Insects abroad : being a popular account of foreign insects, their structure, habits, and transformations . Fig. 202.—Scleroderma cylindrica.(Reddish brown.) Female. by the line on the right of the illustration, which representsthe real length of the female. The male is very much smallerthan his mate—so small, indeed, that it cannot be examined 408 tNSECTS without the aid of a tolerably powerful magnifying-glass. Thebody of an ordinary specimen is very much the same size as theletter i; and if an o be placed at either side of the i, they willbe about as large as the wings. The generic
Insects abroad : being a popular account of foreign insects, their structure, habits, and transformations . Fig. 202.—Scleroderma cylindrica.(Reddish brown.) Female. by the line on the right of the illustration, which representsthe real length of the female. The male is very much smallerthan his mate—so small, indeed, that it cannot be examined 408 tNSECTS without the aid of a tolerably powerful magnifying-glass. Thebody of an ordinary specimen is very much the same size as theletter i; and if an o be placed at either side of the i, they willbe about as large as the wings. The generic name of Sclero-derma is formed from two Greek words signifying hard-skinned/ and is given to these insects on account of the hard-ness of the integuments. The species which is here represented is one of a large andvery interesting group of insects. There are many of them,and this particular species has been selected because it is oneof the largest, of the group. As a rule they are very small,. Fig. 203.—Leucospia Aruera. (Black, with yellow marks.) and the insects of this genus are absolute giants among pigmieswhen compared with their relatives. Their habits are rather remarkable. They are parasitic uponvarious Hymenoptera, especially upon the Mason Bees. The modein which the female deposits her eggs Ls very curious. The ovi-positor is very Long, and when at rest is turned over the back, itspoint passing over the thorax of the insect. On account of thisstructure it was thought by some entomologists that the Leu-cospis was obliged to attack its victim from behind. According,however, to an account given to Mr. West wood by an eye-witness, this is not the case, and the insect proceeds as follows:— Mason Bees always choose for their building-place a hole inan old wall. In this hole they deposil an egg. together withu supply of food for the young larva, and then close it up. MODE OF DEPOSITING EGGS. 409 The Leucospis hunts over the walls until she has discovereda Mason Bees
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectinsects, bookyear1883
