ENTOMOLOGICAL CABINET. 



CHRYSIS STROUDERA. J urine. 

 Ruby Tail or Golden Wasp. 



Head, thorax, legs, antennae and the first two joints 

 of the body of an intense blue ; the last two joints 

 pink and shining. This species of Chrysis is very 

 rare, for in all our excursions we have only met with 

 two specimens, one of which was given to Dr. Leach 

 many years since, and is now in the indigenous col- 

 lection of the British Museum. Our specimens were 

 found in a sand-pit, at Bexley, Kent, in June or 

 July. The Chrysidae are the most splendid insects of 

 the order Hymenoptera, and are usually found in the 

 warmest and brightest weather, and the commonest 

 species may frequently be observed in gardens enter- 

 ing the perforations made by bees in posts and rails ; 

 also in sandy banks and old brick walls with a 

 Southern aspect ; these, no doubt, are in quest of 

 the larvae of bees, as all authors believe, as far as 

 observation has been made, that they are parasitic. 



Both Mr. Kikby and M. Latreille are of opinion, 

 " that the brilliant colours in which many insects are 

 arrayed, may decorate them with some other view 

 than that of mere ornament : they may dazzle their 

 enemies, as these animals lay their eggs in the nests 

 of such Hymenoptera, wasps, bee-wasps {Bembex L.) 

 and bees, as are redoubtable for their stings, and 

 therefore have the utmost occasion for protection 

 against these murderous weapons. Amongst other 

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