HABITS OF THE SAND WASPS. 



461 



one being white, and looking something like paper, while the 

 second or inner cocoon is made of similar material, but has a 

 dark, smooth lining. 



Our first example of these insects, Ammophila melanaria, is a 

 native of Brazil. The head is rather small and rounded, and 

 the jaws are long, sharply pointed, curved in a sickle-like form, 

 and are armed with a boldly projecting tooth in the middle of 

 the inner margin. This structure enables the insect to grasp its 

 prey firmly, as it drags it into the narrow tunnel. The wings 

 are transparent, and the colour of the head, thorax, and abdomen 

 is black, as is shown by the specific name, melanaria, which is 

 formed from the Greek, and signifies " blackish." The footstalk 

 of the abdomen is very long 

 and slender, being, indeed, 

 scarcely thicker than a fine 

 pin. 



Our second species of Am- 

 mophila is a native of Para. 

 Like the preceding species, 

 it is black, but its tarsi are 

 armed with long spikes, which 

 is not the case with its Bra- 

 zilian relative. The jaws are 

 very powerful, toothed, and 

 remarkable for a narrow line 

 of long curved hairs along 



their outer edge. There are great numbers of insects belonging 

 to this genus in the British Museum, and it is remarkable that 

 among that large and varied collection there is not one single 

 specimen which is not dull-coloured. 



.f, *=5m3W 



Fig. 241.— Ammophila opulenta. 

 (Black.) 



Scarcely any of the genus Pelopseus are known to exist 

 except in the warmest portions of the earth. Their generic 

 name is taken from a Greek word signifying " mud," and is given 

 to them because they make their nests of sand ; it is very finely 

 worked and kneaded, and then left to dry in the heated air. 

 The nest is generally composed of a series of cells, each being 

 closed as it is completed, and the entrance being always from 

 beneath. The Pelopaei store their nests with various insects, 



