More Hunting Wasps 



gest of Our Bembeces {B. rostratz, FAB., 

 and B, hidentata, VAN DER LIND) ^ are 

 eager consumers of Gad-flies. With these 

 chief dishes they associate relishes levied in- 

 differently from the rest of the Fly clan. 

 The Sandy Ammophila ^ {A. sahulosa, VAN 

 DER LIND) and the Hairy Ammophila 

 {A. hirsuta, KIRB.) cram into each burrow 

 a single but corpulent caterpillar, always of 

 the Moth tribe and varying greatly in color- 

 ation, which denotes distinct species. The 

 Silky Ammophila ^ {A. holosericea, VAN 

 DER LIND) has a better assorted diet. 

 She requires for each banqueter three or 

 four items, which include the Measuring- 

 worms, or Loopers, and the caterpillars 

 of ordinary Moths, all of which are equally 

 appreciated. The Brown-winged Solenius 

 {S. fascipennis, LEP.), who elects to dwell 

 in the soft dead wood of old willow-trees, 

 has a marked preference for Virgil's Bee, 

 Eristalis tenax,^ willingly adding, sometimes 

 as a side-dish, sometimes as the principal 

 game, Helophilus pendulus, whose costume 



1 For the Rostrate Bembex and the Two-pronged Bem- 

 bex, cf. The Hunting Wasps: chap. xiv. — Translator's 

 Note. 



2 Cf . idem: chap. xiii. — Translator's Note. 

 ^ Cf. idem: chap. xiv. — Translator's Note. 



* Actually the Common Drone-fly and somewhat re- 

 sembling a Bee in appearance. Cf. The Hunting Wasps: 

 chap. xiv. — Translator's Note. 



m 



