THE ICHNEUMON WASPS 



2989 



take the genus Microgaster, which comprises many of the commonest species. The 

 females of all, except two which are parasitic on Aphides and the egg of spiders, at- 

 tack the larvae of L,epidoptera, especially those clothed with hair. They are them- 

 selves the victims of the attacks of a species of 

 Pteromahcs a genus of Hymenoptera briefly noted 

 above. 



OTHER FAMILIES 



In the family Evaniidce the abdomen is attached 

 above the middle of the metanotum, not to its lower 

 margin. Among these is the javelin wasp (Faznus 

 jaculator}, a species parasitical on Hymenoptera 

 which breed in old walls. In the typical genus Evania 

 the species are believed to be parasitic on the cock- 

 roach, depositing their eggs in the egg capsules, and 

 this habit will account for the presence of a certain 

 species on board ships, where cockroaches abound. 

 The members of the family Chrysididte are not -easily 

 mistaken for those of any other, being of moderate 

 size, and distinguished by the brilliancy of their color, 

 not only in the tropics but even in temperate climates. 

 The integuments are more or less coarsely punctured, 

 and the whole body glistens with metallic lustre, 

 golden yellow, fiery red, blue, and green, all these 

 being as a rule in combination. The perfect insects 

 are most numerous in the summer months, and may 

 be observed among flowers, on decaying timber, old walls, and other suitable hunt- 

 ing grounds. The females lay their eggs in the nests of the various burrowing 

 Hymenoptera. It is probable that the grub devours the store of food garnered for 



its own progeny by the careful mother. Possibly it makes 

 little distinction between the food supply and the tissues 

 of the organism nournished by them. The common ruby- 

 tailed wasps belong to this family. 



The golden burnished wasp (Stilbum splendidum) is 

 entirely steel blue or golden green. It occurs on the 

 shores of the Mediterranean, and is also found in Asia. 

 It is one of the largest of the European forms. Among these, the burnished blue 

 wasp {Chrysis cyanea) is universally distributed throughout the whole of 

 Europe. The females lay their eggs in the larvae of those species of Hymenoptera 

 which make their nests in bramble stems. The common golden wasp (C. ignita) 

 may be seen flying in search for the larvae of Hymenoptera, whose burrows are 

 made in old posts, walls, sand pits, and other such places. Of the royal gold wasp 

 t^Hedychrum luciduhtm), another of the commoner and more beautiful species, a 



Microgaster nemorum, female (en- 

 larged); its larvae are feeding 

 upon a large caterpillar (these 

 of the natural size). 



JAVELIN WASP, Fcenus 



jaculator. 

 (Natural size.) 



