THE BEMBEX. 



471 



the perfect insect sometimes emerges early, though it often 

 delays its appearance until the spring (viz. March or April) of 

 the following year, when the heat sets in. 



" A small Pemphredon, or another even smaller species, often 

 takes possession of the cells of this insect, rendering the identi- 

 fication of the pupa very difficult. The chrysalis is more ovate 

 in form than that of Pemphredon. I have no drawing of the 

 grub." In another part of his paper Mr. Home mentions that 

 a hymenopterous insect belonging to another family, namely 

 Trypoxylon intrudens, was hatched from cells made by the 

 Parapison, the former insect having taken possession of the 

 cells made by the latter. 



The next family is that of the Bembecidae, in which the 

 tongue is often so long that it resembles the same organ in the 

 hive bee. The name is Greek, signifying " a humming-top," and 



Fig. 250.— Bembex rostrata. 

 (Black, with greenish yellow bars.) 



is given to the insects on account of their quick, fussy move- 

 ments, and the buzzing sound which they produce when on 

 the wing. 



As far as is yet known, no species of the genus Bembex is an 

 inhabitant of England, though this species extends throughout 

 the greater part of Europe, and is even found in Northern Africa. 

 It is nearly, though not quite, the largest species belonging to 

 the genus, and is rather prettily coloured, the greenish yellow 

 bands contrasting well with the black which forms the ground 

 hue. 



The habits of this insect are much like those which have 

 already been mentioned. The female digs deep burrows in the 

 sand, using her fore-feet just as a terrier scratches at a rat-hole, 



