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it, naming it Pediculus melitte, from the bee on which he found 
‘it, and an account of which he gives at pages 168 and 169 of his 
* Monographia Apum Angliz.” 
Mr. Rye sums up all that is known for certain regarding the 
life-history of this beetle, and this is the substance of what he 
_ says—‘ The young larve hatch in from two to three weeks ; 
they appear to remain torpid for some time; but when once 
roused by sufficient warmth, exhibit extraordinary activity in 
traversing low plants, chiefly Ranunculacee and Chicoracee. 
From these they attach themselves in great numbers, to the hairy 
covering of bees, as they settle on the flowers of their temporary 
lodgings. When carried by the unconscious bee to its nest, the 
Meloé larva devours the eggs therein contained, changes (without 
leaving the cell of the latter) into a second larval form, arched, 
cylindrical, with toothed mandibles and stout legs—and then feeds 
on the food intended by the bee for its own young. After some 
time this second form of the larva, sheds its skin, becomes 
motionless, and is then known as a false pupa. After this it again 
changes to a third form of larva similar to the second ; after this, 
however, we know no further : we can only judge from the analogy 
of Sitaris, that it changes into an ordinary pupa, from which the 
perfect insect emerges.” 
_ The second case in which the strangers come as friends is well 
exemplified by the Aphides which are kept by some species of 
ants and regularly fed by them ; the ants themselves feeding on 
a sweet secretion emitted by the Aphides. There is also the 
‘small blind beetle, Claviger foveolatus, which is found nowhere 
but in ants’ nest and which has not only lost its eyes, but which 
‘seems to have lost the power of feeding itself. This beetle, like 
the Aphides, acts as a sort of milch cow to the ants. 
The third case where the strangers are merely tolerated is 
re difficult to understand. Sir John Lubbock in “ Ants, Bees. 
and Wasps,” says: “ Various reasons may be imagined which 
may render the presence of these insects useful or agreeable to- 
