List of British Curculionidæ, with Synonyma, Volumes 1-4

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order of the Trustees [of the British Museum (Natural History)], 1856 - 46 pages

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Page 167 - ... for the sake of its tomentum, which probably it turns to some purpose in the business of nidification. It is very pleasant to see with what address it strips off the pubes, running from the top to the bottom of a branch, and shaving it bare with all the dexterity of a hoop-shaver. When it has got a vast bundle, almost as large as itself, it flies away, holding it secure between its chin and its fore legs.
Page 35 - Anthophora retusa and pilipes ; this circumstance would appear to confirm, or indicate a connection between the insects, and from analogy we might readily conclude that this Pediculus must be a parasite on some species of bee ; but we have nothing in support of this supposition, and against it we have the following observations : — Mr. Newport has shown that it cannot be the larva of Meloe cicatricosus, and, as well as myself, has proved that it cannot be that of M. violaceus or of M.
Page 111 - The scape in front, the clypeus, the face on each side, the labrum and mandibles, yellow ; the latter...
Page 34 - ... in their larval condition. From the fact of seldom more than two Stylops being found to infest the same bee, we may suppose that to be the largest number which infests one larva of an Andrena; they undergo their changes in the body of the bee, the male on its final transformation becoming an active winged insect, the female remaining a mere apod, attached for life to the bee which nourished it. A most complete and interesting summary of the observations of entomologists on these parasites will...
Page 33 - Much further investigation is still necessary before we can arrive at a knowledge of the real nature of the connexion which exists between the bees and their parasites. It has been supposed that the parasitic larva is hatched sooner than that of the rightful owner of the nest, and that it consequently consumes the food, and leaves the larva of the bee to perish ; but to this I do not assent : it appears so contrary to all natural laws, that I cannot think it even probable : nature I have never observed...
Page 8 - Halictus is one of the smallest of the family. Angochlora embraces bees whose bodies are slightly hirsute, and of a rich shiny green. Mr. Fred. Smith, an English entomologist, says of the economy of this genus, that " it is so remarkably different from that of all other solitary bees, except of those belonging to the genus Sphecodes, that I am surprised it had escaped the researches of my predecessors, who, like myself, ' have loved to hear the wild bees
Page 8 - July scarcely an individual was to be found ; a solitary female now and then might be seen, but the spring bees had almost disappeared ; about the middle of August the males began to come forth, and by the end of the month abounded ; the females succeeded the males in their appearance about ten or twelve days : these industrious creatures began the tasks assigned to them, burrowing and forming their nests ; one of their little tunnels had usually others running into it, so that a single common entrance...
Page 34 - Transactions,' which contains Mr. George Newport's most interesting memoir on Meloe cicatricosus ; in this paper it is shown that the larva of the beetle feeds on that of Anthophora pilipes ; but it remains to be proved, that the larva of an Andrena can serve as food for the larva of a Meloe; I am inclined to think this can never be the case, and that the fact of our finding them on these bees is a mere indication of the usual habit of the larvae in attaching themselves to any insect which comes...

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