240 INSECTA. 



Insects or their larvae, and sometimes Arachnides, previously pierced 

 with their sting, to serve as food for their young. The larvae are al- 

 ways destitute of feet, resemble little worms, and undergo a meta- 

 morphosis in the cocoon they have spun previous to becoming 

 nymphs. The perfect Insect is usually very active, and lives on 

 flowers. The maxillae and lip are elongated and in the form of a pro- 

 boscis in many. 



We will distribute the numerous subgenera derived from the pri- 

 mitive genus Sphex into seven principal sections. 



In the two first the eyes are frequently emarginated ; the body of 

 the males is usually narrow, elongated, and terminated posteriorly, in 

 a great many, by three points in the form of spines or dentations. 



1. Those in which the first segment of the thorax is sometimes in 

 the form of a bow, and prolonged laterally to the wings, and some- 

 times forms a transversal square, or resembles a knot or joint; in 

 which the legs are short, thick, A'ery spinous, or densely ciliated, with 

 the thighs arcuated near the knee ; and in which the antennae of the 

 females are evidently shorter than the head and thorax. These are 

 the ScoLiET/E of Latreille, so named from the genus 



SCOLIA *. 



In some the maxillary palpi are long, and evidently composed of 

 unequal joints ; the first joint of the antennae is almost conical. 

 Sucli is 



TiPHiA, Fab. 



To which we may unite the Tengyra of Latreille i'. 



In the others the maxillary palpi are short, and composed of almost 

 similar joints ; the first of the antennae is elongated and almost cylin- 

 drical. 



Sometimes this joint receives and conceals the following, as in 



* The Scolietse may be divided thus : 

 I. Palpi always very short. Ligula with three linear divisions. Anus of the male 

 terminated by three spines. The thick or callous point of the superior 

 wing replaced by a small cell. 



ScOLiA proper. 

 II, The maxillary palpi elongated in several. The ligula broad, and widened at the 

 extremity. A recurved spine at the anus of the males. A thick distinct point 

 in the superior wings. 



A. Second joint of the antennae exposed. Two complete cubital cells, or 

 three, but of which the intermediate is small and petiolate. 



a. No incomplete cubital cell closed by the posterior border of the wing. 

 Radial cell null or open in the females. 



TiPHiA. Meria. 



b. An incomplete cubital cell, closed by the posterior border of the wing. 



Tengyra. 

 Second joint of the antennae enclosed in the first. Four cubital cells, the 

 last closed by the posterior border of the wing in the males, and neither of 

 them petiolate. 



Myzine. 

 M. Leon Dufour — Journ de Phys., Septemb. 1818 — has published some curious 

 observations on the anatomy of the Scoliee. 



t Lat., Gener. Crust, et Insect., IV, p. 116; Fabricius ; Jurine ; Van der Linden. 



