HYMENOPTEEA-ACULEATA. 383 



choosing V. vulgaris and V. rufa. Velleius clili- 

 tatus, F, breeds in the nests of V. crabro and V . 

 germanica, and several Quedii and Cryjrtojihagi 

 in those of the three ground building species. 

 Many Diptera are also found in wasps' nests in the 

 larval state, although they have other habitats as 

 well ; such are species of the genera Volucella, 

 AcantJiiptera and Homolomyia, some of which 

 mimic the wasps their hosts. Of Hymenoptera, 

 the ichneumon Sphegophaga vesparum, Curt., 

 lays its eggs on the grubs of several members of 

 the genus Vesica, upon which its larvae feed, 

 and the parasitical Chrysis ignita also preys upon 

 V. rufa and vulgaris. The inquiline and nearly 

 allied wasp, Pseudo-vespa austriaca breeds in the 

 nest cells of V. rufa, and Myrmosa melancejihalus 

 has been found dwelling with V. sylvestris. 



V. crabro, Linn. — This species sometimes occurs in our 

 towns, apparently imported with fruit and 

 vegetables from the south. The only nest 

 known to have been found in our district, viz., 

 from Hawkshead, North Lancashire, is preserved 

 in Owens Coll. Museum at Manchester. 



V. vulgaris, Linn. — Abundant everywhere. A nest of 

 this ground wasp was found built to a rafter in 

 an outhouse at Malpas, R.N. 



In years when wasps have been specially 

 abundant in this district, as in 1889 and 1893, 

 the writer has frequently seen this species prey- 

 ing upon both honey and humble bees. Its 

 habit is to pounce down upon its quarry on 

 flowers, and then, especially in the case of a 

 female humble bee, the battle often waxes sore. 

 The intrepid little worker wasp first bites olf the 



