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HYMENOPTERA ACULEATA. 



Mutillids. Little is known of this group, and it is therefore 

 regarded as neutral. Mutilla discreta occurred in a Francolinus 

 vulgaris and Mutilla sex-maculata in Dendrocitta rufa. 



Scoliidce. The feeding habits of these insects are not known : 

 they possibly parasitise the larvae of Cockchafers : they must be 

 regarded as neutral. 



Scolia quadri-pustulata was found in Dicrurus ater and Acri- 

 dotheres tristis ; Tiphia sp. in Copsychus saularis and Merops 

 viridis. 



Pompilidce. Not enough is known at present to state for 

 certain whether these insects are beneficial or otherwise. A 

 number of species apparently feed on spiders, but they apparently 

 have other animal food. Once only has a member of this group 

 been found to be taken by a bird, namely, Pompilus subsericeus by 

 Francolinus vulgaris. 



Sphegidce. This group has varied habits preying on insects 

 and spiders. As a group it is neutral. Sphex lobatus, a beneficial 

 form which kills crickets, was found to be taken, though not com- 

 monly in any case, by Dendrocitta rufa, Merops viridis, Cuculus 

 micropterus y and Francolinus vulgaris ; and Stizus vespiformis by 

 Dicrurus ater. 



Eumenidce. These wasps are predaceous on caterpillars ard 

 may certainly be regarded as beneficial. Rhynchium is the only 

 genus we have found to be taken by birds. R. bengalense is taken 

 freely by Merops philippinus, and we have an interesting record 

 of Thereiceryx zeylonicus taking the same species. Other species 

 have been taken from the stomachs of Dendrocitta rufa, Oriolus 

 melanocephalus, Coracias indica, and Merops philippinus. These 

 insects are, however, not a general insect food for birds. 



Vespidce. The true wasps have been included as neutral. 

 Many feed habitually on insects of various kinds, and act as a con- 

 siderable check on the numbers of caterpillars, but again some 



