38o ZOOLOGY 



slender and many-jointed ; they are seldom elbowed. The 

 ova are deposited on or in the bodies of caterpillars 

 or the larvae of other Hymenoptera. The larvae are white, 

 fleshy, footless grubs which feed on the organs of their 

 hosts, commencing with the fat-bodies and other indifferent 

 tissues. Bhyssa persuccsoria, which has an ovipositor three 

 inches long, is said to bore through a considerable thickness 

 of wood to deposit its eggs in the body of the larvae of Sirex. 

 Ichneumon laminatorius lays its eggs in the larvae of Sphinx 

 pinastri, Aphideus avenae and Epheclrits plagiator in the bodies 

 of Aphis. 



Family Chalcididae. — This family includes numerous 

 species of small size and of metallic hue. Their antennae are 

 usually elbowed, and their wings devoid of veins. The differ- 

 ences between the sexes are as a rule very marked. They lay 

 their eggs in the eggs or larvae of almost every kind of insect. 

 Some are parasitic in the parasitic Ichneumons, others in the 

 Hessian-fly and in Musca, whilst other species, as Pteromalus, 

 lay their eggs in the larvae of Bostrychus and Hylesinus, etc. 

 A few species give rise to galls. 



Sub-order 3. Aculeata. 



Chaeacteristics. — The female is, with feiv exceptions, provided 

 luith a stinging apparatits, or modified ovipositor, at the end 

 of the abdom,en, which is only protruded when in use. TJie 

 ahdomen is stalked. The male has, as a ride, thirteen joints 

 in its antennae, the female twelve. Usually cells are con- 

 structed in which the apodal and aproctous larvae are 

 reared hy the females. 



Group 1. FOEMICAEIAE (Ants). 



Ants have usually a small thorax, and, compared with the 

 thorax or abdomen, a very large head. The first, or first and 

 second abdominal segments form the peduncle. The antennae 

 are elbowed, and have one more joint in the males than in 

 the females. The wings, when present, extend beyond the 

 abdomen, and they have few nervures. 



