of the Oil Beetle, Meloe. SFl 



of the Meloes I have examined, although I am equally satisfied that they are 

 the larvse of some genus of the same family*. The larvae I have reared from 

 the eggs of Meloe violaceus, M. proscarabceus and M. cicatricosus have always 

 so exactly resembled each other in their yellow colour and in form, that I 

 have been unable to distinguish them, excepting by a slight difference in size. 

 The larvae of M. cicatricosus are a little larger than those of the other species. 

 I may also state, that these larvae always retain their yellow colour, and only 

 become a little darker after they have been several days from the egg. These 

 facts seem to identify the true larvae of Meloe with the yellow hexapods taken 

 on dipterous and hymenopterous insects. DeGeerf found them on a spe- 

 cimen of Musca intricaria, L., and on comparing those which he had reared 

 from the egg with those taken on the fly, he could perceive no difference 

 between them. Reaumur also captured one on the body of an Apiform 

 Musca, which he has figured and described;}:, and which agrees precisely in 

 every respect with the young Meloe ; and Mr. Kirby § remarks that these hexa- 

 pods are not uncommon upon the bodies of the Andrenidoe, that he has found 

 fourteen or fifteen upon the same individual, and that he has also met with 

 them on the genuine Apidce. I have fully satisfied myself of the correctness 

 of this statement by experiment with specimens reared in 1836. 1 placed a 

 female Eucera longicornis in a small phial with a brood of these larvae, and it 

 was instantly attacked by them. This identical specimen, preserved in spirit, 

 with the larvae attached to it, I have now the pleasure of exhibiting to the 

 Society. It is astonishing to observe with what celerity they attach them- 

 selves to their victim the instant any part of its body is within reach ; and 

 with what tenacity they adhere to it, seizing it by the leg, the wing, or the 



also (Mdmoires pour serv. k I'Hist. nat. des Abeilles solitaires qui composent le genre Halicte, Paris, 

 1817, pp. 85-87) describes a specimen of a yellow colour found on Halictus Elephas ; and he remarks, 

 that it differs from that of Mr. Kirby in having the exterior of the caudal setae on each side longer than 

 the interior, in which respect his species seems to differ also from the larvse oiM. violaceus and M. pro- 

 scarabceus. 



• The larva of Cantharis vesicatoria, is described by M. Zier as very like that oi Meloe. He says that 

 it is of a yellow colour when it leaves the egg, but soon afterwards changes to deep black. Perhaps the 

 larvae described by Mr. Kirby, and that found by myself on Osmia, may be more nearly allied to this 

 insect. 



t Loc. cit. t M6moires, tomeiv. Mem. ii. p. 490. tab. -31. fig. 17. § Loc. cit. p. 168. 



