HYMENOPTEKA. 453 



wings, and in which the abdomen of the females is terminated by a 

 tubular and conical ovipositor, sometimes internal, exertile and pro- 

 truding like a sting, and sometimes external and forming a sort of 

 tail or terminal point. The antennas are composed of from ten to 

 fifteen joints, and are either filiform or somewhat largest near the 

 end, or clavate in the females. The maxillary palpi of several are 

 long and pendent. 



We reduce the various genera of which it is composed to one, the 



BETHYLUS, Lat. Fab. 



The habits of these Insects are probably those of the Chalcidiz; but as 

 most of them are found on the sand or low plants, I suspect that their larvae 

 live in the ground. 



In the sixth tribe, or the CHRYSIDES, Lat., the inferior wings, as 

 in the three preceding tribes, are not veined; but their ovipositor is 

 formed by the last rings of the abdomen in the manner of the tubes 

 of a spy-glass, and terminates in a little sting. The abdomen, 

 which in the females appears to consist of but three or four rings, is 

 concave or flat beneath, and can be flexed on the pectus, in which 

 state the Insect is globular. 



This tribe comprises the genus 



CHRYSIS, Lin. 



The lustre and richness of the colours which decorate these Insects may 

 challenge a comparison with those of the Humming-birds, and have entitled 

 them to the common appellation of Golden Wasps, or Guepes dories. 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, ar- 

 cuated, 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, 

 Elampus, &c. 



