File:The transformations (or metamorphoses) of insects (Insecta, Myriapoda, Arachnida, and Crustacea.) Being an adaptation, for English readers, of M. Émile Blanchard's "Metamorphoses, murs et instincts (14761560611).jpg

Identifier: transformationso00dunc (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, murs et instincts des insects (!)," and a compilation from the works of Newport, Charles Darwin, and others
Year: 1882 (1880s)
Authors: Duncan, P. Martin (Peter Martin), 1821-1891 Blanchard, Emile, 1819-1900
Subjects: Metamorphosis of insects
Publisher: London, Paris, New York : Cassell, Petter & Galpin
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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aball, by bringing the abdomen against the underneath part of thethorax. This is quite a peculiarity amongst these Hyjucnoptcra;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 aftbrd a mag-
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CHRYSIDID/E. Chrysis ignita, Stilbiim calciis, Pantopes carnea, whose cocoon is to be seen enclosed in the larva of a Bonibyx. THE CHRYSIDID^.. I95 nificent spectacle, and they resemble fiery pearls rushing to andfro. They have no industrial habits, and do not lay eggs withinother insects. Their larvee, 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 otherHymenoptcra, and especially where there is some provision beinglaid up for the larvae. She does not care for the solitary bee ora Bembex, for she has a terrible sting and a hard cuirass, whichis 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 this fo

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