252 TRANSFORMATIONS OF INSECTS. 



arc parasites of species of Osniia, and others of AnthopJiora ; and 

 these different insects have great resemblances to the kinds they 

 rob. But there are certain pecuHarities of structure which dis- 

 tinguish all the parasites, for they invariably have simple hind 

 legs and no masses of hair which enable them to collect pollen 

 readily, for they are not destined to work, and therefore they 

 are not supplied with the necessary implements. Their jaws and 

 lip are very short, and they have no necessity to gorge themselves 

 with honey, for they will never have to supply their young with 

 it. The true NanadhicB are slender-shaped Hymenoptera, are 

 almost smooth, and resemble little wasps on account of their 

 black and brown colours variegated with yellow. One species 

 {Prosopis signatd) introduces its eggs into the nests of other solitary 

 bees ; and the Mclcctidcu, v/hich are called Cuckoo Bees, and which 

 have a large body not unlike that of the AnthopJioray are the 

 parasites of these last-mentioned insects. 



Everybody knows the Humble Bees, the large velvety Hy- 

 ineiioptcray that hum about the garden and make so much noise 

 when they are caught in a room. They form colonies or societies, 

 which commence, enlarge, and end like those of the wasps. A 

 fertile female takes upon herself the duties of a worker early in 

 the spring, after having passed a long hybernation, and lays the 

 foundation of the future swarm. She soon finds herself sur- 

 rounded by workers, which enlarge the nest. Thus one humble 

 bee {Bovibus imiscorimi) builds nests which are not very easily 

 found, for the female establishes them in little cavities in the 

 middle of fields, and takes care that they are in the immediate 

 neighbourhood of plenty of flowering herbs. Mowers often cut 

 into these nests, and if they are examined they will be found to 

 be composed of a vaulted roof formed of pieces of moss cleverly 

 entangled and fastened together. The opening of the nest, 

 however, is from below. If the covering of moss be removed, a 

 second will be noticed, but it is formed of a thick layer of greyish- 

 yellow wax. The moss, although collected in considerable 

 quantities, would permit water to enter into the nest during 

 heavy rains, but the lower roof of wax keeps everything beneath 

 it water-tight. After having removed the waxy covering, the 

 interior of the nest comes into view, and a mass of little round 



