1891.) 41 



Proctotrtipes ?. — 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. 



DirTERA. 



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

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



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

 in nests of T". vulgaris, August to April, Colwyn Bay, and Ince, Cheshire, 1889 — 90. 

 H. vesparea, Meade, n. sp. — I found the larvae 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 occupies an intermediate position between Horn, 

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

 other in Mr. Meade's. 



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

 ber, Colwyn Bay and Cheshire. 



Acanthiptera inanis, Fall. — larvse swarmed in single nest of V. germanica, Oc- 

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



Tolucella homlylans, L., var. plumosa. — larvse most abundant in nests of V. 

 germanica, Colwyn Bay and Cheshire, August to October. 



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

 least three species of Diptera 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 Diptera dare venture into a wasp'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, w'ould be wel- 

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

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

 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 Anthomi/ia. 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 E.ev. W. W. Fowler. 



Grosvenor Museum, Chester : 



December bth, 1890. 



+ 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. 



