18P1.1 



41 



Proctotnipes ?. — several specimens that may belong to this or an allied genus. 

 They are very much at the service of any specialist. One in nest of V. vulgaris, 

 October, 1889, and several from this and V. germanica, April, 1890, Colwyn Bay 

 and Cheshire. 



DIPTERA. 



Cyrtoneura stahdans. Fall. — abundant in nests of V. germanica, August to 

 April, Colwyn Bay, and Ince, Cheshire, 1889—90. 



Homalomyia canicularis, L. — abundant in nests of V. germanica, 'very sparingly 

 in nests of V. vulgaris, August to April, Colwyn Bay, and Inco, Cheshire, 1889 — 90. 

 H. vesparea, Meade, n. sp. — I found the larvsie of this in the same nest as I did those 

 of A. inanis. Not knowing at the time that it was new to science, I made no de- 

 scription of it. These only produced two perfect insects on the 26th of July, 1890. 

 Mr. Meade says, " The species cccupies an intermediate position between Horn, 

 scalaris, F., and Horn, coracina, Lw." One specimen is in the collection here, the 

 other in Mr. Meade's. 



Phora rufipes, Meigen. — occurred in every nest examined, August and Septem- 

 ber, Colwyn Bay and Cheshire. 



Acanihiptera inanis. Fall. — larvae swarmed in single nest of V. germanica, Oc- 

 tober 10th, 1889 J imagines hatched July, 1890 ; Ince, Cheshire. 



Volucella homhylans, L., var. plumosa. — larvje most abundant in nests of V. 

 germanica, Colwyn Bay and Cheshire, August to October. 



I also found several specimens of Lepidopiera too worn for identification. At 

 least three species of Bipteva deposit their ova on the outer covering of the nest. 

 I have found them on very many nests, but I am unable to say which of the species 

 deposit them there. 



Does it not appear very strange that such soft bodied insects as 

 the Dipt era dare venture into a viasp's nest without being protectively- 

 coloured ? One can easily see that any insect conferring a benefit 

 upon the wasps, by ridding their nests of dead larvae, would be wel- 

 comed into their strongholds as friends and helpers. But when we 

 find at least four species of the Diptera parasitic on the Vespidce 

 apparently without any protection whatever, one feels much puzzled, 

 especially when we know for a fact that the Vespidce feed upon the 

 Diptera, and upon species too that are allied to Anihomyia. All the 

 Diptera are diurnal^and therefore must of necessity enter the nests 

 in the daytime in order to deposit their ova. 



Except a few CoccineUa Tl-punctata found hibernating in an old 

 nest of V. hritannica, I have not taken any parasites from the nests of 

 this species. I have not taken nests of V. sylvestris or V. rufa. 



My best thanks are due to the following for their valuable help 



in determining the species: — Messrs. J. B. Bridgman, E. Bostock, 



E. H. Meade, Edwd. Saunders, and Eev. W. W. Fowler. 



Grosvenor Museum, Chester : 



December hth, 1890. 



t I think are mere intruders in search of food. Certainly not parasites. 



^ Accidental visitor. 



The other species seem to be true inhabitants, if not parasites. 



