594 
INSECTA. 
digging ; the labium is always more or less notched at the tip, and never filiform or setaceous ; the 
wings are always extended. They compose the genus 
Sphex, Linn., — 
The majority of the females of which deposit with their eggs, in nests formed for their reception, in 
earth or wood, various insects or their larvae, and sometimes Spiders, which they have previously pierced 
with their stings, and which serve for the food of their young, when hatched ; the latter resemble worms, 
having no feet, and are transformed in a cocoon which they have spun previous to becoming pupae ; 
the perfect insect is generally very active, and lives upon flowers ; the maxillae and labium are elongated 
i and proboscis-like in many species. 
We distribute the numerous subgenera separated from the primitive genus Sphex, into seven principal 
groups IScolietes, Sapygites, Sgjhegites, Bembecidcs, Larrates, Nyssoniens, Crabronites']. In the two first 
of these, the eyes are often notched ; the body of the males narrow, long, and terminated by three anal 
points, or teeth. 
1. The Scolietes, comprising those which have the first segment of the thorax sometimes arched, and 
extended at the sides as far as the wings, sometimes transverse-quadrate, or like a knot ; the legs short, 
thick, very spinose, with the tibiae curved near the base, and the antennae of the females shorter than 
the head and thorax. They are named after the genus 
ScoLiA, Fab. 
Some have the maxillary palpi long, with unequal-sized joints, and the basal joint of the antennae sub-conical. 
Such are 
Tiphia, Fab., with which we may associate Tengyra, Latr. 
The others have the maxillary palpi short, and the basal joint of the antennae long. 
Myzine, Latr. (with the mandibles dentate), and 
Meria, Latr. (with the mandibles simple), have the basal joint receiving and hiding the second. 
8colia, proper, has the second joint of the antennae exposed. [This is a numerous genus, composed for the most 
part of large exotic species.] 
2. The Sapygites, Latr., have the first segment of the thorax formed as in the preceding, with the 
legs short but slender, neither spined nor strongly ciliated, and the antennae in both sexes as long as 
the head and thorax ; the body is generally naked. This subdivision is named after the principal 
Sapyga, Latr. ' 
Some have filiform or setaceous antennas. ' | 
Thynnus, Fab., has the eyes entire, [New Holland insects] ; and Scot<e7ia, Klug [Brazilian species]. 1 
Polochrum, Spin., has them notched, and the mandibles toothed. , 
Others have the antennae thickened at the tips, or clavate in some males. : 
Sapyga proper, the species of which fly about walls and trees exposed to the sun, on which they appear to 
deposit their eggs. [It now appears that they are parasites in the nests of Bees which inhabit those situations]. 
Ceramius, Latr., from the form of the prothoracic collar and the extended wings, belongs to this subdivision ; j 
but from more important characters it ought naturally to be united with the Diploptera. 
3. The Sphegites are Fossores, which nearly approach the preceding in respect to the prothoracic | 
collar, but the hind legs are at least as long again as the head and thorax, and the antennse are often 
slender, formed of loose joints, and much curved in the females. They are named after the , 
dominant genus 
Sphex. ; 
Some have the first segment of the thorax square, either transverse or longitudinal, and the abdomen attached ] 
to the thorax by a very short peduncle ; the upper wings have generally two or three complete cubital cells, and 
another imperfect and terminal. They now form several subgenera. 
Pepsis, Fab., has the labrum apparent ; the antennae in the males straight ; the maxillary palpi not much longer 
than the labial ; the males have the hind tibiae and tarsi compressed. All the species are exotic, especially South ;) 
American, and have the wings coloured. 
Ceropales, Latr., has the labrum and antennae of Pepsis, but the maxillary palpi are much longer, with very 
unequal-sized joints. , 
Pompilus, Fab., resembles Ceropales in the latter respect, but the antennae of both sexes are convoluted and 
composed of loose joints ; the labrum is but slightly exposed. Type, S. viatica, Linn, [a common species]. These j 
insects provision their nests with Spiders, having first pricked them with their stings. 
Salius, Fab., is established upon the males of some species which have the pro- and metathorax proportionably j, 
more elongated than in Pompilus, and the mandibles are not toothed. 
Planiccps, Latr., differ from Salius in having the head flat, with the posterior margin concave, the ocelli very | 
