18G Mr. J. O. Westwood on the Parasites of the Larva 
with any terminal unguis nor articulated. These creatures creep 
but slowly about the head of the larva, and amongst the hairs of 
the abdomen of the bee ; and, when in motion, the legs have a 
peculiar mode of progression, the anterior pair being brought 
straight in front of the head, and parallel to each other, acting as, 
and apparently supplying, the place of antennae. The following 
legs are then brought forwards over the anterior pair, and the third 
pair is then brought over the middle pair, as represented in the 
accompanying sketches. Two points of inquiry still remain. 
What are the habits of these animals ? and to what class do they 
belong ? and I must confess that upon both points I can form 
only vague conjectures. 
The inquiry into its habits opens a very wide field for specu- 
lation. That an animal like this should have been enabled to 
obtain an admission, not in a single instance, but in every spe- 
cimen of the larva of Stylops seen by Mr. Pickering or myself 
this spring, is a most curious circumstance. At what time were 
they deposited within the body of the Stylops ? What will they 
now subsist upon? In what situation will they remain until they 
are again enabled to place the germs of their progeny in a similar 
situation in the body of the larvae of the Stylops? I must confess 
I cannot offer any explanation of these inquiries, connected so 
closely as they are with the natural history of the Stylops ; but I 
trust another year, and more leisure, may enable me to return to 
the subject. 
As to the situation of these insects in our systems, its general 
appearance and habits have a certain resemblance with some of 
the immature Acari, which Duges has proved possess only six 
legs ; and, indeed, the figure of the young Acarien du gallc de 
tilleul, figured by this author in the Annales des Sc. Nat., second 
series, Vol. II. Plate II. A, has somewhat the appearance of this 
insect ; but the articulated structure of the latter, and the struc- 
ture of its legs, entirely remove it from the Acaridce. How far 
we may be right in referring it to the Ametabolous order, Ano- 
plura, I will not pretend to decide ; but unless it be a larva of 
some hexapod insect, I must confess that I know not where else 
to place it. 
But the idea suggested itself to my mind that there was a 
much greater resemblance between this insect and the animal 
which is often found upon bees, and which has given rise to so 
much discussion, having been so often bred from the eggs of 
Meloe proscarabceus. It is now generally admitted that they 
are the young of that insect, notwithstanding their great dis- 
