INSECTA. 155 



the posterior tibiae convex externally, without the lateral fringes of hair, and 

 their plantae merely oblong, without the external basal auricle. The abdo- 

 men is also considerably relatively longer, and has not the central ventral 

 ridge. 



The male (Drone) differs from both in being considerably more robust and 

 more completely cylindrical, and ve*ry much more densely pubescent; the com- 

 pound eyes contiguous at the summit, occupying the whole of the vertex and 

 nearly all the lateral portions of the face, extending below the articulation 

 of the mandibles, their pubescence much shorter, but denser than in the 

 other sex ; the ocelli large, and seated at the top of the central portion of 

 the face in a close triangle, a little above the insertion of the antennae, and 

 in front ot the conjunction of the compound eyes ; the antennae are more 

 robust and rather longer ; the cibarial apparatus rather short ; the labial 

 palpi about three-fourths the length of the tongue, and the joints contermin- 

 ous, the tongue robust ; the thorax nearly quadrate, the legs nearly naked, 

 the four anterior very slender ; the posterior tibiae slightly curved, convex 

 externally; the posterior plantae more robust, and more convex externally 

 than their tibiae, they are regularly oblong, and without the basal auri- 

 cles, the rest of the joints of the tarsi are very short. The abdomen robust, 

 and obtuse at its extremity, but its seventh segment is concealed beneath ; 

 the ventral segments concave longitudinally. (Shuckard.) 



A. mellifica. Linnaeus. 



CYNIPS (Gall-fly). Hymenoptera. Antennae 13 to 14 pieces; wings not 

 markedly nervose; their palpi short, and ovipositors longer than abdomen. 

 Head transverse, small ; the thorax large ; abdomen compressed, the profile 

 somewhat circular and generally furnished with a short pedicle. Antennae 

 inserted upon the middle of face ; those of the $ are ordinarily shorter and 

 thicker than the . 1st joint is thick, 2d short, 3d is larger than the other 

 two and often scalloped or curved in the $ . The upper lip is very small ; 

 mandible short, thick, with extremity armed with small teeth ; jaws termin- 

 ating in a membranous lobe (galea) ; maxillary palpi have five joints, and 

 the labial palpi two or three. 



The greater part of the thorax is from the mesothorax. Wings are cellu- 

 lar, the greater portion being made up of cells at the radial or cubital mar- 

 gins. The 2d pair leave up a single very thick nerve. 



The 1st segment of the abdomen is large, while the others are short. The 

 superior is arched and prolonged under the ventral face. One segment forms 

 a salient point, and directed posteriorly protects the position of ovipositor. 

 This latter is extremely slender and lodged in the abdomen, or it is protected 

 by two valves or two semi-straight. The organ itself is extremely short and 

 composed of a single incomplete cylinder, which is lodged in two slits or 

 spicules composing the ovipositor proper. It resembles the ovipositor of 

 other Hymenoptera. It is moved by strong muscles, and is not seen exter- 

 nally in a state of repose. 



