HYiMENOPTERA. 427 



vious to becoming nymphs. The perfect insect is usually very active, and 

 lives on flowers. The maxillae and lip are elongated and in the form of a 

 proboscis in many. 



The numerous subgenera derived from the great genus Sphex, are now 

 distributed into seven principal sections, viz. the Scolieice, Sapigytes, Sphegides, 

 Bembecides, Larrates, Nyssones, and Crabronites. 



FAMILY III. 

 DILOPTERA. 



THE third family of the Aculeata is the only one of that section in which, 

 with but few exceptions, we find the superior wings folded longitudinally. 

 The antennae are usually geniculate and clavate, or thickest at the end. The 

 eyes are emarginated. The prothorax is prolonged behind, on each side, to 

 the origin of the wings. The body is glabrous or nearly so, and black, more 

 or less maculated with yellow or fulvous. 



Many of these insects form temporary communities composed of three sorts 

 of individuals, males, females, and neuters. Such of the females as survive the 

 severity of the winter commence the nest and take care of the larvae. They 

 are subsequently assisted by the neuters. We will divide the Diloptera into 

 two tribes. The type of the first, that of the MASAHIDES, Latreille, is the 

 genus 



MASARIS, Fabricius. 



The antennae at the first glance seem to be composed of but eight joints, the 

 eighth, with the following ones, forming an almost indistinctly articulated 

 club, rounded or very obtuse at the end. The ligula is terminated by two 

 threads which can be withdrawn into a tube formed by its base. There are 

 but two complete cubital cells in the superior wings. The middle of the 

 anterior margin of the clypeus is emarginated and receives the labrum in the 

 notch. 



The second tribe of the Diloptera, that of the VESPARI^, is composed of 

 the genus 



VESPA, Linnaeus, 



Where the antennae always present thirteen distinct joints in the males, and 

 terminate in an elongated, pointed, and sometimes in the males hooked 

 extremity: they are always geniculate", at least in the females and neuters. 

 The ligula is sometimes divided into four plumose filaments, and sometimes 

 bilobate with four glandular points at the end, one on each lateral lobe, and the 

 remaining two on the intermediate one, which is larger, widened, and emar- 

 ginated or bifid at its extremity. The mandibles are strong and dentated. 

 The clypeus is large. The females and neuters are armed with an extremely 



