File:The transformations (or metamorphoses) of insects (Insecta, Myriapoda, Arachnida, and Crustacea) - being an adaptation, for English readers, of M. Émile Blanchard's "Metamorphoses, moeurs et instincts (14598026330).jpg

Identifier: transformationso01dunc (find matches)
Title: The transformations (or metamorphoses) of insects (Insecta, Myriapoda, Arachnida, and Crustacea) : being an adaptation, for English readers, of M. Émile Blanchard's "Metamorphoses, moeurs et instincts des insects;" and a compilation from the works of Newport, Charles Darwin, Spence Bate, Fritz Müller, Packard, Lubbock, Stainton, and others
Year: 1870 (1870s)
Authors: Duncan, P. Martin (Peter Martin), 1821-1891 Blanchard, Emile, 1819-1900. Metamorphoses, moeurs et instincts des insects Conger, Paul S., former owner. DSI Abbott, Charles C., former owner. DSI
Subjects: Insects Insects Myriapoda Arachnida Crustacea
Publisher: Philadelphia : Claxton, Remsen, and Haffelfinger
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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ll, by bringing the abdomen against the underneath part of thethorax. This is quite a peculiarity amongst these Hyjnenoptera;moreover, they differ from others by having a cylindrical body,the abdomen being concave below, and very convex above, andattached to the thorax by a very short waist. The rings of theabdomen appear to shut up more or less within each other, likea telescope slide. The females carry a very sharp sting, whichgives great pain. These insects have filiform antennae, long man-dibles ; the jaws have palpi, formed of five joints ; and the lowerlip projects, and is membranous, so that they can suck. Thewings are moderately veined, and the legs are slender. Theseinsects exhibit a wonderful amount of activity under a broilingsun, and then they are never still, but are constantly flying hereand there, and resting a while upon the flowers. In some spotsof central Europe—where these insects are much more commonthan in the north — they collect in numbers, and afford a mag-
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CIIRYSIDin.^. Chrysis igiiita, Stilhiiiu caleiis, Parnopes caniea, whose cocoon is to be seen enclosed in the larva of a Boinbyx. THE CHRYSIDIDA^. 195 nificent spectacle, and they resemble fiery pearls rushing to andfro. They have no industrial habits, and do not lay eggs withinother insects. Their larviif, however, only live upon living prey,and the instinct of the female leads her to lay her eggs wherethe future offspring will be protected against danger. She hasno hesitation about laying them in the nests of the otherHymcnopteva, and especially where there is some provision beinglaid up for the larvK. She does not care for the solitary bee ora Bcmbex, for she has a terrible sting and a hard cuirass, w^iichis not to be pierced by ordinary insect weapons. The female introduces herself into the nest of the bee, forinstance, and rolls herself up if attacked, and then, being victorious,lays her eggs on the food which has been stored up. The littleparasites are hatched, and live upon thi

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