and most of its components appear to be Insects of the greatest rarity. In their appearance the Insects of this Family differ considerably from the other Diploptera, and as the wings are only imperfectly, or not at all, plicate, it must be admitted that the systematic affinities of the group require reconsideration. The pronotal structure is, however, completely that of Diploptera. The typical form of the Family, Masaris vespiformis, though described a hundred years since, is a species of such extreme rarity, and its sexes are so different, that entomologists have only recently been able to agree about it. It has been found in Egypt and Algeria. The genera Ceramius, Jugurthia, Quartenia and Coelonites are also members of the Mediterranean fauna, while Paragia is Australian, and Trimeria South American. Several species of the genus Masaris inhabit North America, and Cresson has recently described another Masarid genus from the same country, under the name of Euparagia. The little that is known of their natural history is almost limited to an account given by Giraud of the habits of Ceramius lusitanicus, of which species he found a colony near Briançon. The Insect makes nests in the earth; they are entered by means of a chimney-like passage analogous to what is formed by certain Odynerus; the gallery when completed is about six centimetres long, and at its extremity is an earthen cell in which the larva lives; this is fed by the mother, who brings to it from time to time a supply of a paste, described as being somewhat like dried honey. The growth of the larva is believed to be rapid. FIG. 36.-Cells constructed by Coelonites abbreviatus. (After André.) Some fragmentary observations made. by Lichtenstein on Coelonites abbreviatus have also been recorded. This species, near Montpellier, constructs earthen cells; they are not, however, subterranean, but are placed side by side on the dry stems of plants (Fig. 36); these cells are stored with a material similar to that supplied by Ceramius lusitanicus to its young. CHAPTER III HYMENOPTERA ACULEATA CONTINUED DIVISION III. FOSSORES OR FOSSORIAL SOLITARY WASPS-FAMILY SCOLIIDAE OR SUBTERRANEAN FOSSORS-FAMILY POMPILIDAE OR RUNNERS-FAMILY SPHEGIDAE OR PERFECT-STINGERS Division III. Fossores. Aculeate Hymenoptera, in which the abdomen, though very diverse in form, does not bear prominences on the upper aspect of the basal segments; front wing without longitudinal fold along the middle; hairs of body not plumose. Only two forms (male and female) of each species. FOSSORIAL Hymenoptera are distinguished from other Aculeates at present only by negative characters, i.e. they are Aculeates, but are not ants, bees or wasps. According to their habits they fall into four, by no means sharply distinguished, groups-(1) those that form no special receptacles for their young, but are either of parasitic or sub-parasitic habits, or take advantage of the abodes of other Insects, holes, etc.; (2) constructors of cells of clay formed into pottery by the saliva of the Insect, and by drying; (3) excavators of burrows in the ground; (4) makers of tunnels in wood or stems of plants. Several species make use of both of the last two methods. The habits are carnivorous; the structures formed are not for the benefit of the makers, but are constructed and stored with food for the next generation. Their remarkable habits attracted some attention even 2000 years or more ago, and were to some extent observed by Aristotle. The great variety in the habits of the species, the extreme industry, skill, and self-denial they display in carrying out their voluntary labours, render them one of the most instructive groups of the animal kingdom. There are no social or gregarious forms, they are true individualists, and their lives and instincts offer many subjects for reflection. Unlike the social Insects they can learn nothing whatever from either example or precept. The skill of each individual is prompted by no imitation. The life is short, the later stages of the individual life are totally different from the earlier: the individuals of one generation only in rare cases see even the commencement of the life of the next; the progeny, for the benefit of which they labour with FIG. 37.-Sceliphron nigripes ? (Sub-Fam. Sphegides). Amazons. X 8. unsurpassable skill and industry, being unknown to them. Were such a solicitude displayed by ourselves we should connect it with a high sense of duty, and poets and moralists would vie in its laudation. But having dubbed ourselves the higher animals, we ascribe the eagerness of the solitary wasp to impulse or instinct, and we exterminate their numerous species from the face of the earth for ever, without even seeking to make a prior acquaintance with them. Meanwhile our economists and moralists devote their volumes to admiration of the progress of the civilisation that effects this destruction and tolerates this negligence. It should be noted that in the solitary as in the social Insects the males take no part whatever in these industrial occupations, and apparently are even unaware of them. It is remarkable that, notwithstanding this, the sexual differences are in the majority less than is usual in Insects. It is true that the various forms of Scoliidae exhibit sexual distinctions which, in the case of Thynnides and Mutillides are carried to an extreme degree, but these are precisely the forms in which skill and ingenuity are comparatively absent, the habits being rather of the parasitic than of the industrial kind, while the structure is what is usually called degraded (ie. wingless). The great difference between the habits of the sexes, coupled with the fact that there is little or no difference in their appearance, has given rise to a curious Chinese tradition with regard to these Insects, dating back to Confucius at least.1 The habit of stinging and storing caterpillars in a cell, from which a fly similar to itself afterwards. proceeds having been noticed, it was supposed to be the male that performed these operations; and that when burying the caterpillars he addressed to them a spell, the burden of which is "mimic me." In obedience the caterpillars produce the wasp, which is called to this day "Jiga," that is in English “mimic me." The idea was probably to the effect that the male, not being able to produce eggs, used charmed caterpillars to continue the species. 36 Trypoxylonides. Astatides .. Bembecides Philanthides. Mimesides Crabronides . Diptera, Homoptera (Gorytes mystaceus takes Small Homoptera, even Aphidae. Diptera Diptera, Aphidae [? the same species of wasps both of these]. Other small Homoptera. Ants (in the case of Fertonius). Parasitic optera (in the case of Lindenius). Great diversity of opinion exists as to the classification of the Fossores. This arises chiefly from the incomplete state of the collections studied, and from the fact that the larger part of the works published are limited to local faunae. Opinions as to the families vary; some admitting only three or four, others upwards of twenty. After consideration of the various views, the writer thinks it best to admit at present only three families, which speaking broadly, correspond with habits, viz. (1) Scoliidae, subterranean stingers; (2) Pompilidae, runners; (3) Sphegidae, stingers above ground. 1. Scoliidae. Pronotum and tegulae in contact. Abdomen with the plane of the ventral surface interrupted by a chink between the first and second segments. Numerous wingless forms. 2. Pompilidae. Pronotum and tegulae in contact. Abdomen with the plane of the ventral surface not interrupted by a chink. Legs very long. No wingless forms. 3. Sphegidae. Pronotum and tegulae not in contact. No wingless forms. We shall treat as sub-families those divisions of Scoliidae and Sphegidae considered by many as families. |