Fam. Apida.
Apis, Linn.
A . m e l l i f lc a , Linn.— About thirty years ago, the common
Honey Bee was very abundant, and chiefly wild, in the Island. I t
swarmed and entered old rat holes, holes in the rocks, and even the
roofs of houses, getting in between the ceiling boards and the
covering. I t almost suddenly disappeared about eighteen or
twenty years since, but whether its destruction was occasioned
by the persecution met with through boys smoking it to death
in order to obtain the honey, or the Death’s-Head Moths robbing
it of its honey, or some other cause, has not been ascertained.
I t was re-introduced about six years ago, and is again becoming
wild about the rocky outskirts of the Island.
Fam. Fvaniadm.
Evania, Fabr.
E . la e v ig a ta , Latr.—A black, bob-tailed Fly, inhabiting the
warm low lands of Jamestown, Ladder Hill, &c., where it is likely
to meet with cockroaches, as it selects those creatures as a living
depository for its eggs. As this curious little insect is very
much less objectionable than the Cockroach, and is not very
abundant, the St. Helenians, especially the residents of Jamestown,
would do well to encourage it. I t may often be seen crawling over
the trunks of trees in Maldivia gardens, and even in the houses in
the town and at Ladder Hill. It inhabits, also, many parts of
Africa and of Asia.
Fam. IchneumonidcB.
Ichneumon, Linn.
* 1 . m a c u l i f em u r , Walk.—A black-bodied Ichneumon Fly, the
body being four to four and a half lines in length. This as well as
the following species is somewhat commonly found on the high
land, inhabiting damp places. My specimens were taken at The
Hermitage, where, amongst the Moon plants, they fly about during
the day time and evening in considerable numbers.
* 1 . d i f f in i s , W a lk—Another black-bodied Fly, but smaller in
size, measuring only four lines.
*1. l a t ip e s , Walk.—A still smaller species, having a shiny black
body, measuring only two and three-quarter lines in length.
Cryptus, Fabr.
*C. t r i a n g u l i f e r , Walk.—An insect very similar to the last, and
about the same size, with a black body. The specimens were taken
with the Ichneumon flies.
Pimpla, Fabr.
* P . s a n c ts e h e le n s e , Walk.--—A large black-bodied Ichneumon
Fly, perhaps more abundant than any of those before mentioned.
Frequently it is seen in houses at night, and generally about gardens
on the high land as evening approaches. The length of the
body is from five and a half to seven and a half lines, and it is easily
recognised by its being the largest of those flies which have a black
body. I t selects the large green caterpillars of Plusia aurifera in
which to deposit its eggs; and many chrysalides which I watched
with much care; hoping to see the rightful occupant emerge, yielded
only one of these troublesome creatures.
Paniscus, Grav.
# P . p ic e u s , Walk.—A large red-bodied Ichneumon Fly, more
abundant still than any of the aforementioned. The length of the
body is from seven to nine lines. On the high land, at night, these
flies come into the houses in considerable numbers and behave in a
very disagreeable manner; they dash into your face with unpleasant
force, and I have often seen them extinguish the flame of a candle
by tumbling into it one on the top of another, until they literally
choke it out.
Fam. Braconida.
Alysia, Latr.
A . c e p h a lo te s , Hal.—An extremely minute Ichneumon Fly,
taken at The Hermitage on the high land, and not abundant. I t
also inhabits Madeira.
Fam. Chalcidice.
Pteromalus, Swederus.
* P . ip s e a , Walk. — A small green Fly, taken by Mr. Darwin
from the high central land, and, with the following species, described
by Mr. Walker in his Monographia Chalciditum,” vol. ii. p. 97.
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