HYMENOPTERA; 245 
face of the head, and where the maxillary palpi are hardly longer 
than those of the labium *. Those of 
Priopaus, Lat. Fab., ; 
Are evidently longer and consist of unequal joints. The insertion 
ef the antenne is higher up and on a level with the middle of the 
eyes. ; 
The Peleopei construct rounded or globular nests of earth in the 
interior of houses. They are formed like a spirally convoluted cord, 
presenting on their inferior side two or three ranges of holes, so that 
they resemble the instrument known in France by the name of a 
Tinker’s whistle—sifllet de chaudronnier. The holes are passages to 
as many cells, in each of which the Insect places the body of a 
Spider, Fly, &c., along with an egg; it then closes the orifice with 
earth. To this division belongs the 
P. spirifec; Sphex spirifex, L. Black; abdominal pedicle 
and legs yellow. In the South of France +. 
4, In other Fossores the first segment of the thorax merely forms 
a simple linear and transverse border, of which the two lateral extre- 
mities are remote from the origin of the superior wings. The legs 
are always short or of moderate length. The head viewed from 
above appears transversal, and the eyes extend to the posterior mar- 
gin. The abdomen forms an elongated semi-cone, rounded on the 
sides near its base. The labrum is entirely exposed or very salient. 
I have formed these Insects into a small family called Bempectxs, 
from the genus 
Bemsex, Fabd., 
Of which it is constituted. In these Hymenoptera, peculiar to hot 
climates, the body is elongated, pointed posteriorly, almost always 
varied with black and yellow or russet, and glabrous; the antenne 
are approximated at base, slightly geniculate at the second joint, and 
enlarging towards the extremity; the mandibles are narrow, elon- 
gated, dentated on thie inner side and crossed ; the tibize and tarsi are 
furnished with little spines or cilia, most remarkable on the anterior 
tarsi of the females. We frequently find one cr two teeth under the 
abdomen of the males. Their motions are extremely rapid; they flit 
from flower to flower with a sharp and interrupted hum. Several 
diffuse an odour of roses. They only appear in summer. 
Some of them have a false proboscis, bent underneath ; their labrum 
forms an elongated triangle. 
Sometimes the palpi are very short; those of the maxille have 
but four joints and the labials but two. Such is the 
B. rostrata; Apis rostrata, L.; Panz., Faun. Insect. Germ., I, 
10. The male large, black, with transversal bands of lemon- 
yellow on the abdomen, the first of which is interrupted, and the 
others undulated. The female, which has less yellow about 
the head than the male, forms deep holes in the sand, where she 
* Lat., Gen. Crust. et Insect., IV. 59. 
+ See Fab,, Lat., and Van der Linden, 
