FAMILIES SPHEGID^ AND VESPID-E. 195 



feed upon the larva? of the sirex. Tlie tree was perfectly ridilled with ln.les and liurrows, 

 and was undoubtedly selected on account of its sheltered jRisition. As hajipens with some 

 other species, the females sunietinies perished fmm inability to withdraw their ovipositor ; 

 and this does not seem at all strange, for they frequently succeeded in introducing it into 

 the wood to the depth of three inches, slender as it is. 



Splicgidac. 



The collar is dilated laterally, and extends to the base of the wings. The legs are long 

 the posterior being more than twice as long as the head and thorax. The antennse are fili- 

 form or subsetaceous, long, and composed of elongated joints. The body is long, and the 

 abdomen is attached by a long peduncle. Mandibles elongate, curved, narrow, and notched 

 on the outside at the base : eyes entire : legs fossorial. 



These insects appear like wasps, except in their pedunculated abdomen : they are 

 exceedingly active, restless, and difficult to captiue. 



Sphex pex.\svlv.\nica. ( Plate xxvi, fig. 9.) 



Color steel-blue and purplish : margins of the wings fading info brownish, scarcely 



observable. Head transverse, short : eyes prominent ; hindwings dilated behind. 



Abdomen greenish steel-blue, oval, acute, and attached to the thorax by a slender 



thread. Antennae brownish : thorax and head pubescent : tarsi black. 



Yespidae. 



Vespa fraterna. ( Plate xxvi, fig. 6.) 



Color brown. Surface without puncture and smooth. Antenna? paler on the under side. 



Wings smoke-brown, translucent. First ring of the abdomen marked with a yellow 



ring. Legs brown, except the joints, and a short stripe of lustrous upon the upper 



side of the femora : tarsi luteous. 



The wasp and hornet exhibit skill and patience in preparing their habitations : they 



are natural paper-makers, and fabricate an article that is impervious to water. 



The wasps form their habitation beneath stones, fixing it to the inferior surface. They 

 feed their young upon vegetable juices, and the softer jiarts of other insects which they 

 capture. They are fond of the juices of our domestic fruits, and seem to have a preference 

 for the expressed juice of the apple, as they are observed to abound about cider-mills and 

 in apple-yards. 



