STEEPSIPTEEA. 



155 



ORDER STREPSIPTERA,* OR BEE PARASITES. 



The Eev. Mr. Kirby had more than once observed 

 upon several species of bees, something that he took 

 to be a kind of mite, with which insects are very com- 

 monly infested, and determined not to lose the oppor- 

 tunity of taking one off for examination. On attempt- 

 ing, however, to disengage it with a pin, much to his 

 astonishment, he drew forth from the body of the 

 bee, what he imagined to be a white fleshy larva, a 



FIG. 115. STYLOPS. 



quarter of an inch long, the head of which he had 

 mistaken for a mite, it had neither mouth nor pro- 

 boscis, nor any apparent means of obtaining food. 



H 



:,./ 



\J 



FIG. 116. a, b, FEMALE. d, PUPA. e, MALE OF STYLOPS. 



" After I had examined one specimen," says Mr. 

 Kirby, " I attempted to extract a second, and the 



* o-Tptyis, strepsis, twisting ; irrepov, pteron, icing. 



