114 HYMENOPTERA ACULEATA. 



victim slowly, and apparently in an unconcerned manner, 

 until the poor fly is caught unawares and carried oil by 

 the MelUnus into its burrow." The larva spins a brown 

 silken cocoon ; Handlirsch mentions three Paltearctic species, 

 of which we have two in this countiy. 



1. Pale markings yellow, legs yellow and black, surface 



of abdomen very finely rugulose.but this character 



is only visible under a very strong lens . . ARVENSIS. 



2. Pale markings white, legs reddish and black, surface 



of abdomen smooth sabulosus. 



M. arvensis, Linn. — Black, clypeus in the J', the 

 scape of the antennfe in front, a line on each side of the 

 face, the collar of the pronotum, the tegulae, a spot under 

 each wing, and the scutellum, in both sexes, yellow. Basal 

 segment of the abdomen with two spots in the ? only, 

 second with a wide band in the ? , with two spots, or 

 entirely black, in thee?, third segment with a broad band 

 in both sexes, fourth with two lateral spots, sometimes 

 united in the ? , fifth yellow in the ? only, sixth in the $ 

 with a central spot ; legs yellow, femora at the base, and 

 anterior and intermediate tibife posteriorly, black ; head 

 and thorax finely and closely punctured, face below the 

 antennas clothed with pale hairs, antenna3 simple in both 

 sexes ; wings slightly dusky, basal area of propodeum 

 bounded by a crenate line, its sides raised and smooth, its 

 centre rugose and depressed, beyond the enclosure the 

 propodeum is rugose and hairy, with a raised line on each 

 side; abdomen shining, its surface exceedingly finely 

 ruffulose, with shallow scattered punctures on the basal 

 segments, more closely punctured towards the apex, pygidial 

 area in the ? striate, largely punctured at the base, apical 

 segments more or less hairy ; tibias with pale spines. 



L. 8-15 mm. 



Generally distributed, and often very abundant. 



M. sabulosus, Fabr. — Generally smaller than the above, 

 head and thorax less closely punctured and consequently 



