2 1 2 INSECTS. 



but two genera, Philanthus and Cerceris. In both, tbe 

 head is wider than the thorax, the tibia of the second 

 pair of legs has but one spine at the end, and the fore- 

 legs are strongly fringed with hairs on the tarsi. The 

 fore-wings have three submarginal cells. In Philanthus 

 the eyes are slightly cut, or inclined to kidney-shape, 

 the legs are strong and spiny, the tarsi strongly fringed, 

 the abdomen is ovate. P. triangulum, the only English 

 species, is a beautiful insect more than \ inch long. The 

 thorax is black, with creamy markings, and the face 

 creamy. The abdomen is yellow with a black border nar- 

 rowed in the middle to each segment, and a series of 

 triangular black spots down the middle, decreasing in size 

 towards the end. The legs are black and yellow. The 

 male has a yellow line behind the eyes, and the abdomen 

 is black with yellow bands, thinnest in their middle, and 

 yellow on the two last joints. It feeds its young upon 

 wild bees. 



Cerceris may be distinguished by the decided constric- 

 tion of each segment of the abdomen. This character 

 occurs in Trypoxylon, and in a slighter degree in Phi- 

 lanthus. The antenna3 are inclined to be clubshaped ; 

 Fig 56 the legs strong, with strong 



spines, and with fringes on the 

 fore-tarsi. The colours are black 

 and yellow. This genus pro- 

 vides its young with beetles, 

 amongst which are some of the 

 hardest species ; Mr. Smith, 

 however, suggests that these, 



Profile of Cerceris Arenana. . . . 



remaining m the damp ground 



for some days before the larvae/ are ready for them, are 

 softened by the time they are required as food. 



