SPHEGIIXE. 
207 
S. bilineatum, Sm., is recorded from Western India, but occurs also 
in Behar. It constructs single cylindrical cells (Fig. 114) which it finishes 
by adding mud till the cell is smoothed over completely. The life 
history occupies about, a month and this species is also extensively 
parasitised. 
S. violaceum, F., is the common blue species which nests in houses, 
making no cell but taking advantage of natural holes, which it commonly 
closes with lime or plaster in preference to mud. It has been seen to 
utilise screw and nail holes in wood, bores in bamboos, the central hollow 
of a cotton reel, the tubular cavity of the handle of a cycle pump, and 
holes into which bolts were to fasten. It has also been found in the 
empty cells of S. madraspatanum , its larval cocoon being smaller than 
that of the latter. It is possibly the insect referred to in the follow¬ 
ing : Lahore Divisional orders :—The Ichneumon fly is particularly 
active at this time of the year, and the greatest care should be taken 
to prevent barrels of rifles becoming unserviceable from the rings of 
corrosion which invariably follow if the clay plug is not at once re¬ 
moved. The fly will build a complete nest within 24 hours, and every 
barrel should be looked through at least once daily to ensure its being- 
free from this pest. (Statesman, 28th April, 1909.) 
Sphex includes larger insects with a shorter petiole, best known 
from the very common green metallic species S. lohatus Fabr. (Fig. 108) 
which preys on the big cricket Brachytrypes aehatinus , Stoll. Its habits 
have been described elsewhere (Journ. 
Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., XV, p. 531) ; it 
has a curious habit of biting out a portion 
of the pronotum of its prey after it has 
paralysed it by stinging. It is seen actively 
at work from April to August ; possibly 
the crickets are not sufficiently large before 
the end of April, necessitating a longer rest 
than that of other species. 
Ampulex compressa, Fabr., is a very 
beautiful insect, common in the plains. In 
Pusa this insect is purely arboreal in 
j'ijr, 1 lo._ Ampulex compressa habitat. The chief haunts are the 
trunks of old Peepul ( Ficus reliyiosa) and 
