42 HYMENOPTERA ACULEATA. 



not more tban half as long as the rest of the flagellum, and 

 three-jointed club ; the $ has the antennae thirteen-jointed 

 and the basal joint of the flagellum simple.) 



(Pheidole megacephala, Fab., is aiwther introduced 

 species which has occurred in a bake-house in the Borough, 

 London, and also in some greenhouses ; the $ and $ may be 

 known by the two submarginal cells in the wing, the ? may 

 be known by the long three-jointed club of the antenna, and 

 the shining smooth surface ; the head in the " soldiers," as 

 they are called, is often of enormous size.) 



(Cremastogaster SCUtellaris, Oliv., has occurred in hot- 

 houses ; this may be known at once by its black colour, 

 shining surface, and sometimes red head, but structurally 

 by the petiole uniting with the third abdominal segment 

 dorsally.) 



FOSSORES. 



This section embraces a number of very diverse forms, 

 whose habits differ very much in the various genera. They 

 all provide their larvae with animal food, although they 

 nourish themselves with vegetable; the food is supplied 

 fresh to the larvae, the parent having stung the caterpillars, 

 spiders, or other insects with which she provisions her 

 nest, so that they are practically paralyzed but do not die 

 till her eggs hatch and the larvae want them for food. The 

 Mutillidce, with which the section begins, have a certain 

 amount of superficial resemblance to the Heterogyna, the 

 females being apterous and thus somewhat similar to the 

 5 of the ants ; their solitary habits and the absence of the 

 5 form, however, prevent their being confused with them. 

 Some few genera are wasp-like in their coloration, but the 

 simple wings, which are never longitudinally folded when 

 at rest, distinguish them therefrom. Some of the red 

 and black-bodied species, such as Alyson, &c., might be 

 and are sometimes mixed by beginners with species of 



