306 SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT 



Jive, in their perfect state, on flowers ; some of them 

 snosisting on honey and the juices of fruits, while 

 otners are carnivorous. The larvae are very diversi- 

 fied both in their habits and structure. 



These insects are very numerous and widely distri- 

 buted. In amount of species they are probably 

 next to the Coleoptera and Diptera; and as the 

 societies many of them form are exceedingly popu- 

 lous, the number of individuals must be very great. 

 Considerably above 2000 have been described as 

 British, but as many of the parasitical kinds are 

 very minute, it is likely that no small number re- 

 main undetected. 



Latreille divides the order into two great sections. 

 I. TEREBRANTIA, in which the females are provided 

 with a saw-like ovipositor. This he divides into 

 two subsections: 1st, Securifera; having the ab- 

 domen sessile and provided with a saw ; larvae with 

 feet. Fam. Tenthredinidce, Siricidce. 2d, Pupi- 

 vora ; abdomen pedunculated and provided with a 

 borer; larvae without feet. Fam. Evamidce, Ich- 

 neumonidce, Cynipidce, Chalcididce, Proctotrupidce, 

 Chrysididce. Section II. ACULEATA ; abdomen of 

 the females armed with a sting. This includes four 

 subsections. 1st, Heterogyna ; females or neuters 

 wingless. Fam. Formicidce, Mutillidce. 2d, Fos- 

 sores ; females winged, wings not folded, basal joint 

 of posterior tarsi simple. Fam. Sphegidce, fyc. $c. 

 3d, Diploptera ; females and neuters winged, wings 

 folded. Fam. Vespidce, fyc. 4<th, Mettifera ; females 

 and neuters winged, wings not folded, posterior tarsi 



