Larvae of Membracis. 



485 



paler, the antennae longer, the thorax stronger, its anterior and lateral margins 

 and two longitudinal streaks rufo fuscous, the anterior wings provided with a 

 completely closed cubital cell, the legs larger and more robust, especially the 

 anterior and middle tibiae much thicker, the outside of the posterior tibiae slightly 

 convex and pubescent nearly as far as the apex, the apex of the posterior tibiae 

 bordered with partly feather-like hairs 1 ). 



The nests of T. cagafogo, like those of many other species, are built in hollow 

 trees. One of two nests which my brother had the opportunity of observing was 

 found in a tree cut down a long time before; but its combs, lying in confusion, 

 probably in consequence of the direction of the trunk having been altered by 

 felling the tree, showed that the nest had probably been built before the tree was 

 felled. In this nest, the inhabitants of which partly perished by having been plas- 

 tered over with the honey which flowed from the damaged honey-pots during the 

 transport, partly, as is to be supposed, flew away afterwards; besides a great 

 number of workers and a small number of males, only a single queen was found, 

 viz. that illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. The honey-pots, of the size of large hazel- 

 nuts, were closely aggregrated together. The honey was of a very viscous consi- 

 stence, partly as clear as water, partly lighter or darker yellow ; its flavour appeared 

 to my brother insipid, pituitous, and somewhat disagreeable (the latter perhaps, as 

 he supposes himself, because he was conscious of the cagafogos feeding upon 

 carrion). The brood-combs, as with other Trigonas, were simple layers of hexagonal 

 upright cells. The wax, of which both the honey-pots and the brood-combs were 

 built, was nearly of a pure white colour, but it was mixed with such an enoumous 

 quantity of heterogeneous ingredients (perhaps go per cent.) that the building 

 appeared of a dirty brown or blackish colour. 



Another nest, found by my brother in a trunk of Canella pimenta, about 

 five meters above the ground, was brought safety home after cutting down the 

 tree; but a week afterwards all the inhabitants had flown away. 



The most striking feature in the natural history of this stingless bee is its 

 fondness for oily matters, and its singular means of defence, connected with a 

 great irritability. As i have already stated (vol. viii. p. 201) it feeds upon carrion; 

 and is also fond of old stinking cheese. When visiting flowers, it seems to be 

 also guided by its particular taste ; it visits in swarms the flowers of a bean with 

 glandular calyx ; also a white-flowered Abutilon and Sicyos angulata, the flowers 

 of which are glandular and secrete an oil. It was also observed fertilising the 

 flowers of Asclepias curassavica, milking the larvae of Membracis, repeatedly 

 sucking the juice flowing out of trees, and devouring the sugar spread to be dried. 

 Its singular means of defence are indicated by the vernacular name Cagafogo 

 (spit-fire), for although stingless, like all other Trigonas and Meliponas, it possesses 

 a very intense venom, which causes a most lively irritation in the skin. Whilst 

 the defenceless species are for the most part very peaceable, the Cagafogos, on 

 the contrary, are so irritable that the observation of their nests proves impossible, 

 unless cold weather or strong breezes from the land keep them quiet. 



i) A more full and detailed description of this and some other new species will be given in a 

 separate treatise on Trigona and Melipona, to be published by my brother and myself. 



