Dru Drury

XYLOCOPA VIRGINICA.

Plate XLIII. fig. 1.

Order: Hymenoptera. Section: Mellifera. Family: ApidÆ, Leach.

Genus. Xylocopa, Fabr. Apis, Linn. Drury.

Xylocopa Virginica. Hirsuta pallida; abdomine, excepto primo segmento, atro. (Magn. Bomb. terrestr.)

Syn. Apis Virginica, Linn. Mant. p. 540. Fabr. Syst. Piez. 346. 14. (Bombus v.) Ent. Syst. 2. 318. 15.

Habitat: Virginia.

Head, between the eyes, black, with a cream-coloured spot in front, just above the mouth. AntennÆ black, and shorter than the thorax, which is covered at top with hairs of a pale yellowish colour. All the four wings are membranaceous and transparent. Abdomen composed of six rings, entirely black, except the first, which is pale yellow above, but black underneath. The breast and legs are black and hairy, the hairs on the fore legs being rather dark brown. The under parts of all the tarsi are light brown.

TESSERATOMA PAPILLOSA.

Plate XLIII. fig. 2.

Order: Hemiptera. Suborder: Heteroptera. Section: Geocorisa. Family: Scutati, Burmeister. (Longilabres, Latr.)

Genus. Tesseratoma, St. Farg. & Serv. in Enc. MÉth. Latr. Lap. Burm.

Tesseratoma Papillosa. Lutea, thoracis lateribus subrotundatis, antennis fuscis basi subferrugineis, abdomine supra purpureo-ferruginoso subtus luteo. (Long. Corp. 1 unc.)

Syn. Cimex Papillosus, Drury, App. vol. 2. (nec Fabr. Burmeist. Saint. Farg. & Serv. &c.)

Tesseratoma Sonneratii. St. Farg. & Serv. Enc. MÉth. 10. 590. GuÉrin Icon. R. An. Ins. pl. 55. f. 4.

Cimex Chinensis, Thunb. Nov. Ins.. 45. t. 11. f. 59. Laporte Class. Hemipt. p. 60.

Cimex papillosus? Donovan Ins. India, pl. 13. fig. 2.

Habitat: China (Drury).

Head small, yellowish olive-coloured. AntennÆ black. Thorax yellow olive, lying high above the level of the head, and projecting at the ligature of the wings. Scutellum triangular, terminating in a point near the middle of the abdomen; the basal part lying underneath the thorax. Hemelytra crossing each other when at rest; with the basal portion opake, and yellow olive-coloured; the apical membrane being almost transparent. Wings entirely membranaceous, and yellow brown. Abdomen above, dark red, but underneath clay-coloured; furnished with a sharp tooth at each of its segments. Anus terminating in two angular points, with a small spine on each side. Breast pale clay colour; having a black spot directly under the fore legs, and another on each side the middle ones. Legs brown yellow colour. Proboscis brown.

This very common Chinese insect has been confounded by Fabricius, &c. with an African species (Tesseratoma confusa Westw.) and by Saint Fargeau and Serville, with another from Java (Tesseratoma Javana, Klug. Burm. 2. 350. figured by Stoll. t. 1. fig. 2.) As, however, Drury's specific name, as applied to the Chinese species, has the priority in point of date, I have here reverted to it, and would apply a new specific name to the species from Sierra Leone. The Fabrician species belongs to a different section of the genus having the terminal joint of the antennÆ elongated. The only specimens which I have seen of it are those contained in the Banksian Collection in the possession of the LinnÆan Society of London. Wolff figures the Chinese species. I have little doubt that Donovan's figure is intended to represent the true papillosus, although it is given as an inhabitant of India.

LEPTOSCELIS BALTEATUS.

Plate XLIII. fig. 3.

Order: Hemiptera. Suborder: Heteroptera. Section: Geocorisa, Latr. Family: CoreidÆ, Leach. (Anisoscelites, Laporte.)

Genus. Leptoscelis, Laporte. Anisoscelis p. Burm. LygÆus p. Fabr.

Leptoscelis Balteatus. Thorace subspinoso; ferrugineus, elytris line transvers flavÂ, femoribus posticis gracilibus spinulosis. (Long. Corp. 6½ lin.)

Syn. Cimex balteatus, Linn. Mant. 534. Fabr. Ent. Syst. 4. 142. 27. Syst. Rh. 213. 39. (LygÆus b.)

