172 ZOOLOGY. 



doptera, but attack Coleoptera, Diptera, and probably members of all the 

 orders. Amono- the Ilemiptera, the Aphides are extensively destroyed by 

 minute Ichneumons. In some cases a j^arasitic Hymenopter is itself 

 attacked by a smaller member of the same order. The eggs of insects and 

 S|)iders are similarly attacked, and spiders also. These insects are very 

 active, flying and running about in a restless manner, and vibrating the 

 antenna? as if excited. In their perfect state they are fonnd npon flowers. 

 They are generally black or red colored, varied with white or red, the 

 middle of the antennre baing often white. 



Fam. (5. ChalckUdta {2^1- T9, fgs. ?A, 35). This is an extensive family 

 mostly of minute parasitic insects, many of which have bright or metallic 

 colors. In some forms the hinder femora are very thick, in some the 

 antenna? of the male are branched, and in Zevcospis (Jig. 23), the ovi- 

 positor of the female, when unemployed, is turned np along the dorsum. 



Fan. 7. P I'OctotriqndiB. This family contains minute species, with 

 habits like the two preceding families. Some ©f them are so small, that a 

 number of them may be parasitic in a single egg of a butterfl3\ 



Fam. 8. Clirysidldca {Chnjsis., jd . 79, ji/js. 2-1-, 26). This is a family of 

 small, oblong-bodied, brilliant, metallic-colored insects, which have the 

 power of rolling themselves into a ball, or at least of applying the venter 

 to the thorax beneath. The abdomen is attaciied by a short peduncle, its 

 extremity has a tubular exsertile ovipositor, which is moved like the joints 

 of a telescope, and the termination is a sharp point. Tliey are very active, 

 and may often be seen during hot weather npon fences or dry sand, vibrat- 

 ing their antenna? and moving about. AVestwood thinks the ^^^^ is deposited 

 upon the food intended for the larva? of other species, and of which it 

 deprives the proper owner. 



Fmii. 9. CrahromdcB {Crahro, fg. 29). In this, the first family of the 

 Aculeata, the head is large and quadrate, the antennae short, the feet 

 slender, the anterior tibia with a pectinated spur, and the abdomen of the 

 female provided with a sting. The general color is some dark tint 

 varied with yellow spots. The adults frequent flowers, but feed their 

 young with insects. They gnaw holes in wood, in which they lay 

 their eggs, and a stock of provisions consisting of other larva? or adult 

 insects ; and we have on two occasions found dead branches of trees 

 (bored probably by members of this family) filled with Diptera, a single 

 species of the latter being taken in each case. The insects taken for the 

 food of the young are not killed entirely, but rendered torpid, so that they 

 may not decay before they are wanted. When the store is complete the 

 apei'ture is closed. 



Fam: 10. LarridcB. This is a small family allied to the preceding ; the 

 labrum is hidden, and the mandibles have a notch near the external base. 



Fam. 11. Benibecidce. This is the smallest family in the order. The 

 mandibles are pointed, have an internal tooth, and the labrum is exserted. 

 It contains the genera Bemhex.^ Monedida., and Stizus. These insects lay up 

 a store of insects in the ground for their young. Some of the species of 

 Stizus are considerably larger than hornets ; of black or dark colors, 

 ^76 



