Descriptions of two New Longicorns. clxxix 



The largest brood of wasps which I ever obtained, amounted to 

 about 2,000 workers, 360 females, and 230 males. This was taken 

 during the last week of the month of September. I took also a very- 

 large nest this year, at the end of September ; it contained 356 fe- 

 males, 740 workers, and 150 males : the number of cells was as fol- 

 lows: — 6537 of workers, 1944 of females, and 664 of males. The 

 disparity between the number of cells and that of the insects captured 

 is very great ; and if we are to calculate that each worker-cell has 

 been the cradle of three generations, amounting to 19,611, it is im- 

 mense. Reaumur has calculated the entire brood that would probably 

 be developed in a single nest at 30,000 ; but I am inclined to believe 

 that he trebled the entire number of cells, and I think it only reason- 

 able to suppose that but one brood would be developed from those of 

 the males and females. The entire number of cells in the nest which 

 I took during the present autumn would be about 9,145, which, tre- 

 bled, would give 27,435, those of the workers trebled would be 19,611. 

 This nest, when taken, did not contain more than about 50 closed fe- 

 male-cells and 30 of males, but more than two thirds of the other cells 

 contained larvae or eggs in different stages of development ; but I had 

 observed, the day before taking the nest, that the workers were busy 

 carrying out the young brood, and dropping them at some distance 

 from the nest ; and I think it probable that as soon as the males and 

 females are all come forth, a general clearing out of the cells takes 

 place, and the community breaks up. 



In conclusion, I would observe that in no instance in the numerous 

 nests which I have examined have I found the broods of what I have 

 now described as distinct species intermixed. I have with much care 

 examined the developed broods of different nests, and also extracted 

 all the sexes, which I have attentively investigated ; and by these 

 means have arrived at my present conclusions. 



Frederick Smith. 



Art. XXVIII. — Characters of two apparently undescribed Species of Longicom 

 Coleoptera. By Edwaed Newman. 



Lamia (Symphyletes ?) dichotoma. 



Nigra, lanugine cinered punctisque lanuginosis albis ornata ; prothorax tuberibus bi- 

 nis dichotomis dorsalibus armata ; elytra humeris bidentata, dorso dente magno 

 elevato obtuso armata, apice valde oblique truncata, truncatura extus acuminata. 

 (Corp. long. 1 unc. Elytrorum lat. max. '3 unc). 



