I 54 1 
or sucking, has been used for classifying the Insects. They are 
generally subdivided into nine orders, viz. (i) Hymemptera 
{Bees» Wasps and Ants) ; (2) Diptera (Flies and Fleas) ; {3) 
Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths) ; (4) Cokoptera (Beetles); 
(5) Neuraptera (Caddis Flies and Ant Lions) ; (6) Pseudmieurop- 
tera (Dragon Flies and Termites); \j) Orthoptera (Earwigs, 
Cockroaches, Grasshoppers, Stick and Leaf-Insects) ; (8) Rhyn- 
chota (Bugs, Cicadas and Lanternflies) j {9) Thysanura (Spring- 
tails and Silver Fishes.) 
ANTS, BEES & WASPS (Hymemptera). 
The Hymenoptera which include Ants, Bees, Wasps, 
Sawflies and ichneumon flies, undergo a complete metamor- 
phosis. They have two pairs of transparent wings. Their 
mouthparts are adapted for biting or may. in addition, be partly 
modified into a proboscis for exhausting the nectar from fiowers. 
They may be placed at the head of the Insects, both on account 
of their structure and of their high intelligence- Some Wasps 
and Bees are solitary, but others are social, and so are all Ants : 
they live in colonies. The elaborate structure of the nests of 
these social Hymenoptera, the organisation of their communities 
and the care for the young place them high above the other 
Insects.~No Ants are exhibited, and of Bees and Wasps we 
mention only a few of the more striking forms. 
The giants amongst the Hymenoptera are the Scoliidae, 
ScoHa procera is a large and handsome wasp-iike insect, 
with stout and hairy body and stout legs. It is marked 
with three yellow spots each on thorax and abdomen.— Safe 
ducaUs, belonging to the Pompilidae, is remarkable for its long 
antennae and long legs. It is dark brown in colour, with the 
exception of a large silver-white spot on either of its forewings.— 
Of the true Wasps {Vesptdae) the most common Singapore 
species is the Banded Wasp [Vespa chtcta). It is black in 
colour, but has a broad yellow band across the abdomen. Its 
huge nests are frequently seen. Two of them are exhibited. 
One of them was recently obtained in the Botanic Gardens and 
presented by Mr. Ridley. The Honey Bees and the Humming 
Bees constitute the family Apidac. The former {Apis dorsata 
and A. indka) are about the size of their European allies. Of 
Humming Bees a large black species is frequently seen in 
Singapore, noisily buzzing from flower to flower, the Xyhcapa 
latipes. An exceedingly common, but smaller humming bee, is 
