59 



The Neuropteri are here named Mazzarelli. May- 

 flies, Dragon-flies, two varieties of the Ant-lion, A- 

 grion puella, Oalepterix virgo, with one species of 

 (Eshna, Lestes, and Chrysopa, sum up this class of 

 insects. 



The Wild-fig and Oak-leaf Flies which are better 

 known as Gall-Flies, and the Ruby- tailed Fly all 

 dwell in Malta. The female Urocerus Gigas stings 

 sharply. The Blue Bee or Nahal Baghli, the Spot- 

 ted Bee, the Mason Bee or Nahal Bennei, the Hive 

 Bee or Nahal, P the Nomada bi-fasciata and N. uni- 

 Jasciata are all Maltese insects, as are also several 

 kinds of wasps, such as the Sand Wasp or Baghal, 

 Vespa Ichoris, V. Grecorum, and Polistes gallica. 

 Sphex spirifex is fond of grapes, and Scolia j)avi- 

 frons is very common. 



To the Ant the Maltese give the name of Ne- 

 meL Two kinds of Eed Ants, the Turf Ant, and 

 Formica herculanea dwell here. The winged Ants 

 are called Sultan el nemel or King of Ants. 



Caterpillars have the local name of Duda tal 

 Farfett, the chrysalis being styled Fosdka, and the 

 butterfly Farfett. The Cabbage and Turnip Butter- 

 flies are common, and in the caterpillar stage do 

 much mischief. We may enumerate Rhodocera Rham- 

 ni, R. Cleopatra, Vanessa Atalanta, the Swallow 

 Tailed Butterfly, here called the Rue Butterfly, or 

 Farfett tal Feigel from its preference for that plant, 

 the Queen's Page, or Papilio Podaliurus, Ochsenhu* 



