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IX. On the *' Pediculns Melittse" of Kirhy and its 

 affinities, with reference to the larvcR of Meloe. 

 By Sir Sidney S. Saundeks, C.M.G. 



[Read April 2ncl, 1884.] 



Among the mysterious problems which have perplexed 

 entomologists during a considerable period, and for •which 

 no solution has hitherto been afforded, is one affecting 

 the character and economy of a British insect found not 

 unfrequently in the immediate vicinity of this metro- 

 polis, whose natural affinities still remain debatable 

 ground, notwithstanding the attention bestowed thereon 

 by many distinguished writers. This insect was first 

 figured and described by Kirby in the second year of the 

 present century under the name of Pediculus Melittce 

 (Mon. Ap. Angl., vol. i., tab. xiv.. No. 11, figs. 10, 11, 

 12 ; and vol. ii., p. 168), for which he afterwards substi- 

 tuted that of Melittophagiis Melittce (K. & S., Introd. to 

 Entom., vol. i., p. 163, 6th edit., note, 1812). 



In the former work, after describing his Melittafiiscata, 

 he proceeds to say : — " On this insect I found aPedicidvs 

 nearly related to the P. Apis of Fabricius, but I think 

 distinct, which I shall define in the margin."* The 

 latter, Kirby explains, is not uncommon upon this genus 

 of bees, having found fourteen or fifteen upon the same 

 individual, and having likewise frequently met with it 

 upon genuine Apes ; but the former he had only taken 

 on this occasion. He was fully aware that the P. Apis 

 aforesaid had been reared from the eggs of Meloe by 

 Frisch, Goedart, and DeGeer; whence, as he admits, 

 "it appears evident that the hexapod, of which the 

 latter author gives a long account as the larva of Meloe 



* Kirby's description of his P. Melittce is as follows : — Linearis, 

 niger ; ore tibiisque testaceis. Long. corp. lin f . Hab. in Melittis 

 semel lectus. Major P. Apvm et distinctns. Corpus angnstiim, 

 lineare, nigrum. Anteiwce biarticiilatae seta terminali. Thorax 

 trium segmentorvim. Tihice Tarsique pallide testacei; hi fere 

 lanceiformes, exarticulati, ntrinqne seta aimati. A7ius setisquatuor 

 instructus exterioribus brevibus. 



TEANB. ENT. SOC. LOND. 1884. — PART I. (aPEIL.) 



