622 INSECTS AT no:ME. 



On Woodcut LXXII. Fi<i^. 1 is shown one of our most curious 

 insects, called Volucella pellucens. 



It is impossible for a mere woodcut to represent the very 

 peculiar structure of this creature. In the illustration, the 

 two large white patches on the abdomen look as if they were 

 merely white and opaque, whereas, in reality, they are almost 

 as translucent as if made of glass. Indeed the whole upper 

 part of the abdomen seems as if it were made of very transpa- 

 rent horn, the only opaque portion being the dark stripe down 

 the centre. Like the generality of its family, the insect is very 

 swift-winged, and has a quick, darting flight, which makes its 

 oaptm-e a work of some difficulty. I have taken plenty of 

 specimens in Bagley Wood, waiting for them as they balanced 

 themselves near flowers, and then capturing them with a smart 

 stroke of the net. 



The larva of the Volucella is parasitic on the nests of social 

 hymenoptera. I have often obtained these larvae from the 

 nests of humble-bees, and always thought that they restricted 

 themselves to these bees. Mr. S. Stone, however, found that 

 the common wasp was also favoured with the presence of these 

 parasites. In his description of sundry wasp-nests, published 

 in the ' Zoologist,' p. 9452, he writes the following remarks : — 

 ' Upon the crown of almost every nest (of Vespa vulgaris) 1 

 examined, after the season had become advanced, I found eggs 

 of Volucella, and my attention was in several instances drawn 

 to a nest by seeing a specimen of Volucella pellucens or of Volu- 

 cella bombylans hang about or alight near the entrance to it.' 



These lai-vse are most extraordinary-looking beings. Sup- 

 posing a rolling-pin to be cut in two transversely in the middle, 

 each half will accurately resemble the Volucella larva. The 

 small end of tliis larva is the head, which is furnished with a 

 pair of double-toothed mandibles and six little tentacles ; and 

 the large and bluntly-truncated end is the tail, around the 

 circumference of which are planted six soft radiating tentacles. 

 The whole of the body is thickly covered with transverse 

 wrinkles, and along the sides is a row of five points. At 

 Fig. a is shown the curiously notched clypeus of this insect. 

 At Fig. b one of the antennas is drawn, so as to show the bold 

 double-feathering witb which the bristle of the antennae is 

 adorned ; and at Fig. c the front of the head is drawn, for the 



