THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 11 



NOTES ON MELOE ANGUSTICOLLIS. 



BY W. BRODIE, TORONTO, ONT. " 



In the Editor's " Notes on Cantharides," published in the December 

 No. of the Entomologist, there are some particulars in reference to 

 Meloe angiisticollis which differ somewhat from my own observations on 

 this species, extending over a period of seven years. According to my 

 experience, Meloes make their appearance in the perfect state about the 

 end of August or beginning of September, when they feed greedily on 

 Rmiunculus acris. Later in the season, when the abdomens of the females 

 are much enlarged, they, pair, and later still — sometimes after the first 

 frost — they deposit their eggs and invariably die that season. 



The larv» emerge from the eggs early the following spring, and I think 

 attach themselves to bees generally on the blossoms of the willow. I 

 presume this because I often find females about to oviposit near to willow 

 bushes, but I have detected the young larvae in the flowers of Caltha 

 pahistris, and suppose they will take to any early flowering plant. 



In confirmation of these statements I submit the following from my 

 notes on Me/oc in the vicinity of Toronto, dating from 1870. 



Although Meloc is common here, I have never found them much further 

 to the north, and as I am pretty well acquainted with all parts of the 

 county, I would say they are riot found in the central nor in the northern 

 portions of the County of York. This is curious, as in the better wooded 

 sections the storing Hymenoptera are more numerous than about 

 Toronto. 



1870 — Aug. 30th. In early morning saw several Meloes descending a 

 white oak tree, in St. James' Cemetery, which tree was afterwards blown 

 down and proved to be a bee tree. This would indicate that Meloe pupates 

 in the hive, and when perfect, deserts it during the night. 



1 87 1, Meloes first seen Aug. loth. 



1872 — Aug. 20th. Meloes feeding on R. acris. ^ 



1873 — Aug. -Oct. Meloes very numerous, feeding on R. acris ; found 

 many females ovipositing in a cold, wet situation, after first fall frost. 



1874 — Aug. 29th. Found about forty Meloes closely huddled in a 

 ball ; they were not fighting, and although both sex^ were present, do 



