464- NOTES ON VARIOUS INSECTS. 



they pass the night, and scarcely make any attempt to escape 

 when seized. I found them and the males of a large Dctsy- 

 poda indiscriminately intermixed. The males of S. sex~cincta ? 

 Fab. are found in much the same localities, whereas that of 

 another species was solitary, and generally found on the flower 

 of the bi*amble, and was tolerably active. 



20. Bembex rostrata. — This curious hymenopterous insect 

 was common in a bay near Argostoli, during the heat of summer. 

 The first I observed on July 20th, and by August 7th had 

 several opportunities of watching their habits. They appeared 

 to differ in the size and markings of specimens, and the male 

 was of a lighter colour, appearing almost white when flying. 

 They appear to catch their prey on the wing, as I saw them in 

 considerable numbers in one part of the bay, but they very 

 seldom alighted, and on the approach of each other they fly 

 and pursue with great velocity : here I also caught their para- 

 site, the Parnopes carnea. The nests of the B. rostrata are 

 constructed in the soft light sea sand, which of course blows 

 over the mouth of the nest, and makes it too small for the bee's 

 entrance. The Bembex therefore alights with its head towards 

 the nest, and with astonishing swiftness throws off the sand, 

 covering the aperture to several inches of distance, scraping 

 with its forelegs like a dog. Directly the mouth is clear it 

 enters, carrying with it the prey intended for its future pro- 

 geny, and the wind blowing over the nest again must in part 

 conceal it from all enemies. Its prey consisted of such flies as 

 frequented the sand ; amongst others I found a bottle-green fly. 



21. Geotrupes subarmatus? which, at p. 377, I mentioned 

 under the name of Typhceus Ionicus, is found in Herme, 

 near Guernsey, from which small island I have procured it, 

 and therefore think it probable that it may be found in England. 

 In this opinion I am confirmed by having, in some collections 

 in Edinburgh, seen the unarmed female of G. subarmatus 

 placed beside, and as the other sex of, the male Typhceus 

 vulgaris ; whereas in others they have the real pair of 

 T. vulgaris, the female of which is smaller than the male, and 

 has shorter horns : it again very closely resembles the male of 

 G. subarmatus. This I trust will soon be identified as an 

 addition to British entomology, if not already done so. 



a Scarabaeus pumilus, Marsh. 1. 8 ; Typliaeus vulgaris & Steph. Si/st. Cat. I. 

 107.— Ed. 



