216 
HYMEN OPT ERA. 
Polistes stigma , Fabr., is the only other common species of this genus 
and it has been observed to nest in trees. Next to the yellow wasp (P. 
hebrceus) this is the commonest of the genus in Pusa and the only other 
species often come across. We have found this insect attaching its slen¬ 
der paper nest made up of five or six hexagonal cells to the branches of 
trees overhanging the river. 
Vespa includes the large wasps common in towns at sweetmeats 
and wherever sweet stuff is to be obtained. Vespa cincta , Fabr., and 
F. orientalis , F., are the common plains species; the very large F. magni- 
fica, Sm., and F. ducalis, Sm., are notable hill species. Vespa cincta , 
Fabr., is not as common as F. orientalis, F. It is found generally in 
thick forest. It makes its nest in the holes of big fig and other forest 
trees and has been observed to attack the nests of Polistes hebrceus and 
carry off the larvae from the cells, the Polistes making no opposition. 
Vespa orientalis, F., has also been observed hiding away for the winter 
in holes in buildings. Bingham states that the nests are in trees or at 
the foot of a tree or attached to the beams of a house. Their stings are, 
as he remarks, very painful and to be avoided if possible. There are 
many obscure points about this insect and we would like to see it pro¬ 
perly investigated. It is the commonest of the species in India and is 
fond of selecting old buildings and walls to construct its combs (Plate 
XI) when many individuals are employed in the work. These nests are 
sometimes very large and extend far into loose masonry in old buildings, 
the communities being very populous. They are, in the colder parts of 
the plains, abandoned yearly, the fertilised females hiding away till the 
cold passes and then starting again ; in this way the same nest may be 
tenanted year after year. In sweetmeat stalls in bazaars this is a pest, 
perching on the exposed sweet stuffs in numbers, but it is curious to find 
that it injures no one, though driven away now and then. 
1 CoLLETIHjE. 
Tongue emarginate at apex, short and broad. 
This is a small family of somewhat rare insects which are not social. 
They are of small size, all black in colour and inconspicuous. Two gene¬ 
ra and ten species are known from India and of these none can be regard¬ 
ed as common or widespread in the plains. Prosopis mixta, Sm., is 
perhaps the most common and will probably be found more widely. 
