136 



INSECTA. 



jaws, are charged with the defence of the habitation. The 

 females arrived at the perfect state are taken care of and sup- 

 plied with food before and during the period of laying eggs, 

 by the larvse or labourers, who place them in a particular 

 lodging, situated in the middle of the dwelling. Some females 

 lay, it is said, 60 eggs per minute, which is 3600 an hour, or 

 86,400 a day. 



ORDER VI. HYMENOPTERA. 



Four naked membranous wings veined longitudinally, the 

 superior of which are always longer than the inferior ; mouth 

 composed of jaws and a labium very narrow, (besides the 

 labrum and mandibles) forming a demi-tube more suitable 

 for suction than mastication ; envelope of the body not crus- 

 taceous ; tarsi with five joints ; abdomen generally attached 

 to the thorax by a very slender pedicle, terminated, in the 

 females, either by an ovipositor in the form of a saw, or by a 

 simple retractile sting which introduces an irritating fluid 

 into the wounds it creates ; always three smooth eyes beside 

 the two composite. Metamorphosis complete. Most of the 

 larvae are without feet, remaining motionless in the spot 

 where born, and where they find food, brought, under cer- 

 tain circumstances, by the adult individuals. Those pro- 

 vided with feet attend to their nutrition. These insects 

 present three kinds of individuals, whose colour and form 

 vary greatly — the males, the females and the neuters. Two 

 sections. 



Section I. Terebrantia. 

 An ovipositor in the females. Two remarkable genera. 



Genus I. Ichneumon, Lin. 



Maxillary palpi projecting ; antennas setaceous ; abdomen 

 cylindrical ; in the females a long ovipositor with three 

 threads. These insects are the most deadly enemies of the 

 larvse of others. Their females, with their long ovipositor, 

 pierce a hole in the body of the Caterpillar, and there place 



