312 



Marvels of Insect Life* 



scavenger than of the murderer. Although these beetles have been reported as 

 taken occasionally in this country, they are not considered to be natives ; but on 

 the Continent they are not uncommon. The one whose photograph we reproduce, 

 and which appears also in the coloured plate, may, following its scientific name,^ 



be called the bee-keeper. The perfect Insect is of 

 rather slender form, half an inch in length, and narrower 

 in front than behind. Its legs, head, and the fore-body 

 in front of the wing-covers are of deep blue, which 

 shines slightly beneath the coat of hairs. The wing- 

 covers themselves are crossed by alternate bands 

 of red and blue-black, of which there are three of each. 

 The joints of the antennae form a wedge-shaped club. 

 The female beetle makes her way into the nests of 

 wasps, solitary bees, and where the bee-master has not 

 exercised proper care, into the bee-hive, where she lays 

 her eggs. When these hatch the young grubs make 

 their way into the honey-comb whence they attack 

 and eat sickly bees, and breaking into the cells devour 

 the bee-grubs and chrysalids. The eggs are laid 

 between May and July, and hatch soon after, the grub 

 performing its destructive work until early in the 

 following year. After attaining full size as a grub, 

 it appears to rest for a time before becoming a chrysalis, 

 and specimens of another species - kept under obser- 

 vation have been known to extend this inactive, 

 waiting period for nearly two years ; but this may 

 have been due to artificial conditions. We may 

 assume that under normal conditions the chrysalis- 

 skin is thrown off in May, and the perfect beetles 

 seek the flowers where they find their mates. 



Now, from what has been said in previous articles 

 on the subject of strongly contrasted bands or spots 

 of red or yellow in conjunction with black or other 

 dark colour, it will be evident that the colour-scheme 

 of these beetles denotes inedibility, and this, no 

 doubt, has reference to the risks they would otherwise 

 run from bird attacks when exposed on llo\\ers in 

 the sunshine. But such warning colours are no 

 protection against the stings of bees ; and our 

 lL":i?[,ictrcol't''a1uc^h!"Vb.^,n,'; artist has sought to show what probabJN- happens 

 sLcto7'Yhe^tiiken°' coterin^^^ f or Tn w^^" ^hc ncwly maturc bectlcs have left the security 

 imaginary leaf-stalk. ^f ^]^^>jj. j^^.g^^ jj-, ^j^^. substancc of the brood-combs, 



and are making their way out of the hive. They have been detected by some ot 

 the watchful workers, vvho are seeking with their poisoned stings to find a joint in 

 the armour of the beetle. 



Pholoby] [H.Bai.tin. 



The Finished Cocoon. 



This particular cocoon was spun in.cap- 



1 Trichodes apiarius. 



^ T. alveolarius. 



