BULLETIN 39, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



[12] 



forms aud more synthetic types of insects, tind as sncli necessarily 

 contained forms which it is difficult to classify definitely. 



In the discussion of the characteristics, habits, number of species, 

 and importance of the several groups, I follow, with such changes as 

 the advances in the science of entomology have made necessary, the 

 arrangement shown in Fig. 1. 



"Order HYMENOPTEiiA(V'?"', a membrane; tttc/jov, wing). Clear 

 or Membrane- winged Flies : Bees, Wasps, Ants, Saw-flies, etc. Char- 

 acterized by having four membranous wings with comparatively few 

 veins, the hind part smallest. The transformations are complete: i. e., 

 the larva bears no resemblance to the perfect insect. 



"Some of the insects of this order are highly specialized, and their 

 mouth-parts are fitted both for biting and sucking, and in this respect 



they connect the mandibulate and baustel- 

 late insects. The common Honey-bee has 

 this complex structure of the mouth, and if 

 the editors of our agricaltural i^apers would 

 bear the fact in mind, we should have less of 

 the never-ending discussion as to whether 

 bees are capable of injuring fruit at first 

 hand. The lower lip (laMitm) is modified 

 into a long tongue, sheathed by the lower 

 jaws {maxillce). and they can sip, or, more 

 properly speaking, lap \\p nectar ; while the 

 upper jaws {mandibulce), though not generally used for purposes of man- 

 ducation, are fitted for biting and cutting. The Hymeuoptera are ter- 

 restrial, there existing only a very few degraded, swimming forms. 



"This order is very naturally divided into two sections — theAcuLEATA 

 and Terebrantia. The aculeate Hymeuoptera, or Stingers, comprise 



Fig. 4.— Bald-facad Hornet, Tespa 

 ■rnacxdata. (After Sanborn). 



Fig. 5. — An Ichneumon Parasite, Pim- 

 pla annulipes, .showing male and fe- 

 male abdomen. 



Fig. C— a Chaleid Parasite, Chal- 



cisflavipus. 



all the families in which the abdomen in the female is armed with a sting 

 connected with a poison reservoir, and may be considered the typical 



