Bees and Musquitoes. 303 



The females are of dull hues, and spend their lives in the 

 gloomy shadows of the forest. Caterpillars and nocturnal 

 moths are rare. 



There are no true hive-bees (Ajoides) in South America,'* 

 but instead there are about one hundi-ed and fifty species 

 of bees (mostly social Moliponas), smaller than the Euro- 

 pean, stingless, and constructing oblong cells. Their colo- 

 nies are much larger than those of the honey-bee. The 

 Trigona occurs on the jSTapo. Unlike the Melvpona, it 

 is not confined to the New World. . A large sooty-black 

 Bombus represents our humble-bee. Shrill cicadas, blood- 

 thirsty mantucas, piums, punkies, and musquitoes are al- 

 ways associated in the traveler's memory with the glorious 

 river. Of the last there are several kinds. " The forest 

 musquito belongs to a different species from that of the 

 town, being much larger and having transparent wings. 

 It is a little cloud that one carries about his person every 

 step on a woodland ramble, and their hum is so loud that 

 it prevents one hearing well the notes of birds. The town 

 musquito has opaque, speckled wings, a less severe sting, 

 and a silent way of going to work. The inhabitants ought 

 to be thankful the big noisy fellows never come out of the 

 forest " (Bates, ii., 386). There are few musquitoes be- 

 low Ega ; above that point a musquito net is indispensable. 

 Beetles abound, particularly in shady places, and are of all 

 sizes, from that of a pin's head to several inches in length. 

 The most noticeable are the gigantic Megalosoma and Mie- 

 ma, armed with horns. Yery few are carnivorous. " This 

 is the more remarkable," observes Darwin, " when com- 

 pared to the case of carnivorous quadrupeds, w^hich are so 

 abundant in hot countries." Yery f ew^ are terrestrial, even 

 the carnivorous species being found clinging to branches 

 and leaves. In going fi-om the pole to the equator we find 



* The honey-bee of Europe was introduced into South America in 1845. 



