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CHAPTER XIV. 



HYMENOPTERA. TEREBRANTIA. 



Subsection II. ENTOMOPHAGA. We now come to 

 the second subsection of the Terebrant Hymenoptera 

 Entomophaga. This consists of the Gallflies, Ichneu- 

 mons, and Ruby-tails. All the insects of this subsection 

 (with the exception of some of the Gallfly family) are 

 parasitic. And here let it be observed that the Hymenop- 

 terous " Parasites " are by no means parasitic in the 

 same sense in all cases. Some deposit their eggs in 

 the bodies of other insects, most commonly when these 

 are in the larva state. Here the eggs are hatched, and 

 here the young prey upon the living substance of the 

 unfortunate victim which feeds but to nourish " the 

 wolf "inside, living only till its unwelcome guests are 

 ready for their change ; the caterpillar then either 

 shrivels and dies or changes into a chrysalis, whence 

 issues, not a moth or butterfly, but the host of little 

 creatures which have been nourished on its embryo. 



Another kind of Parasite merely deposits its eggs in 

 the nests of other insects, where the larvae feed on the 

 provisions stored up for the young of the rightful 

 owners of the nest There are several genera of bees 

 which are parasitic in this sense. 



The present subsection, Entomophaga, presents in- 

 stances of both these kinds of parasitism : it contains 

 two divisions 



