INSECTA. 367 



Psammotkerma LATE. Antennae (of males) bipectinate. 

 Sp. Psammoiltenna flabdlata, Cuv. R. Ani. ed.ill., Ins. PI. 118, fig. 6. 



B. Thorax (in females) divided or nodose. Sub-genera : Me- 

 thoca LATH, (male Tengyra LATE.), Myrmosa LATE,, Myrmecoda 

 ejusd. (male Thynnus, Scotcena). 



Note. That Tengyra is the male of Metlioca was observed by VAN DEE 

 LINDEN, Ann. des Sc. natur. xvi. 1829, pp. 48, 49; on the others, comp. 

 WESTWOOD, Introd. to Modern Classif. n. p. 215. 



Genus Scleroderma KLUG. Is this its place 1 



Family XVII. Fossores s. SpJiegina. Wings in both sexes 

 )bvious, expanded. Tarsus of posterior feet simple. Aculeate, soli- 

 aiy hymenoptera, (males and females alone). 



Diggers. This family consists principally of the genus Sphex 

 (sand-wasp) of LINNAEUS. The females of most of the species dig 

 in the ground nests for their young, and lay in these holes near 

 their eggs insects or larvae, sometimes spiders, as food for their larvse 

 when they leave the egg. The larvse have no feet, resemble mag- 

 gots, and spin themselves in, before changing into pupae. The per- 

 fect insect is usually very lively, and sucks with avidity the honey- 

 sap of flowers, on which (especially on the Umbelliferce) it is 

 frequently met with. In many the lower jaws and under-lip are 

 prolonged and form a rostrum ; the ligula however is not filiform, 

 but commonly has a broad termination. 



Crabro FABR. Prothorax very short, linear, transverse, remote 

 rom the origin of anterior wings. Feet short or of moderate length, 

 lead large, quadrate above. Labrum concealed or scarcely exsert, 

 xansverse. Abdomen obovate, constricted or clavate at base, 

 jetiolate. Antennas often thicker towards the apex. 



Sub-genera : Cerceris LATE., Philanthus FABE., LATE., Psen LATE,, 

 JUE. (Mimesa SHUK.), Alt/son JUEINE, Mellinus FABE., Pemphredon 

 LATE., Stigmus JUEINE, Crabro FABE., Gorytes LATE,, Trypoxylon 

 LATE., FABE. 



Note. Genus Crabro (in the stricter sense) is distinguished by antennae 

 geniculate, mandibles bifid at apex, a single cubital cell alone complete, 

 a radial cell appendiculate (another imperfect). LEPELETIER DE ST. FAR- 

 GEAU divided it into several genera, of which for the sake of brevity I omit 

 the names. See his Hist. nat. d. Hyme'n. ill. pp. 99, &c., and a critical 

 revision by HERRICH SCH^EFFER, Deutschl. Ins. Heft 179 181. Comp. 

 also DAHLBOM, Synops. Hi/men oplerol. Scandinav. I. 



