138 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. ” [1 Frs., 1902. 
progeny, still the winged insect, that in course of time would arise as develop- 
ment of the latter proceeded, would be obliged to delve its way upwards through 
this depth of soil in order to enjoy its free life. : 
Once emerged the perfect insects exhibit considerably activity on the 
wing, although they may be captured without the exercise of much adroitness. 
The males are usually to be encountered flying over patches of grub-injured 
cane-land or where scarabeid beetle-larve may have damaged the roots of grasses 
or other plants in pasture or cultivated fields. In these situations the individual 
of this sex remains for days after it has emerged flying in circuitous course 
amongst the herbage at a short distance from the ground, but frequently 
alighting on some low plant, and thereon, resting, with its wings directed 
over its yellow-banded hind-body as if to conceal so conspicuous a presence. 
The female insects that are exceeding handsome—a fact that has won for 
the species the title formosus (Lat. most beautiful), do not, however, long 
frequent their birthplaces; but speedily repair to haunts abounding in flowers, 
upon whose nectar they subsist. Plants of various kinds are affected by them, as 
in the case of our honey bee. Miss Margarey Wells, a youthful observer residing 
* in the Childers district, has mentioned to the writer the Summer Chrysanthe- 
mum (Chrysanthemum annuum) as one especially addicted to being visited by the 
beautiful insect. The blossoms of arboreal plants are, however, by no means 
overlooked by it. 
The female ‘‘ wasp” does not apparently seek out a beetle grub as food for 
its young until some days have elapsed since the first appearance of itself. 
With regard to the proportion between the sexes that issue from the 
cocoons this varies, according to the time of the year at which the observation 
is made, in a curious manner. 
In the first place, however, it may be mentioned that there are grounds for 
concluding that two broods of the winged insects hatch out during the course 
of the summer in some parts of Queensland. For instance, in the Isis Serub 
district the females have been found on the wing in September (M. Wells), 
and in March (H.1.), and nymphs of this sex and spun-up larve during the 
early part of December (H.T.) The males have been found flying there early 
in September and throughout December, in the latter case without attendant 
females. In the Cairns district females have been found on the wing in July, and 
only rarely early in August, and both sexes, but principally males, raised from 
pup during September and October. No opportunity of observing the second 
brood there has been forthcoming. The differences between the latitude £ 
the Cairns and Isis Scrub districts render the periods of appearance in the 
respective localities fairly correspondent. 
In the case of both the spring and autumn broods, wherever examples of 
both sexes are found issuing from the pupex or chrysalis cocoons, it is found 
that the male individuals appear first. This is, doubtless, a provision for 
ensuring the mating of the sexes; for, as already remarked, the male frequents 
for days the spot where it has emerged, although this may provide it with no 
food, in order that the female on emerging may not fail to receive the attentions 
of a suitable partner. Whilst thus engaged, three or four male Dielis may not — 
infrequently be observed in the field of vision at one time flying restlessly over _ 
the surface. 
In the case of the spring brood the females largely preponderate, although — 
this fact may not strike one since individuals of this sex on emerging soon ate 
their departure for flower-yielding haunts, where accordingly they are to be 
sought. With the early autumn brood, however, the opposite condition pre- 
vails, the perfect insects that appear then being almost exclusively males. 
This is comparable with ahs happens in the case of other hymenopte- — 
rous parees, and especially with such as belong to the section Pimpline of | 
the family Ichnewmonide, the members of which are for the most part 
destroyers of grass-consuming caterpillars. 
With regard to the insect under notice, this peculiar incident is not diffi- 
cult to account for. The female Dielis can only perpetuate its kind when the 
