CRABRO. INSECTS. 351 



N. spinosus > Lat. (Crabro spinosus, Fab.) Black, with the thorax 

 bidentate posteriorly, and the abdomen crossed with three yellow 

 bands. Europe., on umbelliferous plants. Lat. Gen.iv. 91. 



N. maculatiiSy Lat. (Pompilus, Fab.) Black, with the thorax spot- 

 ted with pale yellow ; first segment of the abdomen fawn-colour- 

 ed, the others black, with a pale yellowish or white transverse line 

 on each side. Inhabits Europe, on umbelliferous plants Lat. 

 Gen. i. pi. 14, fig. 2. 



TRIBE VIII. CRABRONITES, Lat. 



Labrum concealed or not projecting; abdomen either oval or 

 elliptical, or thickening from its base to the extremity, in 

 the form of a club ; head often very large. 



The females of this tribe have the same instinctive propensity of burrowing and 

 depositing their ova in the bodies of dead insects, as the preceding tribes of the family. 

 Some make their holes in light and sandy banks, and others in the trunks of old trees. 

 They are lively and very agile. 



I. Antennae inserted below the middle of the anterior part of the head ; hood short 

 and broad. 



1 . Eyes notched ; abdomen clavate. 



Gen. TRYPOXYLON. 



2. Eyes entire. 



A. One or two cubital cells complete, or inclosed by nerves ; three cubital cells in 

 some, but the third inclosed by the posterior margin of the wing. 



a. Mandibles very narrow, and only dentated at the end ; only one recurrent nerve. 



Gen. CRABRO, STIGMUS. 



b. Mandibles strong, dentated interiorly ; two recurrent nerves. 



Gen. PEMPIIREDON. 



B. Three complete cubital cells, the last inclosed by a proper nerve, and not by the 

 posterior margin of the wing. 



a. Mandibles, those of the females at least, strong, tridentated ; antennae filiform, 

 distant at their base. 



Gen. MELLINUS, ALYSON. 



b. Mandibles simply unidentate on the internal side, or near the end ; antenna thick- 

 ening towards the end, and approximated at their base. 



Gen. GORYTES. 



II. Antennae inserted in the middle of the anterior face of the head, always thickest 

 towards the end ; three cubital cells. 



1. Hood almost square, not trilobed ; first segment of the abdomen forming an 

 abrupt pedicle, slender and elongated. 



Gen. PSEN. 



2. Hood trilobed ; abdomen not narrowed abruptly at the base into a pedicle. 



Gen. CERCERIS, PHILANTHUS. 



Gen. CRABRO, Fab. Lat. Sphex, Vespa, Lin. 

 Antennae inserted near tbe mouth, filiform, geniculate, the first 

 joint long and cylindrical ; eyes entire ; mandibles long, nar- 

 row, bifid or bidentate at the end; body elongated; head large, 

 and appearing square when seen below. 



The insects of this genus are similar in their habits to those of the genus Sphex. 

 The females seize dipterous insects, and bury their body, inclosing one of their own 

 ova, in a hole which they make in the sand, in the clefts of walls, or old wood. Each 



