live, in their perfect state, on flowers; some of them subsisting on honey and the juices of fruits, while others are carnivorous. The larvæ are very diversified both in their habits and structure.
These insects are very numerous and widely distributed. In amount of species they are probably next to the Coleoptera and Diptera; and as the societies many of them form are exceedingly populous, the number of individuals must be very great. Considerably above 2000 have been described as British, but as many of the parasitical kinds are very minute, it is likely that no small number remain undetected.
Latreille divides the order into two great sections. I. Terebrantia, in which the females are provided with a saw-like ovipositor. This he divides into two subsections:—1st, Securifera; having the abdomen sessile and provided with a saw; larvæ with feet. Fam. Tenthredinidæ, Siricidæ, 2d, Pupivora; abdomen pedunculated and provided with a borer; larvæ without feet. Fam. Evaniidæ, Ichneumonidæ, Cynipidæ, Chalcididæ, Proctotrupidæ, Chrysididæ. Section II. Aculeata; abdomen of the females armed with a sting. This includes four subsections. 1st, Heterogyna; females or neuters wingless. Fam. Formicidæ, Mutillidæ. 2d, Fossores; females winged, wings not folded, basal joint of posterior tarsi simple. Fam. Sphegidæ, &c. &c. 3d, Diploptera; females and neuters winged, wings folded. Fam. Vespidæ, &c. 4th, Mellifera; females and neuters winged, wings not folded, posterior tarsi
