Butier.—Insect Architecture. 848 - 
XXXVI.—Insect Architecture, or notes on the habits of the Black Spider-wasp 
of New Zealand. By Warren L. Burrzm, C.M.G., Se.D., President. 
Plate ITI. 
(Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 11th November, 1876.] 
Amone the Hymenoptera in New Zealand, the Pompilide are represented 
by two recorded species— Pompilus fugav and P. monarchus; but, as the 
descriptions are not at present accessible here, I cannot say with any 
certainty to which of these species (if either) the speeimen which I exhibit 
this evening is referable. My object, however, in bringing the subject 
under the notice of this meeting, is not so much the identification of the 
species, which will follow in due course, but rather to call attention to some 
very interesting facts in the natural history of this Native Wasp, and more 
particularly as bearing on the study of insect architecture. 
In his remarks on the Hymenoptera, Kirby says: “ The functions which 
are given in charge to the several members of this Order are various. 
Some, like the predaceous and carnivorous tribes of the Diptera, appear 
engaged in perpetual warfare with other insects; thus the wasps and 
hornets seize flies of every kind that come in their way, and will even 
attack the meat in the shambles; the Caterpillar-wasp ( Ammophila ) walks 
off with caterpillars, the Spider-wasp (Pompilus ) with spiders, and the Fly- 
wasp (Bembex) with flies. But the motive that influences them will furnish 
an excuse for their predatory habits. They do not commit these acts of 
violence to gratify their own thirst for blood, like many of the flies, but 
to furnish their young with food suited to their natures, The wasp 
carries the pieces of flesh she steals from the butcher to the young 
grubs in the cells of her paper mansion. The other wasps I have 
mentioned each commit their eggs to the animal they are taught to select, 
and then bury it; so that the young grub, when hatched, may revel in 
plenty.” * 
The family Pompilide, or Spider-wasps, of which about 700 species are 
known, have a wide geographical range, extending from the temperate 
regions to the tropics, the genus Pompilus alone containing some 500 
recorded forms. The whole group, it would appear, are parasitie in 
their habits, and, in depositing their eggs in their skilfully-constructed 
cells, they take care to lay up a store of spiders' bodies by way of pro- 
vision for a future family. The manner of doing this will be presently 
described. 
* “History, Habits, and Instincts of Animals," p. 241, 
