CH. V] WASPS 157 



Among other animals found in the nest may be 

 mentioned a species of Tachina, several species of Acari, 

 and beetles such as Dermestes lardarius, Bruchus fur 

 and Rhipiphorus (Metcecus) paradoxus, several species 

 of Microlepidoptera, and an " Ichneumonid " (Janet and 

 Kristof ). An undoubted parasite was found by Kristof in 

 the shape of a Gordius (Nematode) protruding from the 

 abdomen of a drone. Newstead 1 has found in the nests 

 of V. germanica and V. vulgaris the Crustacean Porcellio 

 scaber', the Acarids Uropoda elongata (attached to the 

 Dipteron Homalomyia canicularis), Qlyciphaga spinipes 

 and species of Tyroglyphus ; the Coleoptera Leistus ru- 

 fescens, Pterostichus vulgaris, Bradycellus verbasci, Choleva 

 tristis, Homalota succicola, Thyamis lurida, Quedius puncti- 

 collis, Epurcea obsoleta, Cryptophagus pubescens, G. setulosus, 

 Rhipiphorus paradoxus ; the Hymenoptera Aspilota con- 

 cinna and species of Proctotrupes (?) ; the Diptera Gyrto- 

 neura stabulans, Homalomyia canicularis, H. vesparea, 

 Phora rufipes, Acanthiptera (Volucella) inanis, Volucella 

 bombylans, var. plumosa and several unidentified species 

 of Lepidoptera. Chitty 2 further records the presence of 

 Lutheidius minutus (Coleopteron), and Matthews' 3 Galli- 

 phora erythrocephala (Dipteron). Many of these animals 

 are merely chance visitors in search of food, or general 

 scavengers. 



Of the true parasites the most interesting is the 

 beetle Rhipiphorus (Metwcus) paradoxus. Thanks to 



1 Ent. Month. Mag. (2) xxvn. 1891. 

 2 Ibid. 1893. a Ibid. 1891. 



