HYMENOPTERA. 423 



them to the common appellation of Golden Wasps, or Guepes dorees. They 

 are seen walking about in a continued state of agitation, and with hasty 

 motions, on walls and fences, exposed to the burning ardour of the sun. They 

 are also found on flowers. Their body is elongated and covered with a firm 

 tegument. Their antennae are filiform, geniculate, vibratile, and composed of 

 thirteen joints in both sexes. The mandibles are narrow, arcuated, and 

 pointed. The ligula is most frequently emarginated. The thorax is semi- 

 cylindrical, and presents several sutures or impressed and transverse lines. 

 The abdomen of the greater number forms a semi-oval, truncated at base, and 

 at the first glance seems suspended to the thorax by its whole width ; the last 

 ring is frequently marked by large punctures and terminates by dentations. 



The Chrysides deposit their ova in the nests of the solitary Mason Bees, or 

 in those of other Hymenoptera. Their larvae devour those of the latter. 



This genus now forms several subgenera, such as Parnopes, Stilbum, 

 E/ampus, &c. 



The second section of the Hymenoptera, that of the ACULEATA, differs 

 from the first in the absence of the ovipositor. A concealed and retractile 

 sting, composed of three pieces, usually supplies the place of it in the females, 

 and in the neuters of species which form communities. Sometimes, as in 

 certain ants, the sting is wanting, and the insect defends itself by the ejacula- 

 tion of an acid liquid contained in special glandular reservoirs. 



The Hymenoptera of this section always have their antennae simple, and 

 composed of a constant number of joints, namely, of thirteen in the males, 

 and twelve in the females. The palpi are generally filiform, those of the 

 maxillae, frequently the longest, having six joints, and those of the labium 

 four. The mandibles are smaller, and frequently less dentated in the males 

 than in the opposite sex. The abdomen, united to the thorax by a thread or 

 pedicle, is composed of seven rings in the males, and of six in the females. 

 The four wings are always veined. 



The larva? are always destitute of feet, and feed on aliments presented to 

 them by the females or neuters, consisting either of the bodies of insects, the 

 juices of fruits, or a mixture of pollen, stamina, and honey. 



This section is divided into four families. 



FAMILY I. 



HETEROGYNA *. 



THE first family of our second section is composed of two or three kinds of 

 individuals, the most common of which, the neuters and females, are apterous, 

 and but rarely furnished with very distinct ocelli. 



* Those in which the females differ from the males or are heterogynous. 



