VESPID^. 149 



and Scli'iiiedekncclit has suggested the possibility of its 

 bciug an inqulHne species living with other wasps, as 

 TgitJii/nts does with Bonihua, but at present I think there 

 is no direct evidence to prove this, although the theory is 

 ingenious and very far from improbable. 



The Solitary Wasps, all of which, in this country, are 

 narrow black insects oi-namented with yellow bands, are 

 variable in their choice of nest localities. Eumenes makes a 

 mud-covered nest, and attaches it to a twig of heath or some 

 other plant. Some species of Odijnerus nest in the ground, 

 and some in holes in walls, keyholes, or other suitable 

 cavities ; but all, so far as the British species are concerned, 

 construct their cells of mud and provision them with cater- 

 pillars. All the species sting with great seveiity. 



The Biploptera may be known scientifically by having 

 their wings longitudinally folded when at rest, the pronotum 

 produced backwards to the tegulie on each side, the lateral 

 prolongations covering the sides of the mesonotum ; the eyes 

 are deeply sinuate. The two families may be distinguished 

 thus : — 



.1. Species social, mandibles not snlcate, claws simple . Vespid.e. 

 2. Species solitary, mandibles elongate, longitudinally 



Bulcate, claws toothed near the apex . . . Eu5iENtD.E. 



VESPID-ffi. 



Species social, communities consisting of males, females, 

 and workers ; hairs simple or sometimes twisted, eyes deeply 

 sinuate on the inner margin, antennae simple in both se.xes, 

 mandibles rather short and triangular, not grooved, maxil- 

 lary palpi 6-jointed, labial palpi 4-jointed, tongue short, 

 bifid ; pronotum deeply and arcuately emarginate posteriorly, 

 its sides produced to the insertion of the anterior wings and 

 covering the sides of the mesonotum anteriorly, anterior 

 wings with 3 submarginal cells ; sagittce of (J armature united; 

 intermediate tibiiB with two calcaria, claws simple. Of 

 this family Ve^j)^^ '^ ^^^ only genus that is really indigenous. 

 A species of PolUtes was taken by a lady at Penzance iu 



