160 INSECTS AT HOME. 



the body entirely consumed, a thin pellicle only remaining; 

 and from within this bladder-like exuviae he extracted a female 

 Sitaris, which had evidently therein undergone its transforma- 

 tion. He did not, however, observe whether the pellicle of 

 the larva or of the pupa of the Sitaris was contained within 

 the pellicle of the bee-larva. He subsequently found more 

 specimens of the Sitaris at large in the nests of this bee, and 

 observed one of the females, whilst in a state of captivity, 

 deposit her eggs, from which were hatched the minute larvae.' 

 Mr. Westwood then proceeds to point out the distinctions be- 

 tween the larva of Meloe and that of Sitaris. The two species 

 of Anthophora in which this Beetle is generally found are not 

 natives of England. 



