THE CLERID^. 



313 



marked colours, disposed in transverse bands. Their integuments 

 are moderately strong, but they are not quite so flexible as 

 those of the glowworms. The adults are very fond of flowers, 

 and run about the trunks of trees. The larv^ are elongated, 

 have small legs, and two projections at the end of the last 



THE METAMORPHOSES OF Tnchodes alvearius. 



segment of the abdomen. In this stage of their existence they 

 are very carnivorous. One species of the family Trichodcs alvearius 

 has very curious habits. The females get into the nests of bees, 

 and lay their eggs there. The larvae, as soon as they are able, 

 begin to eat the larvae of the bees, and very likely they enjoy 

 some of the comb also. The beetle has bluish black elytra, marked 

 with three red bands, and may be noticed to enter the nests of 



