The Bionomics of South African Insects. 531 



This group forms another interesting illustration of the 

 way in which the larger mimetic groups tend to merge 

 one into the other. Such species as the Podaliriiis and 

 X. oliracca in which the anterior yellow is largely de- 

 veloped clearly belong to the outlying portions of the 

 Lycoid group (Plate XVIII), whereas JSlis cmlcls has more 

 affinity with the succeeding group ; and this latter again 

 merges away into the great black group with blue wings 

 (Plates XX and XXI). The two largest Xylocoi^as {X. 

 latcritia and X. flavor uf a) only belong to the outskirts of 

 the association, as the red of the thorax is in them of a 

 much darker tint and does not show up well in the Plate. 

 All the Hymenoptera of the group are found plentifully 

 on flowers ; but as regards the Melittia, the specimen 

 figured is, I believe, the only one known. 



G. Group ivith Black Bodies, Blue Wings, and Red or 

 Yellow Heads (Represented on Plate XXIII). 



r f Ponipilusmavshal]i(fig. 20); P. dichrous 



Ponwilida^ \ ("°'- '^^' 22) = ^- ^"*^*^"' ^^-- 24)- 

 Hymenoptera i '^ j Poinpihis kscivus (Kg. 23) ; Salius ta- 



I 1, niisieri (fig. 25). 



\ Sphegida', Tacliysphex fluctuatus (fig. 26). 



CoLEOPTERA Longicomid Jouthodes sculptilis (fig. 28). 



DiPTERA Bromopliila caffra (fig. 27). 



Converging towards these but with black wings instead 

 of blue are the Braconid Iphiaulax ruher (Fig. 31) and 

 the Cantharid Eletica rufa, var. (Fig. 29). 



This is only a subdivision of the group of black-bodied 

 and blue-winged insects. The Hymenoptera have all 

 much the same habits as the species contained in that 

 group, though they are mostly of much smaller size. The 

 Longicorn Jonthodes bears a very good general resemblance 

 to the blue-winged, yellow-legged Scdius dedjax, owing to 

 its blue elytra and yellow legs; it is not a particularly 

 common species, being diurnal and arboreal in its habits. 

 It possesses a strong scent-like smell, and the mimicry is 

 probably Mtillerian. The Broinophila fly is very plentiful ; 

 it is the most sluggish fly known to me, and settles about 

 on trees and bushes in a very conspicuous manner. It 

 ejects a yellow liquid from the mouth when handled, and 

 was refused when offered to my baboons and Cercopithecus 

 monkey. 



