STINGING FOUR-WINGED INSECTS 305 
times of only three—a moderately long basal one, a short 
middle one, and a long terminal one, composed of a number 
of joints united into one; and rarely, as in the case of the 
males of some small species about half an inch long which 
feed on fir and pine, the antenne are feathered. The grubs 
are very like caterpillars, and are sometimes called ‘“ false 
caterpillars”; but a true caterpillar (except in one or two very 
rare exceptions among foreign species) has never more than. 3 
Photo by Hf’, P. Dando, F.Z.S, 
TREE-WASP 
Very similar to the common wasp, but builds 
its nest in trees instead of in the ground 
sixteen legs, while these ‘ false caterpillars” have more, often 
as many as twenty-two. They also resemble caterpillars in 
another way, for the pupe are enclosed in cocoons. One 
interesting Australian species, which feeds on gum-trees, pro- 
ceeds from a black caterpillar with only six legs. The perfect insect has a blackish head and 
thorax, with three large yellow spots on the latter, yellowish antennz and wings, and a green 
abdomen; it measures about an inch and a half across the wings, and has knobbed antenne. 
An allied species, found in Tasmania, is said to tend its young larve —an unusual habit, except 
among social insects like bees, wasps, and ants. Among the commonest and the most destructive 
saw-flies in England are those feeding upon the currant, gooseberry, and pear, of which there are 
several species, measuring about half an inch across the wings. The commonest flies which lay 
their eggs on the gooseberry and currant are yellow, with the head, antenne, and three long spots 
on the back black, and the wings transparent, with black veins. The grubs are bluish green, with 
twenty legs, and numerous black dots; and several may often be seen on one leaf. The best-known 
of the PEAR SAW-FLIES is black, with the wings transparent, except the veins; the grub is very 
like a slug, and is green or yellow, very slimy, with the front of the body much thickened, 
The Woop-wasps include only a few species, the grubs of which live in the stems of 
plants, or in the solid wood of trees. One of the largest feeds on fir- or pine-trees, and the 
fly measures from half an inch to an inch and a half in length, and varies much in size, though 
the male is generally much smaller than the female. The female is yellow, with two black 
bands, and a stout ovi- 
positor half as long as 
the abdomen. In the 
Prin! male the tip of the abdo- 
| 0 men is black, and ends in 
°. arectangular point. The 
= wings are transparent, 
with yellow nervures. 
Next to these in- 
sects come the GALL- 
FLIES, mostof which pro- 
duceround gallsonoaks; 
and in some species we 
meet with a wingless 
brood, living alternately 
with the winged broods, 
but at the roots of the 
trees instead of in the 
open air. The veining 
L of the wings is reduced 
ae Pic _..../ to one or two veins; 
Photo by Scholastic Phete, Ce.) ae Gi the antennz are rather 
TREE-WASP’S NEST long,and not angulated ; 
Generally built in a thick bush and the abdomen is 
