26S4E5 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



OF 



BRITISH ENTOMOLOGY. 



Okdek VI.— I-IYMENOPTERA. 



Wings four, rarely wanting, all membranaceous and naked, generally with 

 distinct ample unequal areolets, anterior largest, mostly with a conspicuous 

 stigma on the costa; posterior small, with few nervures; ocelli two or 

 three ; mouth various ; palpi four ; mandibles exserted, horny, rarely 

 employed for mastication; prothorax obsolete, giving place to an ample 

 collar ; abdomen various, consisting of from 6 to 9 segments, and, in the 

 females, i'urnished at the apex with an ovipositor of 6-Q valves, or a sharp 

 sting, having in many instances a poison bag at its base, and two short 

 compressed styles; tarsi generally pentamerous, or 5-jointed. Metamorphosis 

 incomplete: larva in some cases furnished with 6 unguiculated legs, and 

 with from to 12 membranaceous ones, and withtvs^o simple eyes ; in others 

 without legs and vermiform ; pupa quiescent, folliculated, with the antennce, 

 legs, and wings distinct, and resembling the imago. 

 Next to the Coleoptera this order appears to be the most numerous 

 in species ; in fact, from the very great accession to their numbers 

 which the investigations of some entomologists in this country have 

 brought to light, it has been supposed to be more extensive ; but the 

 number of Coleoptera have been silently increasing at the same 

 time, though it must not be disputed that amongst the parasitic 

 groups, discoveries of new species are almost daily taking place : the 

 order is considerably diversified in habit, and embraces in its extensive 

 grasp some of the most usefvil and valuable insects, as more parti- 

 cularly referred to hereafter. From the extent of the order it becomes 

 necessary to subdivide it into sections. I shall therefore proceed nearly 

 in conformity with the divisions adopted by Latreille, with the 

 alterations as pointed out in my Systematic Catalogue, commencing 

 with — 



Section I.— TEREBRANTIA, Latreille, 

 Tn which the females are furnished with a laminated, or filiform, ovipositor ; 

 Makdibulata, Vol. VII., August 31st, 1835. a 2 



