164 
HYMENOPTERA. 
ing species is largely done, though new species still appear, and the next 
step is to study the habits and life-histories. The student will note 
that we follow the order and nomenclature of Bingham’s Fauna of 
India, rather than that of continental authors as is done by Nurse and 
Cameron, and as may be most easily seen in Genera Insectorum. 
HYMENOPTERA SESSILIVENTRES 
Siricid/E. —(including Oryssidce). 
A small family distinct from other families by the characters of 
the thorax and venation, as well as by the larval habits. The larvae 
are borers in wood, and have three pairs of stumpy legs on the 
thorax, a process at the end of the abdomen. The imagines are con¬ 
spicuous insects, large and brightly coloured, the female with sharp 
ovipositor. They are wholly forest insects and confined in India to 
hilly forest tracts. The recorded Indian species include Xiphydria 
(3 spp.), Sir ex (1 sp.), Paururus (1 sp.), and Tremex (3 spp.). None are 
likely to be found in tropical India. 
Tenthredinid,®, — Sawflies. 
The pronotum small; two spurs to the tibia. The female with a saw, 
usually concealed. The larva leaf-eating, cater pillar-like, 
with more than five pairs of sucker feet. 
The sawflies are easily recognizable from other Hymenoptera, the 
abdomen being broadly united with the thorax, the pronotum small and 
visible principally at the sides, the female without an exserted ovipositor 
and the anterior tarsi with two spurs. They are moderate-sized insects, 
of bright colours, the common plains species less than one-third of an 
inch long. The head is distinct, with short antennae, simple and com¬ 
pound eyes and the usual biting mouthparts. The thorax and abdomen 
are robust, the wings short and often smoky or coloured. The most 
striking structure is the female ovipositor or 4 4 saw,” with which she cuts 
leaves in which to lay her eggs. This is concealed except when in use 
and requires to be dissected out. 
The life-history is, in general features, similar to that of the Lepi- 
doptera. The larva is a caterpillar-like creature with three pairs of 
thoracic legs and from six to eight pairs of prolegs without hooks on the 
