66 HYMENOPTERA. 



found feeding u}3on the dead larvae of the wasp, but these 

 attacks cannot be classed ariiong the parasitic ones. 



Another dipterous insect, Phorafloralis, attacks the larvae, 

 and also the pupoe of Vespa vulgaris, as many as eight or 

 ten feeding upon a single larva or pupa. In a piece of comb, 

 lately sent to me, I observed that these parasites so com- 

 pletely devoured the pupa, as to leave only the thin outer 

 integument remaining; more than half the wasps were de- 

 voured in this manner. I do not imagine that wasps are 

 very frequently attacked by Phora ; the first instance that 

 has come to my notice having been discovered by a friend 

 during the present season. 



The Hymenopterous parasites of Vespa vulgaris are an 

 ichneumon, Chyronomon vesparum, and CJirysis ignita ; 

 the latter parasite does not confine its attacks to the genus 

 Vespa, it also attacks species of the genus Odynerus, solitary 

 wasps. I have bred it also from nests of bees, such as Osmia 

 hicornis and Osmia aurulenta; others have found it parasitic 

 upon the larvae of species of fossorial Hymenoptera. 



The only Coleopterous parasite on Vespa vulgaris that 

 I am acquainted with is Rhipiphorus paradoxus, and, as the 

 nature of its parasitism has lately been the subject of con- 

 siderable difference of opinion, but which dii-ect observation 

 has during the present season happily set at rest, I will 

 briefly endeavour to trace the history of this very interesting 

 parasite. 



The parasitical connexion existing between Hhtpiphorus 

 and Vespa vulga7ns appears to have been first recorded by 

 Germar in the year 1813, in the " Magazin der Entomo- 

 logie," but the nature of its connection was conjectural, the 

 perfect insect only having been observed by him. Many 

 entomologists have subsequently found the perfect beetle in 

 the nest. Mr. MacLeay, as recorded by Mr. Curtis, must 



