<63 



MV GARDEN. 



known, and we often discover one even in the centre of London, by the 

 tone of the buzz, which is much deeper than that of the common 

 wasp. The nest I have figured (fig. 102 1) is taken from my work 

 entitled " Instinct and Reason," and the original nest belongs to the 

 British Museum. The Pendulous Wasp is also found on trees near 

 Croydon. 



After bees, which are so directly beneficial to vegetation, and after 

 wasps, which are more or lesis injurious, we have among the Hymeno- 

 ptera the whole tribe of Ichneumons. These flies are indirectly of 

 great utility to the gardener, by destroying noxious insects. Some of 



Fig. 1022. Aphidius rapse 

 (magnified lo diam.)- 



Fig. 102 r.— Hornet's Nest (British Museum). 



Fig. 1023.— Colax dispar 

 (magnified 10 diam.). 



them are large (fig. 1064, No. 5), and deposit their eggs in the 

 largest caterpillars, while others are so minute, as the Aphidius rupee (fig. 

 1022), that they can deposit their ova in the smallest aphides. The 

 creature in which the egg is deposited is eventually eaten up, and instead 

 of changing into a winged creature forms a case from which issues a 

 perfect ichneumon fly. 



Again, there are some species which deposit their egg in the larvae 

 of the ichneumons, which are preying upon a third creature ; a truly 



