THE ANTS 



2999 



in the mode of making its cell will be noticeable. Selecting a long tunnel, the 

 female brings in aphides or small spiders, lays an egg, deposits a suitable sup- 

 ply of food, and fits on the top a wad of mud, above this again another cell is 

 constructed, similarly capped with mud, and so on till the tunnel is full. 



Family 



As an example of this family may be taken Philanthus triangulum, the larva 

 of which feeds upon the honeybee, and other members of the same group. In 

 the illustration on p. 2998 a figure of this species is given. Since, at least, five 

 bees are provided for each larva, the havoc caused in hives where these insects 

 abound must be considerable. A separated nest, in some warm sunny slope, is 

 made for each egg. Another form is Oxybelus uniglumis, figured in the illustra- 



COMMON LEAF-CUTTER BEE. a. b. Female and male (enlarged); c. Rose leaves with several pieces clipped out and a 

 bee at work ; d. Nest in a willow stem ; e. A single cell ; f. The lid of same ; g-h. Pieces of leaf ; i-k. Side pieces. 



tion on p. 2998. In this species the female excavates tunnels in sandy ground, 

 to which the sunshine has free access, and flies are mainly used to provision the 

 nest, as a rule one only to each cell. The fly is attacked from above, knocked 

 down, stung in the neck, and carried off to the nest. A third form (Cerceris 

 arcuaria}, shown in the same illustration, is a black insect with yellow bands 

 on the abdomen, as are most of its kindred. 



