Family 13, Sapygidæ.—This is a small family containing only a single genus, with very few species.
The species of Sapyga occur in Europe and North America. They are supposed to be parasitic in the nests of bees, but the females of the common European species (Sapyga pacca) have been observed carrying small caterpillars, from which Mr. Smith (the great authority on Hymenoptera) justly infers that they are parasitic only to the extent of usurping the burrows made in sandbanks and dead wood by more industrious insects, their own structure not adapting them for the labour of digging.
Family 14, Scoliidæ.—Although this family is abundant in warm climates, we have only two small species belonging to the genus Tiphia in Britain.
They are black, with more or less reddish legs, and measure from a quarter to half an inch in length. In south Europe we meet with several large and handsome species, one of which, Scolia hortorum, is black with two yellow bands on the abdomen.
Fig. 23.—Scolia Hortorum.
Family 15, Thymidæ.—The insects of this family are almost exclusively confined to Australia and South America, where they are very numerous. They are generally of a black colour, with more or less extended yellow markings. They are very stout insects; in fact, their bloated bodies give them very little resemblance to any other insects, except perhaps to the Oil Beetles. Very little has hitherto been ascertained respecting their habits, but they are believed to be parasitic.
Fig. 24.—Mutilla Maura (Male).
Family 16, Mutillidæ.—This family includes a large number of species, probably 1,500, but from the differences presented by the males and females, entomologists have found it difficult to arrive at any certainty upon this point. The species are spread over all the earth, but are particularly abundant in warm climates, where also, as usual, they attain the largest size and the most beautiful colouring.