STINGING FOUR-WINGED INSECTS 



73 



fkao by If. P. Hand,, F.Z.S. 



TREE-WASP 



ery similar to the common wasp, but buildl 

 its nest in trees instead of in the ground 



times of only three a moderately long basal one, a short 

 middle one, and a long terminal one, composed of a number 

 of joints united into one; and rarely, as in the case of the 

 males of some small species about half an inch long which 

 feed on fir and pine, the antennae are feathered. The grubs 

 are very like caterpillars, and are sometimes called " false 

 caterpillars " ; but a true caterpillar (except in one or two very 

 rare exceptions among foreign species) has never more than 

 sixteen legs, while these " false caterpillars " have more, often 

 as many as twenty-two. They also resemble caterpillars in 

 another way, for the pupae are enclosed in cocoons. One 

 interesting Australian species, which feeds on gum-trees, pro- 

 ceeds from a black caterpillar with only six legs. The perfect insect has a blackish head and 

 thorax, with three large yellow spots on the latter, yellowish antennae and wings, and a green 

 abdomen ; it measures about an inch and a half across the wings, and has knobbed antennae. 

 An allied species, found in Tasmania, is said to tend its young larvae an unusual habit, except 

 among social insects like bees, wasps, and ants. Among the commonest and the most destructive 

 saw-flies in England are those feeding upon the currant, gooseberry, and pear, of which there are 

 several species, measuring about half an inch across the wings. The commonest flies which lay 

 their eggs on the gooseberry and currant are yellow, with the head, antennae, and three long spots 

 on the back black, and the wings transparent, with black veins. The grubs are bluish green, with 

 twenty legs, and numerous black dots ; and several may often be seen on one leaf. The best-known 

 of the PEAR SAW-FLIES is black, with the wings transparent, except the veins ; the grub is very 

 like a slug, and is green or yellow, very slimy, with the front of the body much thickened. 



The WOOD-WASPS include only a few species, the grubs of which live in the stems of 

 plants, or in the solid wood of trees. One of the largest feeds on fir- or pine-trees, and the 

 fly measures from half an inch to an inch and a half in length, and varies much in size, though 

 the male is generally much smaller than the female. The female is yellow, with two black 



bands, and a stout ovi- 

 positor half as long as 

 the abdomen. In the 



^ 



male the tip of the abdo- 

 men is black, and ends in 

 arectangularpoint. The 

 wings are transparent, 

 with yellow nervures. 



Next to these in- 

 sects come the GALL- 

 FLIES, most of whichpro- 

 duce round gallson oaks; 

 and in some species we 

 meet with a wingless 

 brood, living alternately 

 with the winged broods, 

 but at the roots of the 

 trees instead of in the 

 open air. The veining 

 of the wings is reduced 

 to one or two veins ; 

 the antennae are rather 

 long, and not angulated ; 

 and the abdomen is 





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rhin tij Sihalaitit phut. C.] 





TREE-WASP'S NEST 



Generally built in a thick bush 



