594 INSECTA. 



digging ; the labium is always more or less notched at the tip, and never filiform or setaceous ; the 

 ■wings are always extended. They compose the genus 



Sphex, Lion., — 

 The majority of the females of which deposit with their eggs, in nests formed for their reception, in 

 earth or wood, various insects or their larvae, and sometimes Spiders, which they have previously pierced 

 with their stings, and wliich serve for the food of their young, when hatched ; the latter resemble worms, 

 having no feet, and are transformed in a cocoon which they have spun previous to becoming pupje ; 

 the perfect insect is generally very active, and lives upon flowers ; the maxillaj and labium are elongated 

 and proboscis-like in many species. 



We distribute the numerous subgenera separated from the primitive genus Sphex, into seven principal 

 groups {ScoUetes, Sapygites, Sphegites, Bembecidcs, Larrates, Nyssoniens, Crabronites'\. In the two first 

 of these, the eyes are often notched ; the body of the males narrow, long, and terminated by three anal 

 points, or teeth. 



1. The Scolietes, comprising those which have the first segment of the thorax sometimes arched, and 

 extended at the sides as far as the wings, sometimes transverse-quadrate, or like a knot ; the legs short, 

 thick, very spinose, with the tibiae curved near the base, and the antennae of the females shorter than 

 the head and thorax. They are named after the genus 



ScoLiA, Fab. 



Some have the maxillai-y palpi long, with unequal-sized joints, and the basal joint of the antennee sub-conical. 

 Such are 



Tiphia, Fab., with which we may associate Tengyra, Latr. 



The others have the maxillary palpi short, and the basal joint of the antennae long. 



Myzine, Latr. (with the mandibles dentate), and 



Meria, Latr. (with the mandibles simple), have the basal joint receiving; and hiding the second. 



ScoUa, proper, has the second joint of the antennae exposed. [This is a numerous genus, composed for the most 

 part of large exotic species.] 



2. The Sapygites, Latr., have the first segment of the thorax formed as in the preceding, with the 



legs short but slender, neither spined nor strongly ciliated, and the antennae in both sexes as long as 



the head and thorax ; the body is generally naked. This subdivision is named after the principal 



genus 



Sapyga, Latr. 



Some have filiform or setaceous antennae. 



Thynmu, Fab., has the eyes entire, [New Holland insects] ; and Scotana, Klug [Brazilian species]. 



Polochrum, Spin., has them notched, and the mandibles toothed. 



Others have the antenna; thickened at the tips, or clavate in some males. 



Sapvga proper, the species of which fly about walls and trees exposed to the sun, on which they appear to 

 deposit their eggs. [It now appears that they are parasites in the nests of Bees which inhabit those situations]. 



Ceramius, Latr., from the form of the prothoracic collar and the extended wings, belongs to this subdivision ; 

 but from more important characters it ought naturally to be united with the Diploptera. 



3. The Sphegites are Fossores, which nearly approach the preceding in respect to the prothoracic 



collar, but the hind legs are at least' as long again as the head and thorax, and the antennae are often 



slender, formed of loose joints, and much curved in the females. They are named after the 



dominant genus 



Sphex. 



Some have the first segment of the thorax square, either transverse or longitudinal, and the abdomen attached 

 to the thorax by a very short peduncle ; the upper wings have generally two or three complete cubital cells, and 

 another imperfect and terminal. They now form several subgenera. 



Pepsis, Fab., has the labrum apparent ; the antennae in the males straight ; the maxillary palpi not much longer 

 than the labial ; the males have the hind tibiae and tarsi compressed. AH the species are exotic, especially South 

 American, and have the wings coloured. 



Ceropales, Latr., has the labrum and antennae of Pepsis, but the maxillary palpi are much longer, with very 

 unequal-sized joints. 



Pompiliu, Fab., resembles Ceropales in the latter respect, but the antennae of both sexes are convoluted and 

 composed of loose joints ; the labrum is but slightly exposed. Type, S. viatica, Linn, [a common species]. These 

 insects provision their nests with Spiders, having first pricked them with their stings. 



Salim, Fab., is established upon the males of some species which have the pro- and metathorax proportionably 

 more elongated than in Pompilus, and the mandibles are not toothed. 



Planiceps, Latr., differ from Salius in havmg the head flat, with the posterior margin concave, the ocelli very 



