Part 19

This Hymenopteron much resembles Bembex rostrata in size, shape, and arrangement of the black and yellow colouring, but differs markedly in the following characteristics:—The clypeus makes a triangle of three sides, while in other Bembecids it is rounded and convex. Also at the base is a large zig-zag band, formed by two rectangular marks joined together and softened by a silvery down, very brilliant under certain lights. The upper surface of the anal segment bristles with papillæ and reddish hairs—likewise the further edge of the fifth segment. The mandibles are only black at the tips, while in Bembex rostrata the base is also black. Their habits are equally unlike; B. rostrata especially hunts gadflies, while B. julii never catches large Diptera, but takes smaller kinds of very varying size. It is frequent in the sandy land of the Angles, round Avignon, and on the hill of Orange.

Ammophila julii, H. Fab.

Length—from 16–22 millimetres. Stalk of abdomen composed of the first segment and half the second; third cubital narrowed towards the radial; head—black, with silvery down on the face; antennæ—black; thorax—black, with transverse stripes on its three segments, darker on prothorax and mesothorax. Two marks on the sides and one behind either side of the metathorax, covered with silvery down; abdomen bare, shining. First segment—black; second—red in the part narrowing to the petiole and in the widened part; third segment all red; the rest of a beautiful metallic blue. Legs—black, with silvery down on the coxæ; wings slightly reddish. Builds in October, and lays up two smallish caterpillars in each cell. Nearly related to A. holosericea, having the same shape, but differing markedly in the colour of the legs, which are all black, by the much less downy head and thorax, and by the transverse stripes on the three segments of the thorax.

I wish these three Hymenoptera to bear the name of my son Jules, to whom I dedicate them.

Dear child! snatched so early from thy passionate love of flowers and insects! Thou wert my fellow-worker; nothing escaped thy clear-sighted glance; it was for thee that I was to write this book—for thee, to whom its recital gave such delight, and thou wert one day to have continued it. Alas! thou didst leave us for a better home, having heard but the first few lines of the book. But at least let thy name appear in it—borne by some of these industrious and beauteous Hymenoptera so dear to thee!

J. H. F.

Orange, 3rd April 1879.

THE END

NOTES

Souvenirs Entomologiques (Ch. Delagrave, 15 Rue Soufflot, Paris), of which there are now seven series, this volume being a translation of the first.

The Scarabæus is also called Ateuchus.

G. pilularius is a scavenger beetle nearly related to the Scarabæus. As its name suggests, it too rolls balls of dung. It is found very generally, even in the north, whereas S. sacer scarcely leaves the shores of the Mediterranean.

Fabre subsequently completed the whole life-history and published it in the fifth series of his Souvenirs (1897).

The beetles dug up belonged to the following species:—Buprestis octoguttata, B. bifasciata, B. pruni, B. tarda, B. biguttata, B. micans, B. flavomaculata, B. chrysostigma, B. novem-maculata.

In a later essay, Fragments on Psychology, M. Fabre withdraws these strictures on (Erasmus) Darwin, explaining that they are based on a misquotation by Lacordaire, who writes “Sphex” where Darwin had said “wasp.”