342 



INSECTS AT HOME. 



female than in the male. At Fi^. a is shown the maxillai'v 

 palpus, and at Fig. h the labium. 



These insects are all burrowers, and vary much in tlie soil 

 which they prefer for their tunnels. The present species pre- 

 fers such soil as is found on sandy heaths, and, as it is plentiful 

 all over England, may be captured almost anywhere. The 



XXXIV 



1. Pompilns fuRcus. 2. Astata boops. 3. Mellinns arvensis. 4. Crabro quadrimaculatus. 

 5. Generis arvensis. a. Pompilns, maxilla and palpus. b. Do., labium. c. Mclliiius, 

 mandiljle. </. Do., labium. e. Do., ma.xilla and palpus. /. Crabro, larva. g. Astata, 

 head of female. 



object of the burrow is to form a I'etreat for its young ; and, 

 when the tunnel is formed, the insect lays an egg in it, nearly 

 fills tlie hole with spiders, and then closes its mouth. The 

 young Pompilns, when hatched, begins to feed upon the spiders, 

 and the mother insect is taught by instinct to place in the 

 nest just so many spiders that, when the last is eaten, the 

 larva is ready to change into its pupal state. 



