192 HYMENOPTERA. 



it is acutely oval, and with five rings in the male. Cleptes 

 semiaurata Latr. is found in Central Europe. We have no na- 

 tive species. In Chrysis and the other genera, Stilbum, Parno- 

 pes, and Iledychrum, the abdomen is hollowed beneath, and 

 the tip is broad and square. Chrysis hilaris Dahlb. (Fig. 122) 

 is a short, thick, bluish green species, .32 inch in length. It 

 is not uncommon in New England. 



In Iledychrum the maxillary palpi and ligula are rather short, 

 the last cordate ; the mandibles are three-toothed v.ithin. The 

 abdomen is broad and short, almost spherical, the second seg- 

 ment being the largest. //. dimidiatmn Say is found in the 

 Middle States. 



The European Stilbum spJendidum, Fabr. according to Du- 



four, lives in the cells of Pelopieus spirifex. It makes oblong 



,,;,.»><^,=^ cocoons of a deep brov.n, with rounded 



J^^^^^^^g^^^ end.s ; they are of great tenacity, being 



mixed with a gummy matter. 



Mr. Guenzius states that in Port 

 Natal ''a species of Stilbum lays its 

 eggs on the collected caterpillars stored 

 up b}'^ Eumenes tinctor, which con- 

 structs a nest of mud and attaches it to reeds, etc., not in a 

 single, but a large mass, in which cells are excavated, similar 

 to the nest of Chalicodoma micraria?* First, it uses its ovi- 

 positor as a gimlet, and when its point has a little penetrated, 

 then as a saw or rasp ; it likewise feels with its ovipositor, and, 

 finding an unfinished or an empt}' cell it withdraws it immedi- 

 atel3% without la^'ing an egg." 



IcHNEUMONiD^. Lati-cille. The Ichneumon-flies are readily 

 recognized by the usually long and slender body, the long ex- 

 serted ovipositor, which is often very long, and protected by a 

 sheath formed of four stylets of the same length as the true 

 ovipositor. The head is usually rather square, with long, 

 .slender, rnany-jointed antennrj which are not usually elbowed. 

 The maxillary palpi are five to six-jointed, while the labial 



*A query (?) after the name of a species indicates a doubt wiiether the insect 

 realiy belongs to that species; so with a ? after the name of a jrcnus. A ? before 

 both the genus and species expresses a doubt whether tliat be the insect at all. 



