280 SOME SOI III INDIAN INSECTS, ETC. 



SPHEGID/E. 

 OXYBELUS SQUAMOSUS, Sm. 

 Oxybeliis squamosus, Smith, T.E.S. (1875), 38; Cameron, Manch. 



Mem. (4). Ill, 276 (1890); Bingham, Faun. Inrl. Hym., I, 315: 

 Lefroy, End. Ins. Life, p. 209. 



Fig. 120. — Oxybelus squamosus. The small figure shows the natural si/r. 

 11 iriginal.) 



Distribution. Guindy ; Coimbatore. Probably throughout the 

 Plains of Southern India. 



Lifehistory. — Not known in detail. These wasps, however, are 

 known to tunnel in sandy banks and to store their nests with 

 Diptera. 



Food. — Adult flies of Philcematomyia insignis. 



Status. — Highly beneficial as predaceous on the above-named 

 pest of cattle. 



Remarks. -This little wasp is found fairly commonly on and 

 around cattle. It stalks Philcematomyia insignis when this fly is 

 intent on sucking blood and seizes it, when wasp and fly usually 

 drop to the ground ; the fly is stung and carried off by the wasp 

 and, so far as 1 have been able to observe, it is held by the sting 

 only (and not by the legs) during flight. Sometimes the was]) 

 collects the female flies whilst these are ovipositing in cowdung, at 

 which time the flics arc in a rather helpless position, anchored (so 

 to speak) by their ovipositor in the dung. This wasp does not 

 attack Stomoxys or Houseflies, as quoted by Lefroy (I.e.) ; if it does 

 In error clutch a Stomoxys or hrematophagous Muscid, both fly and 

 wasp drop to the ground but the former is released immediately the 

 mistake is discovered. As a check on Philcematomyia this little 

 wasp is most efficient and useful. 



