Entomological Society. 3295 



11 The nest swarmed with the Acarus with which humble-bees are so much infest- 

 ed ; the larvae of Volucella bombylans were also very numerous, and in all stages of 

 growth, and I reared two or three perfect insects from them. I also found the larvae, 

 pupae, and perfect insects of Cryptophagus Lycoperdi in considerable numbers. The 

 larvae of a Tinea (T. Sarcitella) were also very numerous; from these I obtained the 

 perfect insect. I also found three or four specimens of Antherophagus glaber. 



" The immature larvae of Volucella were plentiful, but on what they would feed I 

 cannot determine, there being neither larvae nor pupae remaining. I observed them 

 to frequent those cells which contained honey, and I think, notwithstanding they are 

 said to be insectivorous, that they feed also on the honey and wax : on the latter, the 

 Acari undoubtedly partly subsist. The larva of Tinea Sarcitella feeds on the cocoons 

 themselves : a number of these moths appeared in a perfect state at intervals, and I 

 observed the larvae in the empty cocoons of the bees in all stages of growth. The 

 larvae of Cryptophagus I found also in the honey and wax ; when full fed, they bury 

 themselves in the ground, and soon appear in the perfect state. 



" Since writing the above notes, I have received a letter from Mr. Walcott, of 

 Bristol, a gentleman who has made the bees a particular study, and is well acquainted 

 with the genus Bombus. He says, ' In the last week in August, I found a nest of 

 Bombus Derhamellus on our Downs ; it was at least a hundred and fifty strong. In 

 watching the nest, the males re-entered it with the neuters ; but, I should observe, that 

 the females had not appeared, this strengthens what I have lately supposed, that the 

 males continue to re-enter the nest until the females are out, after which they forsake 

 the nest. The bees invariably make their exit from the top of the cocoon ; their mode 

 of proceeding is this : a note or hum being heard from the encased bees, both males 

 and neuters hasten in a body, clustering themselves as close as possible on and about 

 the cell, either to soften the wax on the cocoon, or to give encouragement to the en- 

 cased bee to make the great effort of delivering itself ; and immediately on the bee 

 making its exit from the cell, it hastens to the old cocoons containing honey to feed, 

 it appearing much exhausted by its late effort. All the masses of cells that I have 

 seen have been placed upwards, but should a bee select a hole somewhat circular and 

 confined, there I think the bee would make her cells not only on the ground surface, 

 but as they increased would go on until some were placed downwards ; but this would 

 be an extreme case, and form an exception to the general rule.' " 



Mr. Stainton exhibited a species of Lithocolletis, which he had hitherto confounded 

 with the true L. Frolichiella, but which was yet quite distinct ; and read the follow- 

 ing note : — 



" Mr. Allis suggested to me last December, that it was not improbable we had 

 two species under the name of Frolichiella, and a further examination of more speci- 

 mens has convinced me of the correctness of his suggestion. Naturally, on first hear- 

 ing of L. Nicellii, my idea was that it would prove to be our other species, but in this 

 I was mistaken. Both are indeed smaller than Frolichiella ; but whereas Nicellii is 

 paler than Frolichiella, our new species is darker. 



" For this species I have much pleasure in proposing the name of Dunningiella, 

 in honour of Mr. J. W. Dunning, of Leeds, whose extreme quickness and perseverance 

 give promise of great doings in that branch of science called Micro-Lepidopterology. 



" L. Dunningiella is smaller and darker than Frolichiella (yet not so small as Ni- 

 cellii), the anterior wings are narroiver, especially above the anal angle, where in Fro- 

 lichiella they are very broad ; the black scales of the apex of the wing are also more 



