342 



INSECTS AT HOME. 



female than in the male. At Fig. a is shown the maxillarv 

 palpus, and at Fig. b the labium. 



These insects are all burrowers, and vary much in the soil 

 which they prefer for their tunnels. Tlie present species pre- 

 fers such soil as is found on sandy heaths, and, as it is plentiful 

 all . over England, may be captured almost anywhere. The 



XXXIV 



1. Pompiliis fuscus. 2. Astata boops. 3. Mellinns arvensi?. 4. Cvabro quadrimacnlatus. 

 5. Cerceris ai-vensis. a. Pompilns, maxilla and palpus. b. Do., labium. c J\Iellinus, 

 mandible. cl. Do., labium. e. Do., maxilla and palpus. /. Crabro, larva. g. Astata, 

 head of female. 



object of the burrow is to form a retreat for its young ; and, 

 when the tunnel is formed, the insect lays an egg in it, nearly 

 fills the hole with spiders, and then closes its mouth. The 

 young Pompilns, wlien hatched, begins to feed upon the spiders, 

 and the mother insect is taught by instinct to place in the 

 nest just so many spiders that, when the last is eaten, the 

 larva is ready to change into its pupal state. 



