HYMENOPTERA. — CRABRONIDEE. 199 
his Hist. Nat. Fourmis, p. 307.). This species burrows in hot sandy situ- 
ations, and provisions its nest with hive bees*; a single individual of 
? 
which after being stung is deposited with an ege; and, as each deposits 
five or six eggs, the number of bees destroyed must be at least equal to 
that, if not more considerable, which is most probable; and Latreille 
counted as many as fifty or sixty females occupied in making their 
burrows in a space of ground 120 ft.long. The proceedings of this 
fine species do not materially differ from those of the Cerceris. The 
mandibles of the larva are described as two “ crochets triangulaires 
plats, courbés, connivents, trés durs, bruns, rapprochés a leur base, et 
recouverts par un avancement, en forme de bec.” 
Iam indebted to M. Perchéron for the cocoon and pupa of this 
species: the former is ten lines long, flask-shaped, and formed of a 
single thin pellicle, thickened and black at the narrow end. 
The second subfamily Nyssonides (Nyssonide Leach) have the ab- 
domen of an ovoid-conic or conical form, being broadest at the base, 
and never attached to the thorax by means of a long peduncle. The 
head is of moderate size, with the antennz filiform, the basal joint 
but slightly elongated, and the mandibles are not strongly notched on 
the outside at the base. 
The species of the typical genus Nysson appear to nidificate in 
the sand, but their prey has not been observed. 
The genus Oxybelus Zaér. is remarkable for the armature of its 
thorax, the scutellum (of the mesothorax) is simple, and the metatho- 
racic praescutum is armed at the sides with lobes, and the base of the 
metathoracic scutellum with a spine (fig. 82.12.13.) The description 
given by Curtis, Shuckard, &c., is not sufficiently precise. The 
common species, O. uniglumis Zinn. abounds, in the summer, upon 
the flowers of umbelliferous plants; and Mr. Shuckard states that the 
female has a peculiar mode of carrying and holding its prey, which 
consists of Dipterous insects, whilst opening the mouth of its burrow 
or forming a new one. It is a bustling little creature, and I have 
observed that it uses its two fore legs in making its hole with the 
greatest rapidity, moving them alternately, and soon scratching the 
burrow sufficiently deep to cover itself. 
* Mr. Curtis adds, that it most commonly places an Andrena in its cell (Brit. 
Ent. No. 273.) ; and Mr. Shuckard (Essay, p. 248.) says, that it is recorded to prey 
upon species of the genus Halictus, thus evidently erroneously confounding it with 
Cerceris ornata. 
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