198 THE PARASITES OF THE HONEY-BEE. 














ceca Nitsch), which is a singular wingless spider-like 
allied to the wingless Sheep-tick (Melophagus), the wi 
Bat-tick (Nycteribia), and the winged Horse-fly (JZippobose 
The body is divided into two regions, like the spider. 
head is very large, without eyes or ocelli (simple eyes), i 
the ovate hind-body consists of five segments, and is coven 
with stiff hairs. It is one-half to two-thirds of a line lon 
This spider-fly is “pupiparous,” that is, the young, of Whi 
only a very few are produced, is not born until it has, 
just about to, assume the pupa state. The larva (Plate 
Fig. 5) is oval, eleven-jointed, and white in color. The ve 
day it is hatched it’ sheds its skin and changes to a 
puparium of a dark-brown color. “aM 
Its habits resemble that of the flea. Indeed, should) 
compress its body strongly, it would bear a striking 1 
blance to that insect. It is evidently a connecting 
between the flea, and the two-winged flies. Like the fo 
it lives and brings forth its young on the body of its 
and draws its food from its host by plunging its stout 
into the skin of the bee. 
It has not been noticed in this country, but is jab 
be imported on the bodies of Italian bees. Generally, 
or two of the Braulas may, on close examination, be ¢ 
on the body of the bee; sometimes the poor bees are 
down by as many as a hundred of these hungry bloo¢ 
Assmuss recommends rubbing them off with 2. feat 
the bee goes: in and out of the door of its hive. 
Among the beetles. are a few forms occasionally © 
bees’ nests and also-parasitic on the body of the bee 
chodes apiarius Linn. (Plate 4, fig. 6, fig. 6 4, larva; 
pupa, front view) has long been known in Europe to, 
the young bees. In its perfect, or beetle, state it 
on flowers; like our Třichodes Nuttallii, which is 
found on the Spiræa in August, and which may yet po 
enter our bee-hives. The larva devours the brood, = 
the modern hive its ravages may be readily detected. 
oe 

