 sitical upon the other, but upon a third insect 



Yours truly, 



William C. Hewitson. 



Derby, August, 1837. 



The insect No. 1 is Psen caliginosus of Mr. Stephens's cata- 

 logue ; we cannot exactly say what it is of Mr. Shuckard's 

 *' /ossores," as he had divided Psen into two genera, from both 

 of which this little insect is excluded by the structure of its 

 wings. The insect No. 2 is Hedychrum hidentulimi. See 

 Entomological Magazine, Vol. IV. p. 175. 



The whole order of Ckrysidites, to which Hedychrum be- 

 longs, are in a manner parasitica], i.e. they avail themselves 

 of the nidus of another insect, for the purpose of depositing 

 their egg, which, thenceforward, is entrusted solely to the care 

 of its foster parents. The genus Chrysis lives on the most 

 friendly terms with various species of Osmia, Odynerus, &c. 

 entering their habitations with perfect freedom, and without 

 the least fear of molestation : we have even seen the common 

 Ejnpone spinipes wait quietly at the entrance of its tunnel 

 until a brilliant Chrysis ascended the tunnel, after having 

 paid a visit to the interior regions; and when the Chrysis 

 was fairly emerged, we have seen the Epipone caress it and 

 fondle it, touching it lightly and affectionately with its antennae 

 and tongue. From this it is to be inferred, that the connexion 

 between the families is entirely of a friendly nature, and 

 wholly devoid of that cruel ferocity which characterizes the 

 attack of Ichneumons on the larvae of Lepidoptera. With 

 the excellent opportunity of observation possessed by Mr. 

 Hewitson, we regret he has not himself ascertained with more 

 precision the connexion between the two distinct genera which 

 he has obligingly transmitted to us. 



Editor. 



