VESPID^. 
213 
the caterpillars of the Pyralid, Marasmia trapezalis, Guer. Chalcid 
parasites attack these species. (Pig. 119.) 
Odynerus is believed to 
store caterpillars in holes 
or in small mud nests. 
Most are small insects, black 
and yellow in colour, with¬ 
out a petiole. A number 
of species are recorded, few 
of which are known to be 
widespread. 
0. punctum , Fabr., and 
0. ovalis, Sss., are likely to 
be found anywhere in the plains. 0 . punctum has been observed by 
T. V. R. Aiyar to utilise the holes bored in chairs to fix the cane in, 
when the cane is broken and the hole empty ; this hole she fills with 
small caterpillars, after which she closes it with mud. The same ob¬ 
server noted the latter carrying off the larva of the Groundnut Leaf 
Miner (Anacampsis nerteria, Meyr) to store in her nest. 
Vespidje. —W asps. 
Wings longitudinally folded in repose. Middle tibice with two 
terminal spurs ; claws simple. 
These are small to large insects, with warning colouration of an 
evident kind. The petiole is usually long and slender, the legs of moder¬ 
ate size, the pronotal angles reaching 
the insertion of the wings. The fore 
tibia bears a cleaning comb through 
which the antennae is drawn, as is also 
the case in Formicidce. The females 
have one more joint (13) in the an¬ 
tennae than the males and one less 
abdominal segment (6) but are other¬ 
wise similar. In the majority of the 
species, social habits are observed ; the nest may last more than one 
season, but in our common species this is not usually the case though 
Fig. 120. —ICARIA FERKUGINEA. 
Fig. 119. — llHYNCHIUM NITIDULUM NEST. 
