. Natural history. Zoology. Fig. 62.âSand Wasp {Pelopceus spirifex), Nat. size. â which measure upwards of three inches across the wings. Some of the species of Mygnimia (Smith) are conspicuous by their beautiful green or purple iridescent wings. The last family we can notice is the Sphegidm, which are remarkable for the long petiolated abdomen, and for the brilliant metallic green of some of the Indian and African species of Chlmion (Latr.), etc. In the^e, however, the wings are generally transparent, or are at most only bordered with brown. Pdopceus spirifex (Linn.) is a black and yellow spe
. Natural history. Zoology. Fig. 62.âSand Wasp {Pelopceus spirifex), Nat. size. â which measure upwards of three inches across the wings. Some of the species of Mygnimia (Smith) are conspicuous by their beautiful green or purple iridescent wings. The last family we can notice is the Sphegidm, which are remarkable for the long petiolated abdomen, and for the brilliant metallic green of some of the Indian and African species of Chlmion (Latr.), etc. In the^e, however, the wings are generally transparent, or are at most only bordered with brown. Pdopceus spirifex (Linn.) is a black and yellow species, common in the warmer parts of the Old World. The Diploptera, or true wasps, may be distin- guished by the fore-wings being longitudin- ally folded in repose, and by the prothorax being arched backwards to the base of the wings. The species are soli- tary or social ; and the former generally construct small Wasps nests or cells, which they provision with insects. The social (Diploptera). wasps, belonging to the typical genus Vespa, are too well known to need description ; they construct large nests in the ground or in trees, but their habits are less interesting than those of the ants and bees. The nest is, however, always commenced by one queen, which has survived the winter; and its extension is afterwards carried on by her progeny. The bulk of the inhabitants consist of neuters, though males and females are also produced; the latter assist the mother in carrying on the work of the nest, for, unlike bees, more than one perfect female is allowed to live in a wasp's nest at the same time. At the end of the season, the whole community dies off, ex- cept a few queens, which perpetuate the brood next year ; and hence every wasp destroyed in spring means the destruction of a possible nest. We have six species of Vespa in England, all very similar, except the hornet, which is twice as large as the others, l)ut lives in smaller com- munities. It is much scarcer, too, and rarel
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