2S4 SPHEQID^. 



Genus BEMBEX. 



Apis, pt., Linn. Si/st. Nat. ed. x, p. 574 (1758). 

 Bembvx, pt., Fahi: Si/st. Ent. p. 361 (1775). 

 Bembex, pt., Oliv. Etic. Meth. iv, p. 288 (1789). 

 Beiubex, Latr. Ge7i. Crust, et Ins. iv, p. 97 (1809). 

 Monedula, pt, Dahlb. Hym. Eur. i, p. 492 (1845). 



Type, B. rostrata, Fabr. 

 Range. Both hemispheres. 



Head broad, as broad as, but not broader than, the thorax ; eyes 

 large, ovate, nearly occupying the whole of the sides of the head, 

 and reaching below to the base of the mandibles ; their inner 

 orbits generally closest in the middle, very slightly divergent above 



and below; ocelli complete, gene- 

 rally round, but small and incon- 

 spicuous ; antennae filiform, in the 

 male with the joints of the apical half 

 often abnormal, spined or excavate 

 beneath ; clypeus boldly convex, the 

 anterior margin transverse, appear- 

 ing emarginate owing to its con- 

 vexity ; mandibles narrow, oblique at 



Bembe:c^t^k,2. f T""' with three teeth, the inner 



"^ two small, the interior long and very 



acute ; labrum exserted, very long and convex, pointed, with the 

 mandibles crossing in X-shape over or behind it. Thorax broad, 

 slightly vertically flattened ; pronotum small, depressed beneath the 

 level of the mesonotum ; median segment short, roundly truncate 

 posteriorly : wings somewhat short, radial cell of fore wing long and 

 narrow ; three cubital cells, the 1st forming a long triangle, equal 

 to or longer than the 2nd and 3rd united, 2ud and 3rd subequal in 

 length, the latter narrower than the 2nd, which latter receives both 

 the recurrent nervures. Legs fairly stout, spiuose ; 1st joint of the 

 anterior tarsi always ciliated, cihas often of great length ; inter- 

 mediate femora in male generally dentate beneath ; intermediate 

 tibiae with a long apical spine anteriorly and a short one posteriorly ; 

 claws simple. Abdomen massive, broad, never petiolate, the 1st 

 segment as broad as the 2nd and steep at base, the apical segment 

 laterally often toothed or with a sinuate margin, the apex rounded, 

 truncate or incised ; one or more of the ventral segments, in a 

 large majority of species, furnished with carinae or tubercles, 

 especially in the male. General colour of the insects black or ferru- 

 ginous, with sinuate lacteous or yellow bands on the abdomen. 



The habits of these insects are well known ; they nest in sandy 

 banks, some of the Indian species (e. g. B.fossorius) gregariously, 

 digging their own tunnels and using their powerful ciliated anterior 

 legs, in the manner of a dog digging. The food furnished for the 

 larvae is always, so far as I know, various species of Diptera, and 

 some of the Indian species certainly do not close their nests, but 

 frequently supply their larvae with fresh food. 



