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HYMENOPTERA 



formed by the pronotum on the dorsal part (Fig. 26). ]^y a 

 glance at this part a Diplopterous Insect can always be readily 

 distinguished. 



Three families are at present distinguished in the Diploptera, 

 viz. Eumenidae, ^^espidae and Masaridae. We anticipate that 

 Eumenidae and Vespidae will ultimately be found to constitute 

 but one family. 



Fam. 1. Eumenidae — Solitary True Wasps. 



Clmvti of the fret toothed or hificl ; middle tibiae vith only one 

 spur at tip. Social assemhUujes are not formed ., and there is 

 710 vH)rker-cade, the duties of nest-construction, etc., heimj 

 2)erformed, solely hy the female. 



Tlie Eumenidae, or solitary wasps, are very little noticed l)y 

 the ordinary observer, but they are nevertheless more numerous 



than the social Vespidae, about 800 

 species being know^n. In Britain we 

 have. sixteen species of the solitary, as 

 against seven of the social wasps. 

 The Eumenidae exhibit a considerable 

 diversity in form and structure ; some 

 of them have the pedicel at the base 

 of the abdomen very elongate, while 

 in others tliis is so short as to be 

 imperceptible in the ordinary position 

 of the body. A repetition of similar 

 differences of form occurs in the social 



wasps, so that notwithstanding the 

 Fig. 27. — Eumenes Jlavopicta ?. i-r^ •■,->■,,•, , i 



Burma. The wiiigs on tlie left difference in liabits there seems to be 

 iu the position of repose, to no satisftictoiy w\ay of distinguishing 

 the members of the two families ex- 

 cept by tlie structure of the claws and tibial spurs. 



Fabre has sketched the habits of a species of Eumcnes, 

 probably E. 2wmiformis. This Eaincnes constructs with clay a 

 small vase-like earthenware vessel, in the walls of which small 

 stones are embedded (like Fig. 28, B). This it fills with food 

 for the young. The food consists of caterpillars to the number 

 of fourteen or sixteen for each nest. These caterpillars are 

 believed to be stung by the parent- wasp (as is the case in tlie 



