Plate XL. fig. 4.
ORDER: Hymenoptera. SECTION: Pupivora. FAMILY: Evaniidæ?
GENUS. PELECINUS, _Fabr. Latr._ Ichneumon, _Drury_.
PELECINUS POLITURATOR. Niger, antennis annulo medio albo, tibiis posticis
sericeo-dilatatis. (Long. Corp. 2 unc. 6 lin.)
SYN. Ichneumon Polyturator (errore pro politurator), _Drury, App. vol._
2.
Pelecinus Polycerator, _Fabr. Syst. Piez._ 111. 1. _Say American
Entomology, vol._ 1. _pl._ XV.
HABITAT: Jamaica (_Drury_). "Not uncommon in various parts of the United
States" (_Say_). India (_Fabricius_, incorrectly).
Head small and black. Eyes oblong and dark brown. Antennæ black and
filiform, having two yellow spots on them near their extremities. Ocelli
distinct. Mouth with two jaws, but no tongue, and furnished with four
palpi, two of which are long, slender, and filiform; the others are very
short. Thorax black like pitch, and shining, as if finely polished; as is
every part of the insect. Abdomen exceeding long and black, consisting of
six articulations; the last being very short and pointed. Legs small and
black; the hinder tibiæ being remarkably thick and strong in proportion
to the other parts.
The late lamented Mr. Say, who may justly be regarded as the Linnæus of
America, says of this truly singular insect, that its flight is slow and
awkward, and when taken it endeavours to force the point of the abdomen
through the skin of the hand, but its strength is not adequate to the task.
The whole abdomen resembles a much elongated pedicle, from which the
abdomen itself, or dilated portion, has been accidentally removed.