50 SAPYGA PUNCTATA. 



the anterior wings with one marginal and four submarginal cells, 

 the marginal cell acute j the second submarginal the smallest, sub- 

 quadrate, and receiving the first recurrent nervure j the third re- 

 ceiving the second near its base ; the legs slender; the tarsi 

 elongate. Abdomen elongate and subsessile. 



The economy of this genus of insects has been a disputed 

 point with entomologists : by some they are stated to be para- 

 sitic ; by others, that they store up the larvae of Lepidoptera for 

 their young brood : St. Fargeau states that he observed the 

 latter circumstance. I have also observed the same fact : the 

 female was seen hovering about a sand-bank closely perforated 

 by a species of Colletes, and was carrying its prey, with 

 which it entered a burrow ; the prey appeared to be a cater- 

 pillar, and on digging into the bank, four cells filled with small 

 green caterpillars were found ; the contents of each was care- 

 fully placed in a separate pill-box, and from each mass was reared 

 a specimen of Sapyga punctata : when the larva is full-grown 

 it spins a tough brown cocoon, similar to that of an Osmia. It 

 is most probable that Sapyga never constructs its own burrow, 

 but avails itself of one formed by some other insect. They may 

 be observed, not uncommonly, entering the burrows of Chelo- 

 stoma, and of different species of Osmia. The fact of the larvae 

 feeding on caterpillars proves that Robineau-Desvoidy was de- 

 ceived by finding the cocoons of Sapyga in snail-shells occupied 

 also by Osmia helicicola : from this circumstance he concluded that 

 the Sapyga was parasitic ; but its being found there only proved 

 that it had equal sagacity to the Osmia, and consequently availed 

 itself of the ready-formed tubes, so admirably adapted for its 

 purposes. 



1. Sapyga punctata. 



S. nigra ; abdomine rufo, punctis transversis albis. Fcem. 

 S. nigra ; abdomine nigro, punctis transversis albis. Mas. 



Scolia quinquepunctata, Fabr. Spec. Ins. i. 453. 14 $ ; Ent. Syst. 



ii. 235. 27. 

 Scolia quadriguttata, Fabr. Spec. Ins. i. 454. 15^; Ent. Syst. ii. 



235. 29. 



Sirex pacca, Fabr. Mant. i. 258. 15 ?. 

 Sapyga punctata, King, Mon. Siric. Germ. 61. t. 7. f. 4 ? , 5 & 6 $ . 



Panz. Faun. Germ. 100. 17 J. 



Spin. Ins. Lig. i. 76. 1. 



Van d. Lind. Obs. 302. 1. 



Shuck. Foss. Hym. 44. 1. 



