ANNULOSA: INSECTA. 



249 



the animal constructs its ordinary abode, or spins its cocoon. 

 The three segments behind the head correspond with the pro- 

 thorax, mesothorax, and metathorax of the perfect insect, and 

 carry three pairs of jointed walking-legs. Besides these, a 

 variable number of the segments of the abdomen are provided 

 with soft, fleshy legs, which are called " pro-legs " (fig. 89). 



ORDER X. HYMENOPTERA. Wings four, membranous, with 

 few nervures ; sometimes absent. Mouth always provided 

 with biting jaws, or mandibles ; the maxillae and labium often 

 converted into a suctorial organ. Females having the ex- 

 tremity of the abdomen mostly furnished with an ovipositor 

 (terebra or aculeus). 



The Hymenoptera form a very extensive order, comprising 

 the Bees, Wasps, Ants, Ichneumons, Saw-flies (fig. 90), &c. 

 The ovipositor, which is 

 very generally present in 

 the females of this order, 

 is sometimes a boring or- 

 gan (terebra), or in other 

 cases a " sting " (aculeus). 



Amongst the Hymenop- 

 tera we find social 



com- 



munities, in many respects 

 resembling those of the 

 Termites, of which a de- 

 scription has already been 

 given. The societies of 

 Bees and Ants are well 

 known, and merit a short 

 description. 



The social Bees, of 

 which the common Ho- 

 ney-bee (Apis mellificd) is 

 so familiar an example, 

 form organised communi- 

 ties, consisting of three 

 classes of individuals 

 the males, females, and 

 neuters. As a rule, each 

 community consists of a single female " the queen " and of 

 the neuters, or "workers." The impregnation of the female 

 is effected by the production of males, or " drones," during 

 the summer. After impregnation has been effected, the drones, 

 as being then useless, are destroyed by the workers. The 

 eggs produced by the fecundated queen are mostly intended 



Fig. 90. Gooseberry Saw-fly (Tenthredo gros- 

 sularice), larva, pupa, and imago- 



