120 CALIFORNIA STATE COMMISSION OF HORTICULTURE. 



The family Larridse is composed of moderate-sized insects, which 

 frequent sandy locations. 



The family Bembeeidse includes some of the larger forms of this order 

 They make their nests in burrows, which they excavate in sandy places, 

 and store them with flies. The larger species attack cicadas, and one 

 may often be seen carrying away a cicada larger than itself. 



The families Nyssonidse and Philanthidse are two groups of insects 

 having the same general characters and habits as the foregoing, but 

 differing in points of structure and wing venation. 



The families Mimesidse, Pemphredonidse, and Crabronidse are rather 

 borers than diggers, although classed with the digger-wasps. They 

 usually burrow into the stems of pithy shrubs and form their nests 

 therein. As in all the other members of this order, these nests are 

 stored with the preserved remains of other insects, so that all may be 

 classed as beneficial. 



Superfamily Vespina. (True Wasps.) 



The true wasps are included in three families, grouped together in 

 the superfamily Vespina. Insects belonging to this superfamily are all 

 winged, and when at rest fold their wings lengthwise like a fan. The 

 legs are not suited for burrowing. It is in this superfamily that we 

 find the paper-wasps and nest-builders. 



The three families under this group are the Masaridse, the Eumenidse, 

 and the Vespidse. The first of these is a small family of no impor- 

 tance in this place. 



The second is a family of solitary wasps, the members of which vary 

 in their habits, some being builders and some burrowers. Some of 

 them build nests of mud, while others' bore tunnels into wood in order 

 to provide for their young. 



The third family is of more interest, as it includes the social wasps, 

 the nest-builders, and paper-makers. It is here that we find our well- 

 known friends, the yellowjackets. These belong to the genus Ve^pa, 

 and most of our readers, especially those who live in or have been in 

 the country, are very familiar with their appearance and not unfamiliar 

 with their mode of defense. Their nests, which are sometimes attached 

 to buildings, trees, or fences, are made of paper, and are very elaborate 

 specimens of architecture. Being social insects they accomplish some 

 great works, and it is no uncommon thing to find one of these nests 

 as large as a water-bucket. Sometimes they make their nests under- 

 ground, either excavating a hole for the purpose, or taking possession 

 of one already formed. 



