CRABRO. 321 



Genus CRABRO. 



Sphex, pt., Linn. Faun. Suec. p. 411 (1761). 



Vespa, pt., Lm7i. Faun. Siiec. p. 415 (1761), 



Crabro, pt., Fabr. Si/st. Ent. p. 373 (1775). 



Rhopalum, pt., Kirhy, Steph. Si/st. Cat. p. 366 (1829). 



Solenius, Blepharipus, Ceratocolus, Thyreopus, Crossocerus, Linde- 



nius, Corvnopus, Physoscelus, Dasyproctus, Lepel. Ann. Soc. Ent. 



Fr. iii (1834), pp. 712-804. 

 Entonaognatlms, Ectemnius, Bracliymerus, Megapodium, Dahlb. 



Hym. Em: i, pp. 29o, 389, & 519 (1845). 

 Podagritus, Spin. 6ay, Chile, vi, p. 353 (1851). 



Type, C. crihrarlus, Linn. 

 Range. Both hemispheres. 



Head large, subrotund or subquadrate ; mandibles simple or 



bidentate ; elypeus transverse, nearly always pilose ; front often 



excavate or furrovi'ed ; antennae geniculate, inserted at the base of 



the elypeus ; orelli normal, generally placed in 



the centre of the vertex ; thorax ovate, pro- 



notum short transverse ; scutellum prominent, 



limulate ; median segment very short, steeply 



sloped, sometimes truncate, always with a 



triangular or subcordate enclosed space at 



base ; front wipg with one radial and one 



cubital cell, radial cell slightly appendiculate, 



Fig. S^.— Crabro cubital cell receiving the one recurrent uer- 



anricoymis, 2- §• Yure towards the apex; legs short, stout, 



spinose, the tarsi longer than the tibiae, the 



joints of the anterior tai'si in some species dilated in the male ; 



abdomen pseudosessile, subpetiolate or petiolate ; in some species 



the basal abdominal segment is closely applied to the mediau 



segment, almost truncate at base, in others it is subclavate, or 



again distinctly petiolate, nodose at the apex. 



Very little is known of the habits of the Oriental forms of this 

 genus. Some of the European species are known to make their 

 burrows in bramble-sticks and decayed wood, and to store Aphidttt 

 as food for their larvae. In Burma I once noticed 0. opife.v 

 carrying off Aphidce from a rose-tree in my garden ; but I could 

 not trace her to her nest. 



Key to the Species. 

 A. Abdomen petiolate. 



a. Petiole long, linear, nodose at apex. 



a' . Enclosed space at base of median 

 segment longitudinally striate ; sides 



smooth ; abdomen immaculate C. opifex, p. 323. 



6'. Enclosed space at base of median seg- 

 ment finely obliquely stiiate ; sides 

 coarsely striate ; 2nd and 4th abdo- 

 minal segments marked with greenish 



yellow C. brookii, p. .323. 



VOL. I. Y 



