24 



INSECTS. 



aphides. In the allied genus Banchus, the species are parasitic on caterpillars, 

 especially those of the hawk-moths. The affected larvae do not even reach the 

 pupal state, but shrivel away, while the parasites form pupse within the empty 

 skin. The members of the typical genus and subfamily, such as Ichneumon 

 pisorius, are among the largest and most brightly coloured of the group ; their 

 colours, which are white, black, red, and yellow, occurring in great variety of 

 combination. The females are usually more brightly coloured than the males. 

 The former sex is easily distinguished by the filiform antennas, which are some- 

 times knotted, and may be observed to coil after the insect is dead. Many fine 

 species may be taken from moss in the spring, where they hibernate, though the 

 great majority appear in the summer and do not live through the winter. The 

 European species named is one of the largest, and may be regarded as typical of 

 the general appearance of members of the family. It is found from June onwards 



1, Exenterus marginatorius, about to sting the larva of Lophyrus pini ; 2, Pupa-case of the latter with the 

 parasite emerged ; 3, With the proper saw-fly emerged ; 4, Bassus albosignatus, about to attack a Syrphus- 

 larva ; 6, Banchus falcator ; 7, Pupa of the ichneumon, (Nat. size.) 



in pine-woods, where it attacks the larvae of the pine hawk-moth, depositing a 

 single egg in each victim. The caterpillar maintains its general health, and passes 

 into the chrysalis state as though nothing were amiss ; the only difference being that 

 a large ichneumon-fly emerges instead of the expected moth. An illustration of 

 the parasite is given in the illustration on p. 25, together with a pupa-case, 

 with the cap removed, whence the fly has escaped. Of the other forms here figured, 

 the male of Cryptus tarsoleucus gives a good idea of the general appearance of the 

 males of the ichneumons, with their narrow elongate abdomen. All the species of 

 Cryptus are parasitic on the larvae of the saw-flies, and the Bombycidce : the female 

 laying several eggs in each larva. A fine handsome form is the one known as Mesos- 

 tenus gladiator, on account of its long needle-like ovipositor. It flies in June, and 

 may be found in the vicinity of old crumbling walls, where bees of various kinds make 

 their nest in the holes and crevices. In the same illustration is figured Ephialtes 

 manifestator, representing the subfamily Pimplariince. In some members of this 

 group the ovipositor issues from a ventral cleft in the abdomen, and in others from 



