of the Oil Beetle, Meloé. | 311 
of the Meloés I have examined, although I am equally satisfied-that they ave 
the larvae of some genus of the same family*. The larvae I have reared from 
the eggs of Meloé violaceus, M. proscarabeus 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 larva 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 larvze of Meloé with the yellow hexapods taken 
on dipterous and hymenopterous insects. DeGeerT 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 Meloé; and Mr. Kirby $ remarks that these hexa- 
pods are not uncommon upon the bodies of the Andrenide, that he has found 
fourteen or fifteen upon the same individual, and that he has also met with 
them on the genuine Apide. I have fully satisfied myself of the correctness 
of this statement by experiment with specimens reared in 1836. I 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 (Mémoires pour serv. à l'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 sete on each side longer than 
the interior, in which respect his species seems to differ also from the larvee of M. violaceus and M. pro- 
scarabeus. 
* The larva of Cantharis vesicatoria is described by M. Zier as very like that of Meloz. He says that 
it is of a yellow colour when it leaves the egg, but soon afterwards changes to deep black. Perhaps the 
Me described by Mr. Kirby, and that found by myself on Osmia, may be more nearly allied to this 
insect. 
T Loc.cit. i Mémoires, tomeiv. Mém. ii. p. 490. tab. 31. fig. 17. $ Loc. cit. p. 168 
