CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 20? 



own eggs are laid ; when it hatches, being stronger 

 and larger than the rightful possessor of the cell, 

 it consumes the food provided for its companion, 

 and starves it to death ; and in those instances in 

 which fresh supplies of food are daily provided, it 

 continues to receive and appropriate them as its 

 own. Pupa changes in the same situation, in a 

 silken cocoon, spun by the larva. Imago has no 

 apparatus either on the body or legs for collecting 

 honey ; in other respects it resembles in structure 

 each of the orders of Apina before described ; it 

 enters their nest with perfect familiarity, and 

 seems to be quite unsuspected of intrusion ; it 

 collects no pollen or honey, never builds a riest of 

 any kind, or takes any care of its young, but spends 

 its time among flowers, or hovering about sand- 

 banks in which other bees have fixed their habi- 

 tations. Apathus, Ccelioxys, Melecta, Stelis, 

 Epeolus, Nomada. 



719. Golden-wasps (Chrysidites). Larva and 

 pupa, as in the Apathites, preys on the food 

 destined for other insects, particularly of the two 

 preceding stirpes. Imago with the antennae 

 thir teen-join ted in both sexes the second joint 

 elongated, and forming a slight elbow ; maxillae 

 obtuse, dilated, their palpi five-jointed ; labium, 

 with the ligula, obtuse, entire ; labial palpi three- 

 jointed ; ocelli three ; body convex above, flattened 

 or sometimes concave beneath, furnished, in the 

 females, with a tubular retractile oviduct, but 



