THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 3 



wasp's nests ? I have taken hundreds of nests from time to 

 time, and failed to discover anything besides wasps and their 

 larva? till yesterday, when 1 look several nests, and in the 

 middle cake of one of them there were about half a dozen 

 insects with remarkable long legs and flowing antennae: 

 their bodies resemble the soldier-fly in shape, but of a bright 

 brown colour; they were each in a separate cell, and covered 

 with the flour-like covering that cover the cells during the 

 transformation of wasps, and had evidently been bred there. 

 I enclose you a specimen for your opinion. I have specimens 

 in several stages of maturity, from the larva to the perfect 

 insect. The insect appears to feed upon tiie larvae of the 

 wasp, as may be seen by a section of cell enclosed containing 

 larvae of beetle and wasp. — C Bradbury ; Alton, Stafford- 

 shire, Septej/iber 2, 1871. 



The beetle is Rhipophorus paradoxus, long and familiarly 

 known as an inmate of wasp's nests. The precise nature of 

 the connection of the beetle and the wasp is not at present 

 known, but it is sujiposed that the beetle is related to 

 Stylops, which is certainly parasitic on bees. 



Breeding Bombyx Rubi. — Are the larvae of Rubi difficult 

 to I'ear ? Will you tell me how to keep them in the winter ? 

 — C. Neve. 



If you keep them out of doors exposed to wind and rain 

 they are sure to do well. A large flower-pot, with wire-gauze 

 over the top, is the best vessel to keep them in ; it should 

 have a lump of turf or some heath at the bottom. I never 

 observed them eating in the winter. Mr. Gustard will also 

 kindly take this reply. 



Edward Newman. 



Notes on the Insects of the Scilly Isles. — The insects 

 recorded were observed in the eight isles here mentioned, 

 during six days, beginning with September 16lh. Typhlocyba 

 Ulmi was abundant at Hugh Town, St. Mary, and was the 

 first insect seen on landing, and was probably naturalized 

 soon after the elm was introduced into the island. St. Mary 

 is about 1600 acres in extent ; Tresco, 700 acres ; Bryher, 300 

 acres; St. Martin, 550 acres ; St. Agnes, 350 acres; Samson, 

 80 acres ; St. Helen, 40 acres ; Annette, 40 acres : the three 



