Some Hypermetamorphic Beetles 27 



Epinomia holes. The largest number of larvae taken from any 

 one kind of location were in the cells of the Epinomia holes. 



VI. The Rhipiphoriclae are supposed to undergo that process 

 of hypermetamorphosis which is found typically in the Meloidae. 

 Following I give a brief outline of this type of transformation : 



The eggs are laid in various localities according to the species. 

 The first larva is a triungulin, and is called the instar or cam- 

 podeoid larva. The behavior of the triungulin diverges along two 

 lines. Members of one group love the dark, and immediately 

 after birth commence to burrow. These are parasitic on Or- 

 thoptera. The other group love the light, and they immediately 

 find their way to some flower if not there already. These dre 

 mainly parasitic on Hymenoptera and must be carried to the 

 nests of their hosts. Hence they are well developed for clinging 

 to a hair or leg or wing. In the nest they live on the eggs, pollen, 

 honey, or larvae. This parasitic life causes a degeneration of 

 form and after the first moult the larva has the form of a Carabid 

 larva, and is hence called the carabidoid stage of the second larva. 

 The next two moults each shows more degenerate forms, which 

 are called respectively the scarabaeidoid stage and the ultimate 

 stage of the second larva. In these stages the larvae are active. 

 The next moult gives the pseudopupa or coarctate larva, which 

 is semiquiescent. This is generally the stage of hibernation. 

 In the spring the third larva, bearing the same shape as the 

 pseudopupa but being more active, appears. This in a short 

 time moults again into the normal pupal stage. 



Dr. T. A. Chapman says that Rhipiphorus paradoxus has only 

 three larval stages, in the first of which, after reaching the wasp 

 hole, it lives within the body of its larval host ; in the second of 

 which it emerges from the body and clings to the exterior, suck- 

 ing the body juices, and remaining in this position during the 

 third stage, until fully developed, when it leaves the bee hole and 

 burrows off to the side in order to escape the effects of the 

 rotting host, and transforms into a pupa. 



It will probably be difficult to trace these stages of Myoditcs 

 because of its being found two feet underground. 



VII. In earlv August the hibernating females come out and 

 oviposit in great numbers. 



179 



