30 Insect Architecture. 



often observed to carry the same kind of prey to its home, it 

 does not at all follow that no change is ever made. 



But the most remarkable example of this fact may be 

 found in a very common swift- winged insect, black in colour, 

 with a reddish patch on the end of the abdomen. Its name 

 is Trachytes pompiliformis, and it generally stocks its nest 

 with small caterpillars. Mr. F. Smith, however, has taken 

 it when in the act of carrying off a small species of grass- 

 hopper certainly the very last insect that would be thought 

 of as likely to be immured by a captor which must be 

 scarcely larger than itself. 



This insect is to be found in most warm and sandy situ- 

 ations, and may be looked for at the end of summer and 

 beginning of autumn. It may be easily known by its red 

 spot on the abdomen, and the large, transverse head ; it is 

 wider than the thorax. 



One species of mining-bee, not often found in England, 

 chooses some very singular insects wherewith to feed its 

 young. Its name is PMlantJtus triangulum, and it is a very 

 fierce, waspish-looking creature, with a large wide head, 

 wider even than the thorax, sharp and powerful jaws, and 

 with broad wings. The head and thighs are black, with a 

 few spots of a yellowish white, and the abdomen is yellow, 

 with a black spot in the middle of each segment. Its length 

 rather exceeds half an inch. The actions of this insect do not 

 belie its looks, for it is a fierce and active creature, seizing 

 upon various bees and dragging them into its tunnel. 



Mr. F. Smith discovered the metropolis of this usually 

 scarce insect at Sandown Bay, in the Isle of Wight, and has 

 given an interesting description of its habits. He states that 

 although it is so ferocious towards other insects, it appears to be 

 perfectly harmless as far as man is concerned, allowing itself 

 to be handled without even attempting to use its sting, 

 Indeed, he was quite unable to provoke the insect to do so. 

 Various bees were captured by the Philanthus, and the favour- 

 ites seemed to belong to the genus Andrena, itself a burrowing 

 bee, and the common hive-bee. The Philanthus seemed 

 perfectly indifferent whether they attacked the comparatively 