Habitat: Jamaica.

Head small and slender, red brown, striped with black. Eyes projecting. AntennÆ dark brown, or russet colour, and almost the length of the insect. Thorax red brown, with two small yellow spots in front; lying above the level of the head, and terminating at the side in right angles. Scutellum small and angular. Hemelytra coriaceous half way down, and with the basal portion brown red; the apical membrane opake and dark brown; having a yellow bar crossing them near the middle. Wings transparent. Abdomen, above, yellow, and edged with dark brown, the sides being entire; underneath, entirely dark clay-coloured. Proboscis extending to the abdomen along the breast, and lying between the legs.

CENTRIS SURINAMENSIS.

Plate XLIII. fig. 4.

Order: Hymenoptera. Section: Mellifera. Family: ApidÆ, Leach.

Genus. Centris, Fabr. Apis, Drury.

Centris Surinamensis. Hirsuta nigra; abdomine, excepto primo segmento, flavo. (Mag. Xylocop. virginic minor.)

Syn. Apis Surinamensis, Linn. Syst. Nat. 1. 2. 961. 52. Fabr. Ent. Syst. 2. 318. 14. Syst. Piez. 355. 3. (Centris S.)

Habitat: Surinam.

Head black. AntennÆ black. Tongue very long, extending to the middle of the abdomen. Thorax black and hairy. Wings transparent. Abdomen deep yellow, except the basal segment which is black. Breast and legs black, and covered with short hairs like pile. Hind legs very broad and thin, resembling scales; and at the tip of the tibiÆ furnished with two sharp spurs; intermediate tibiÆ also with two shorter spurs.

OPHION MACRURUM.

Plate XLIII. fig. 5.

Order: Hymenoptera. Section: Pupivora. Family: IchneumonidÆ, Leach.

Genus. Ophion, Fabr. Ichneumon, Drury.

Ophion Macrurum. Fusco-luteum; alis hyalinis, abdomine thorace triplo longiori ensato. (Long. Corp. 1 unc. 3 lin.)

Syn. Ichneumon Macrurus, Linn. Mant. p. 540. Drury, Append, vol. 2.

Habitat: New York.

This insect very closely resembles the common English species Ichneumon luteus, Linn. It is, however, considerably larger.

After describing this insect our author took occasion to enter into the natural history of the family to which it belongs, namely, the IchneumonidÆ, so named from the LinnÆan genus Ichneumon, which last he says, "appears to be taken from its nature and way of life." He then proceeds as follows:—

"It is generally known that butterflies are produced from caterpillars, and that these caterpillars put on different forms before they arrive to that of the butterfly; but few persons know, who have not engaged in this study, that the bodies of these caterpillars are receptacles or habitations for lesser insects, that live and grow within them during a certain time; where they are nourished and fed by the juices of their bowels, till they arrive to a mature age; when, by the appointment of nature, they kill their fosterers, being totally unable to live on any other kind of food but what the intestines of these animals supply them with. The uses and advantages accruing to mankind by the institution of such a genus of insects, together with their natural history, are the subject of the following lines.

"If we examine the glorious works of the creation, and reflect on the paternal care and wisdom of the Almighty, displayed in the preservation and increase of all ranks and kinds of animals; that even the most direful and noxious, have such a proportion in the scale of life, as is most agreeable to the ends of His divine providence; that the limits He hath prescribed to each, extend so far and no farther; and that each species shall multiply in such abundance or scarcity, as are best adapted to preserve, by a just equilibrium, the harmony of the universe: When, I say, we behold this, the mind can scarcely forbear crying out, under a rapturous sense of conviction, "every thing is good." It is to this end we see the strong are permitted to prey on the weak; and that the number of the latter increase in a proportion sufficient to supply the wants of the former; it is to this end we see some feed on herbs and plants, some on fruits and seeds, and some on flesh; each being furnished with appetites and powers, suited to their respective ways of life: and it is to this end, we see those of the most minute kinds, abounding in a degree far beyond those of the first magnitude. The knowledge of the insect kingdom illustrates this observation beyond all possibility of doubt; and the number that may be bred from a single pair, in many species, would exceed all credibility, if it was not to be proved by any person who would take the trouble. The wonderful increase that only two summers would be capable of producing among many of them, if each egg was to yield its respective insect, is amazing. The world itself, in a few years, would be incapable of affording plants sufficient for the nourishment of one single species.^[29]

