The Hymenoptera, or Wasp-like Insects 



of Connecticut. 



INTRODUCTION. 



To ask or search I blame thee not; for Nature 



Is as the book of God before thee set, 



Wherein to read his wondrous works : 



But what created mind can comprehend 



Their number, or the wisdom infinite 



That brought them forth, but hid their causes deep? 



Milton. 



The order Hymenoptera includes all of those insects which, 

 with few exceptions, have four membranous wings that are few- 

 celled, without scales, and usually transparent or translucent. 



The name of this order comes from the Greek hymen, a mem- 

 brane, and pteron, a wing. 



As is well known, insects outnumber all other creatures, and 

 most authorities on this subject claim that the Hymenoptera 

 form the largest and most specialized order. One need only 

 call to mind the complex habits of the ants, wasps, and bees to 

 realize that the psychological development is of a higher order 

 in these insects than in any others. 



The greatest diversity in form and habit exists, so that no one 

 species is sufficient to illustrate the entire order, which is best 

 illustrated by the use of types of the different major subdivisions, 

 such as sawflies, horntails, four-winged parasitic or Ichneumon 

 flies, four-winged gall-flies, Chalcis flies, Serphus or Proc- 

 totrypoid flies, ants, wasps, and bees. 



The life cycle consists of egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The 

 eggs are easily recognized as such; the larva is usually maggot- 

 like, without legs, and is dependent upon the parent for food. 

 In the more primitive Hymenoptera, the sawflies and horntails, 



9 



