MEANS OF DEFENCE OF INSECTS. 407 
resemblance has caused a bean, commonly cultivated as food for horses, 
to be called the tick-bean. The Palma Christi, also, had probably the 
name of Ricinus given to it from the similitude of its seed to a tick. 
Another tribe of these little animals, before alluded to, is secured from 
harm by a different kind of imitation, and affords a beautiful instance of 
the wisdom of Providence in adapting means to their end. Some singular 
larve, with a radiated anus}, live in the nests of humble-bees, and are the 
offspring of a particular genus of flies (Volucella), many of the species of 
which strikingly resemble those bees in shape, clothing, and colour. Thus 
has the Author of nature provided that they may enter these nests and 
deposit their eggs undiscovered. 
Did these intruders venture themselves amongst the humble-bees in a 
less kindred form, their lives would probably pay the forfeit of their pre- 
sumption, Mr. Sheppard once found one of these larvae in the nest of 
Bombus? Raiellus, but we could not ascertain what the fly was. Perhaps 
it might be Volucella bombylans, which resembles those humble-bees that 
have a red anus.® In like manner Mr. W. S. MacLeay informs us 
that he has discovered that the larvae of those tropical Bombylii which 
have such a bee-like form live on the larve of the bees they so strikingly 
represent ; and he suggests that probably the object of nature in giving 
such an ant-like form to the singular spider described by him under the 
name of JMyrmarachne melanocephala is to deceive the ants on which they 
rey.* 
The brilliant colours in which many insects are arrayed may decorate 
them with some other view than that of mere ornament. They may dazzle 
their enemies. The radiant blue of the upper surface of the wings of a 
giant: butterfly, abundant in Brazil (JZorpho Menelaus), which from its 
size would be a ready prey for any insectivorous birds, by its splendour 
(which Lam told, when the insect is flying in the sunshine, is inconceiv- 
ably bright) may produce an effect upon the sight of such birds, that may 
give it no small chance of escape. Fetcaile has a similar conjecture with 
respect to the golden wasps (Chrysis L.). These animals lay their eggs in 
the nests of such Hymenoptera, wasps, bee-wasps (Bembew), and bees, as 
are redoubtable for their stings ; and therefore have the utmost occasion 
for protection against these murderous weapons. Amongst other defences 
the golden wasps are adorned with the most brilliant colours, which, by 
their radiance, especially in the sunny situations frequented by these insects, 
may dazzle the eyes of their enemies, and enable them to effect unhurt the 
purpose for which they were created.° 
he frightful aspect of certain insects is another passive means of de- 
fence by which they sometimes strike beholders, especially children, often 
great insect tormentors, with a/arm, and:so escape. ‘The terrific and pre- 
tended jaws of the stag-beetle (Lucanus Cervus) in Europe, and of the 
1 Latreille, Gen. Crust. et Ins. iv. 322. 
© AD, ETO, Dy Bos 
5 Dr. Fleming, however (in Literis), doubts whether the reason here assigned is 
the cause of the resemblance between the Bombus and Volucella; he thinks if a bee 
knows a stranger of its own species, it could not be deceived by a fly in the disguise 
ofabee, But the fact that these insects lay their eggs in their nests, and that they 
resemble humble-bees, seems to justify the conclusion drawn in the text. They 
Must get in often undiscovered, 
4 Ann, Nat. Hist, ii 12. 5 Latreille, Annal. du Mus, 1810. 5, 
pod 