"Hence will appear the 'loving kindness' of the Almighty, in setting such bounds, and keeping them within such limits as best answers the purpose for which He created them; and hence appears the necessity of their becoming food to other animals. Birds, fishes, and the smaller kinds of beasts, are at eternal war with them; but as all these would be insufficient of themselves to restrain and prevent them from multiplying too fast, other kinds of beings are instituted for this end, whose existence depends on their destruction. Of these, the species of insect I am describing, is the most singular, of which (genus) there are several sorts, differing greatly in size and shape. Some are furnished with three setÆ or bristles at the extremity of their bodies, the middle one being a hollow tube, secured or fenced by the outer ones, through which they eject their eggs, after they have penetrated the body of the caterpillar they settle on. Some appear to have no bristles, others have them bent close under their bodies, and are not to be seen, unless closely examined. As their whole business appears to be the destroying the caterpillars of the butterfly and moth tribes, they are indefatigable in the pursuit of them; but as this is confined to the pregnant females, they are observed ranging about continually in search of the proper subjects to lay their eggs on; flying on every bush, and running with unwearied diligence on every twig, till they have arrived to the place where the scent of the caterpillar soon furnishes them with the certainty of its being there. Having thus discovered the animal it was in quest of, the Ichneumon immediately settles on it, with an intent to discharge its eggs; but the caterpillar being sensible, from a natural instinct, of its enemy's assault, bends its head backwards to the place where it feels itself attacked, and endeavours by various means, either by striking its head violently against the part, falling to the ground, or by some sudden contortion, to disengage itself: but this seldom happens, unless the Ichneumon is feeble, and unable to withstand the shocks of the caterpillar; in which case they will frequently relinquish their attack, and seek out some other subject, whose resistance they are more capable of encountering. On the other hand, if the Ichneumon is strong enough to withstand the efforts of the caterpillar, it either lays its eggs on the outside of the skin, as is the nature of some to do, or else perforates the body with the bristle before described, and immediately discharges an egg. Some of these Ichneumons quit the caterpillar upon the emission of an egg, but others continue thereon till they have emitted them all; which sometimes is more than an hundred. It is necessary to observe, that many caterpillars of moths and butterflies (the former more especially) are infested by a particular species of these Ichneumons, that confine themselves entirely to them alone, and never, that we know of, attack any other. Thus that of the Privet Hawk or Sphinx Ligustri of LinnÆus, that of the Elephant Hawk or Sphinx Elpenor of the same author, &c. are always found to yield particular kinds of Ichneumons. Others, indeed, attack any kind of caterpillar belonging to the farinaceous-winged tribe; and, as I observed above, if not too powerful and strong for them, will there deposit their eggs.

"If the egg is laid on the body of the caterpillar, and not within it, a few days, by the warmth of the sun, ripens it to maturity; and then the young destroyer, directed by nature, eats its passage through the under-side of the egg, and passes into the body of the caterpillar, but if the egg is discharged into its body, it there ripens, unseen, to maturity. In either case, it lives on the substance or juices of its intestines; thriving and increasing in bulk, in a proportion equal to the creature it is doomed to kill. The caterpillar, also, notwithstanding its having thus received the means of a slow but certain death, increases in size, and, to outward appearance, in health; arriving to the period when it is to undergo its metamorphosis, and become a Chrysalis, in as much strength and vigour as any other of the species: but when the time arrives for its enlargement into its complete state, and to become a moth or butterfly, the Ichneumon makes its appearance; having arrived to its time of completion within the body of its supporter, and exhausted its juices by the nourishment drawn from it, leaving behind it a dry empty shell, in the form of a chrysalis.

"In this manner many of these Ichneumons exist. Others, when arrived to maturity, having lived within the bodies of the caterpillars, as described, eat their way out through its sides, and, crawling to a small distance, form round themselves cases of a substance like silk; wherein, having lain a few days, they quit their prisons in the shape of very small flies, some having two wings, others four."—Vide Goedartius, Albin, Wilks, Harris, &c.

POLISTES ANNULARIS.

Plate XLIII. fig. 6.

POLISTES SQUAMOSA.

Plate XLIII. fig. 7.

POLYDESMUS (FONTARIA) VIRGINIENSIS.

Plate XLIII. fig. 8.