INSECT A — LEPIDOPTERA. 
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differing from S. cuprarius by its smaller size and dark base of the 
tarsi, which, in the other, are yellow ; S. nigripes, which, however, better 
agrees with S. nitidus, Meig., than the one defined as such by the 
author, remarkably differing in size, &c. 
The larva of Clitellaria epMppium has been found out by Zeller ; 
it is very similar to that of Sargus. (Isis, p. 826, t. 1, f. 35.) 
The reporter (Arch. 1842, i. p. 272) has described a new species from 
Van Diemen’s Land, Odontomyia stricta. 
Syrphid^. — Schummel (Arbeit, der Schles. Ges. fur Vaterl. Kult, 
1842, p. 15) has continued his list of the Syrphidce observed in Silesia, 
embracing the genera Paragus, Ascia, Sphegina, Baccha. Par. dispar, 
Sph. elegans, Baccha nigricornis, are new species. 
Gimmerthal (Bull. Mosc. p. 668) has characterized two new species of 
Paragus : P. albipes and nigritus, the former of which appears to agree 
with the ^ of the P. dispar, Schumm. ; also (p. 670) one new species of 
Cheilosia : Ch. atra. 
Stager (Kroyer Naturh. Tidsskr. iv. p. 320) has distinguished with 
great care and exactness the Danish species of Platycheirus, Enc. (sub- 
genus of Syrphus) from each other. The species are, — 1. manicatus. 
Mg .(?) ; 2. peltatus, Mg. ; 3. scutatus, Mg. ; 4. clypeatus, Mg. ; 5. qua- 
dratus, Macq. (?), the $ is recognisable by the bluish forehead, narrow 
pointed abdomen, want of the four pairs of spots, &c. ; 6. scambus, Stag., 
(Sccev. clypeata, var., Zett. Ins. Lapp.), distinguished as a species by 
its greater size, yellow anterior legs with long black bristles, fringeless 
middle tibiae of the $ crooked and somewhat hollowed internally ; 7. ful- 
viventris, Macq, ; 8. albimanus, Mg. ; 9. Ocymi, Mg. lobatus, Mg.) 
Zeller (Isis, p. 830) has remarked, that the genus Boros has not as yet 
been distinguished from Syrphus by any character which is universally 
applicable. 
Zeller (Ent. Zeit. p. 65) has drawn evidence, from cases of mixed 
union observed by himself, in favour of the view taken by Macquart, of 
the identity of the Volucella plumata and bombylans. The reporter 
(ibid. p. 113) has shown the same, by the description of the varieties 
found in the Berlin collection, of which the first (bombylans) passes, 
by four intermediate steps (among which is hcemorrhoidalis, Zett.), gra- 
dually into the sixth (plumata), which, by a seventh variation, is brought 
back to the first (bombylans). 
The history of the metamorphosis of the Volucella inanis has been 
investigated by Schmidt (ibid. p. 20), He found the larvae in September 
in a wasps’ nest, both in the brood-cells and in the exterior coverings. 
When the whole wasps’ nest was put into a glass half filled with earth, 
the larvae went into the earth, remained in it until March, and in April 
became pupae. This larva has also been found by Guerin and Le- 
pelletier in wasps’ nests, but was confounded with the V. botnbylans 
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