COLEOPTERA, 



161 



Among the Meloidae there are forms of especial 

 interest, owing to the fact that their mouth parts are 

 similar to those of the Lepidoptera. These are certain 

 species of the genus Nemognatha, one of which is 

 found in South America, and has been described by 

 H. Miiller.^ In this beetle the two maxillse are greatly 

 prolonged and hollowed out on the inner side, so 

 that when they are pressed closely together they form 

 a proboscis for sucking the sweet juices of flowers, 

 similar to the trunk of the Lepidoptera. 



STYLOPID-E. 



In these parasites specialization by reduction has 

 been carried so far that the adults, especially the fe- 

 males, have lost many of their organs, while the larvae 

 are at first hexapod and afterward footless. Fig. 114, 

 a, represents the abdo- 

 men of a bee with the 

 head of the female Sty- 

 lops extending from be- 

 tween the rings. The 

 dotted line shows the 

 body in natural position ; 

 Fig. 114, h, is the para- 

 site removed. The head 

 is large and without 

 eyes ; the thorax and 

 abdomen are bag-like. 

 The mandibles are small, 

 and the feet and wings 

 wanting. Figs. 115,116, pig. 114. 



1 See Kosmos, January, 1880, p. 302. 



