I^ IIYMENOPTERA. 



ChRYSIDID/E {Clickoo-flics). 



These insects lay their eggs in the cells of wild bees 

 and wasps. The larvcX either feed upon the provisions 

 stored there or upon the young owners of the nest, 

 (l, 191 ; 14, II., 174: 19, 184). 



ICHNEU MONIU/E {IclincnmoH-flies). 



" The Ichneumon-flies are readily recognized by the 

 usually long and slender body, the long exserted ovi- 

 positor, which is often very long, and protected by a 

 sheath formed of four stylets of the .same length as 

 the true ovipositor. The head is usually rather square, 

 with long, slender, many-jointed antenna; which arc 

 not usually elbowed." (i, 192). 



There are many species of this family ; they are para- 

 sitic on the young of other insects. The female Ich- 

 neumon-fly lays her eggs either in or upon the body 

 of the insect upon which her young are to feed. The 

 Ichneumon larvae eat the fatty portions of their victim, 

 carefully avoiding the vital organs, so that the cater- 

 pillar, or other insect as the case may be, lives on with 

 these creatures inside its body and deriving their nour- 

 ishment from it. In many cases the caterpillar lives 

 until it has spun its cocoon, and is then killed by the 

 parasites, which spin their cocoons within that of their 

 victim. Other caterpillars are destroyed at an earlier 

 stage, and the cocoons of the Ichneumons may be 

 seen attached to their bodies or to the plants upon 

 which they were. The following species will serve as 

 illustrations of the habits of this family :— 



R/ij'ssa {Pimpla) lunator Fab. is a large Ichneumon, 

 furnished with an ovipositor three inches in length. 



