British Hymenoptera. Ill 



5. Vespa arhorea, Smith. 



Smith, Zooh i., p. 170, 6, fig. 1, ? ; Brit. Foss. Hym., 

 &c., p. 218, ph v., figs. 11, 12. 



1 have only seen a very few ? of this species, but 

 they certainly appear to be distinct from any other 

 ? that I know ; the 1st segment of the abdomen is longer, 

 and the legs decidedly thicker and more hairy ; otherwise 

 it is like a riifa without the rufous edges to the black 

 markings, with the scape of the antennse yellow in front, 

 and the clypeus with three black spots. 



6. Vespa sylvestris, Scop. 



Scop., Ent. Carn., p. 309 ; Smith, Brit. Foss. Hym., 

 &c., p. 219. 



The distinctive characters of this and the following 

 species, by which they may be known from any of the 

 preceding, is the long space between the eye and the 

 base of each mandible. The scape also is yellow in front 

 in all the sexes. 



3' marked much as in vulgaris $ , but with the abdomen 

 rather less elongate, and the genital segments much 

 smaller in proportion ; the sagittse wide throughout, and 

 not dilated at the apex ; laciniae each with a curved 

 spine. Apical segment of the abdomen entire. 



2 and ^ with more regular black basal bands to the 

 abdomen than in vulgaris, and with the surface more 

 shining. Clypeus with only a single small central spot. 

 Length, 3^ 15 mm., $ 18 mm., ^ 15 mm. 



Hab. Generally distributed and common in many 

 places. Makes its nest generally in trees. 



7. Vespa norvegica, Fab. 



Fab., Species Ins., p. 460 ; Smith, Brit. Foss. Hym., 

 &c., p. 220. 



Smaller and shorter than the preceding, but similar to 

 it in the shape of the head ; it may be distinguished from 

 it structurally in having the clypeus only remotel}^ punc- 

 tured, whereas in sylvestris its puncturation is close. In 

 coloration it differs considerably, having a wide central 

 black stripe down the clypeus dilated at the apex, much 



