348 ACULEATE-HYMENOPTEBA OF GUERNSEY. 



Lasius futyginosuS) a shining jet-black species, nests in 

 trees and old posts, as I know to my cost. I was once beat- 

 ing the branches of a tree into an umbrella for beetles when I 

 became covered with hundreds of these ants, and had to beat 

 a hasty retreat. Lasius flavus is our common yellow ant, 

 forming its nest under stones. Our common garden ant is 

 Lasius niger, which runs its galleries underground and swarms 

 in July and August. 



Leptothorax tuberum; a small species found on our cliffs, 

 is of local occurrence in England. 



Monomorium Pharaonis, a minute, introduced species, is a 

 common pest in some houses in St. Peter-Port, swarming in 

 cupboards containing sugar and other provisions. 



The next section comprises the Mutillidce, or solitary ants. 

 They are not, however, true ants, as their structure and habits 

 are not at all similar. They, however, possess apterous 

 females, and seem to form a connecting link between the 

 Heterogyna and the Fossores. I have only found one species 

 in Guernsey, Myrmosa melanocephala. I have taken several 

 of the rarer Mutilla rufipes at St. Ouen's Bay, in Jersey. 



The section of Fossores, or sand-Avasps, comprise a num- 

 ber of very different forms, their habits being also diverse. 

 They all provide their larva? with animal food, although they 

 themseves can only live on vegetable. The various species 

 make their nests in sandy banks, in the ground, rotten wood, 

 bramble stems, &c, and provision with caterpillars, flies, 

 spiders, bees and aphides. The parent stings the insects in 

 such a manner that they are paralysed, and cannot move 

 away, but they do not die until her eggs hatch and the larvae 

 want them for food. 



Ammophila sabulosa is our largest species. It is black 

 and red in colour, and, with its very long and slender waist, is 

 the one most likely to strike the eye of an ordinary observer. 



A. lutaria, a rather rare and local species in England, has 

 also been taken here. Strange to say I did not meet with 

 either of these species in Jersey this year, but captured the 

 only remaining British species, A. campestris and A. hirsuta. 



The genus Crabro contains a large number of species, 

 many being very small black insects, very difficult to make 

 out. It contains also, however, the beautiful golden yellow 

 species, C. cribrarius and C. cephalotes, which are common 

 with us. 



The true wasps belong to the section Diploptera, and may 

 be known by their having their wings folded longitudinally 

 when at rest. They form two families the Vcspidce and 



