DISEASES OF INSECTS. 99% 
most probably the specimen in question had dropped 
from some bird upon the butterfly. The only remaining 
animal belonging to the apterous hexapods that is para- 
sitic on insects, is by many supposed to be the larva of a 
giant beetle (Meloe Proscarabeus). I have before alluded 
to this animal?, and shall now resume the subject. Goe- 
dart, Frisch, and De Geer, observed that it deposited in 
the earth one or two considerable masses, containing an 
infinite number of very minute orange-coloured eggs 
adhering to each other, which in about a month were 
hatched, and produced a number of small hexapods dis- 
tinguished by two pairs of anal setz, and a proleg, by 
means of which they could move readily upon glass, as I 
have myself seen: these little animals precisely corre- 
sponded with one found by the latter author upon Syrphus 
tntricarva ; and when that fly was placed amongst them, 
they immediately attached themselves to it, so as to leave 
no doubt of their identity>. A congenerous species had 
been detected upon wild bees, and described by Linné 
under the name of Pediculus Apis. De Geer is so 
thoroughly to be depended upon for his veracity and ac- 
curacy of observation, that we cannot suppose there is 
any incorrectness in his statement. If the mass of eggs 
be, as he represents it, of the size of a hazel-nut, it must 
have been the product of a very large insect: in confir- 
mation of this opinion it may be further observed, that 
the larva of the kindred genus Cantharis Latr. agrees 
with it in having anal sete, though it appears to differ 
in having only two conspicuous segments in the trunk ¢. 
Those which infest wild bees make their first appearance 
2 Vor. 1. p.162. note *. Vor. lil p. 163. note ». 
» De Geer v. 8—. * Naturf. xxiu. ¢.1. f.8. 
VOL. IV. O 
