74 



Genus LX1I. MUTILLJ. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Antenna filiform. Three shining eyes in the 

 male. Mouth horny, with strong jaws, and 

 a projecting lip, with four unequal palpi at 

 the end. Wings for the most part wanting. 

 Body downy. Thorax hollowed behind. 

 Sting concealed. 



General Observations. 



A few of the insects of this genus have four 

 unequal, veined wings, and these, by some, 

 are supposed to be either males or females, 

 while those without wings are thought to be 

 neuters ; thus bearing a strong affinity in their 

 divisions to the genus Formica. This opinion, 

 however, has been set aside by Latreille, who 

 has ascertained that all the winged insects are 

 males, and those without wings females. Very 

 little is known respecting the history of the 

 Mutillae. The apterous species are found in 

 the summer in sandy places running on the 

 ground, and burying themselves in their holes, 



