NOTES OX HYMEXOPTERA. 131 



FOSSORES. 



As might be expected, in so fine a summer and autumn 

 as we Lave this year enjoyed, fossorial Hymenoptera have 

 been more plentiful than in any season since 1860 ; but still 

 their numbers are very small, when compared with those of 

 years previous to the above date ; no one but an Hymenop- 

 terist can form a correct idea of the present scarcity of 

 Hymenopterous insects orenerally, as compared with former 

 years. The Pompilidce appear to me to have been more 

 diminished than any other family ; in the most favourable 

 situations, and under the most favourable circumstances, but 

 few are to be found ; a period of some years, I fear, must 

 elapse ere we shall again see these interesting insects in their 

 former abundance. From the north, I have the testimony 

 of Mr. Bold, who says, " Of Fossores, I have only taken the 

 enclosed {Gorytes 4-fasciatus) and Jlimesa bicolor." This 

 refers to the entire season. 



Jlefhoca ichneumonides. — Of this rarity, two females and 

 one male were taken at Bournemouth. This insect is the 

 only British representative of the extensive family Thyn- 

 nidce ; the metropolis of the genus appears to be Australia, 

 in which country, Mr. Bakewell found them parasitic upon 

 Lepidoptera ; we know not, however, if all the species are 

 so ; it would be a most interesting discovery to ascertain 

 upon what insect our Methoca is parasitic ; it is a widely 

 distributed insect, having been captured, to my knowledge, 

 in the Isle of Wight, in Hampshire, in Essex, Surrey, 

 Suffolk and Dorsetshire. 



Pompilus rujipes. — This elegant species has been taken 

 in some numbers, on the coast near Poole, where, for the first 

 time, I observed it to prey upon spiders. 



Ecagethes hicolor. — Of this extremely local species, a fine 

 k2 



