HYMENOPTERA. 241 



each side, thus appearing to be triple : varies greatly in 

 length. Inhabits vegetables of all kinds throughout the 

 summer. Ichneumon, Anomalon, Ophion, Banchus, Pel- 

 tastes, Alomya, Cryptus, Pimpla, represented depositing 

 its egg in a caterpillar at page 8, Xylonomus. 



Sirecites. Larva cylindrical, with six rudimental articu- 

 late legs ; head corneous ; paratelum incrassated ; inhabits 

 timber. Pupa changes in the same situation. Imago with 

 antennae filiform, attenuated exteriorly, composed of fifteen 

 to thirty joints, the number varying in different individuals 

 of the same sex and species ; mandibles strong, trifid ; 

 maxilla rather elongate, soft, flexible, obtuse, their feelers 

 very minute, exarticulate ; labium somewhat triangular ; 

 ligula short, entire, dilated ; feelers three-jointed, the ter- 

 minal joint long and incrassated ; ocelli three ; wings ample 

 with many strong nervures ; prothorax fully developed, 

 broader than the head, its anterior and posterior margins 

 concave ; the following segments fully and equally deve- 

 loped ; ovipositor exserted, composed of three seta. In- 

 habits fir plantations. Sirex. The male of Sirex gigas 

 is represented at the head of this chapter. 



Xyphidriites. Larva perfectly without feet. Inhabits 

 and lives on the dead or dying wood of various trees. Pupa 

 changes in the same situations. Imago with antenna com- 

 posed of seventeen or eighteen joints, gradually attenuated 

 towards the apex; mandibles small, with four distinct teeth; 

 maxillae short, obtuse, their feelers biarticulate ; labium 

 short , ligula minute, entire ; feelers four-jointed ; ocelli 

 three ; head orbicular, large ; prothorax very long, slender, 

 and neck-like ; the remaining segments of uniform size ; 

 the oviduct of the female exserted, covered above by a 

 sheath-like appendage. Inhabits posts, decayed willows, 

 &c., flying in the sunshine. Xyphidria. 



Xyelites. Larva perfectly without feet. Feeds in the 



