CHRYSIS. INSECTS. 34J 



palpi sensibly larger than the labial ones, and of five joints ; 

 labium entire and rounded ; lip not prolonged into a trunk. 



The insects of this genus have received their generic term on account of the beau- 

 ty of their colours, which have the brilliancy and lustre of gems. They are found 

 during summer upon walls, around old wood, and often on flowers. They are very 

 agile, and fly lightly. When taken, they roll themselves up into a ball, folding their 

 abdomen close below, pressing their antennae against the thorax, and inclosing all 

 their members in a cavity of the belly. The females have only a spurious sting, 

 and may be handled without inconvenience. Their larvae are not known, but are 

 believed to resemble those of the wasps in their manner of living and metamorphosis. 



C. ignita, Lin. Antennae black ; head brilliant golden green ; tho- 

 rax golden green anteriorly, blue posteriorly; abdomen purple 

 red,, coppery above, and lively green below ; body finely dotted ; 

 feet green, with the tarsi blackish ; wings slightly tinted with 

 brown, and the nerves obscure. Inhabits Europe, near walls 

 and old wood Shaw, vi. pi. 94. 



TRIBE VI. OXYCTRT, Lat. 



Inferior wings with one nerve ; the upper in many wanting the 

 discoidal and radial cell ; antennae of from ten to fifteen joints, 

 always filiform, or slightly thickest towards the end in the 

 females and in many males, in other males clavate ; maxil- 

 lary palpi long in many ; the second, or more strictly the ab- 

 dominal segment, often very large ; ovipositor tubular, formed 

 by the extremity of the abdomen, without a sting, exsertile 

 or exterior. 



I. With cells or brachial nerves ; maxillary palpi projecting ; antennas filiform or 

 nearly so in both sexes. 



1. With the prothorax elongated, almost triangular, or with the thorax formed of 

 two knots, and the anterior tarsi terminated by two very long hooks. 



Gen. BETHTVLLUS, (Omalus, Jur. ;) DRYINUS. 



2. Thorax continuous, its first segment short and transverse ; anterior tarsi always 

 simple. 



A. Antennae inserted near the mouth, of ten joints in both sexes. 



Gen. ANTEON. 



B. Antennae inserted near the middle of the anterior face of the head, of from thir- 

 teen to fifteen joints. 



a. Antennae not geniculate. 



Gen. HELORUS, PROCTOTRUPES, (CodriM, Jur.) 



b. Antennae geniculate. 



Gen. CINETUS, BELYTA. 



II. Destitute of cells and brachial nerves ; maxillary palpi very short in many ; anten- 

 nae often geniculate, those of many females clavate ; abdomen depressed in the great, 

 er number. 



1. Antennae inserted on the front ; maxillary palpi projecting. 



Gen. DIAPRIA, (Psilus, Jur.) 



2. Antennae inserted near the mouth. 

 A. A radial cell. 



a. Maxillary palpi projecting. 



Gen. CERAPHRON, (antennae filiform in both sexes, of eleven joints ; abdomen 



