190 [February, 



NOTES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF VOLUCELLA BOMBYLANS, 

 PAEASITICAL IN THE NESTS OF CAEDER-BEES ; WITH OBSER- 

 VATIONS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TUBULAR HEAD 

 APPENDAGES OF ITS PUPA * 



BT ELEANOR A. OEMEEOD. 



About the 20tli of July in last year (1872), a few Carder-bees' 

 nests were brought me, whicb I placed aside for observation. In one 

 case the moss was much disturbed, and the bees, as if fearful of 

 attack, almost immediately formed a partial inner roof ; but, some 

 enemy, soon after, scratching the nests to pieces, I was only able to 

 continue the observations, as far as the bees were concerned, for a 

 few days. 



Amongst the fragments of the nests, I noticed on July 27th a 

 number of larvs9 of a Volucella ; these appeared exceedingly sensitive 

 to observation, disappearing with the greatest rapidity into the moss 

 and fragments when disturbed, and varying a good deal in their 

 method of locomotion, the larger ones apparently only making use of 

 their rings, the smaller specimens holding by the mouth, and drawing 

 the body after, using the tail as an occasional point of attachment. 



The length of the larvae varied from about an eighth to three- 

 quarters of an inch, the smaller specimens being armed with a double 

 row of pointed processes down the back, and another down each side. 



In the smallest larvae the pointed growths appeared simple ; in 

 larger specimens the beginning of a side growth appeared on these 

 processes, which was still more conspicuous as the larvae advanced in 

 age up to a certain point ; but, in what appeared the largest size 

 attained, these processes were obsolete, save as short recurved growths, 

 in some degree resembling rose thorns, placed along the sides, and for 

 a short distance near the head. 



On August 1st, two of the larvae appeared contracted in shape 

 and nearly motionless, lying beneath the sui'face of the turf. On 

 August 6th, two more buried themselves, and others gradually became 

 motionless, but without any definite change during the autumn ; and, 

 on the approach of winter, I placed them in two flower pots, and 

 buried them in the ground. 



On March 12th, 1873, I examined them, and found the larvae 

 looking plump and healthy, but without any characteristic change. 

 On March 29th and April 14th, they were still unaltered ; and on 

 April 16th, on opening one of the larvae, I did not find any internal 

 change, though the contents appeared perfectly healthy. 



* Read at the Meeting of the Kensington Entomological Society, 14th November, 1873 : 

 commuiiicatod by Andrew Murray, Esq., P.L.3. 



