51 



the European species. Of the Polistid^, or paper wasps, there 

 is one species, which builds its nest under overhanging rocks 

 on the River Murray cliffs, where they are pretty numerous. 

 The ApiDiE or bees are not numerous. There is one large one, 

 resembling Xylocapa of steel blue or golden-green hue, forming 

 cells in small hollow branches of trees, not in the collection ; 

 three species resembling Osmia (one having a proboscis 

 equalling, if not exceeding its whole body in length) , and eleven 

 akin to Megacliyle ; total fifteen. Small swarms of the latter, 

 varying in number of individuals from a score or two to several 

 hundred, have been frequently observed on the standing wheat 

 crops towards evening, many laden with pollen. This concludes 

 the account of our Hymenoptera. Fifteen species were 

 obtained at Ardrossan, Yorke's Peninsula, the remainder at the 

 localities indicated before. 



Order Orthoptera. 



The Orthoptera of South Australia are not deficient either 

 in number of species, size, or interest ; the collection contains 

 134 species. Most of these insects are vegetarians, and one 

 species of the Gryllidce committed considerable havoc in fields 

 and gardens a few years ago. The LAPiDURiDiE, or earwigs, 

 muster twelve species in the sole genus Forficula. They fold 

 their large transparent posterior wings under very small 

 coriaceous anterior ones, resembling the Stapliilini among the 

 Coleoptera ; among our indigenous species are several which 

 Lave a small coriaceous patch upon the former, otherwise per- 

 fectly colourless, exactly fitting on the square extremity of 

 the latter, thus affording additional aid in protecting the 

 delicate membrane. The Blattidje, or cockroaches, are rather 

 rich in species, exhibiting twenty-three, besides Blatta orientalis, 

 but this introduced pest is fortunately as yet only found in the 



Table Showing Families with Number of Genera and Species of 

 Orthoptera. 



Families. 



No. of No. of 

 Genera. Species. 



2. Blattidaa 



1 

 1 

 3 

 6 

 3 

 1 

 1 



12 

 23 

 21 

 62 

 12 

 1 

 2 



16 



134 



