s of the Twelve-spotted Mylabris are white, cylindrical, rounded at
both ends and measure a millimetre and a half in length by half a
millimetre in width.[6] Those of the Four-spotted Mylabris are straw
coloured and of an elongated oval, a trifle fuller at one end than at
the other. Length, two millimetres; width, a little under one
millimetre.[7]

[Footnote 6: .058 x .019 inch.--_Translator's Note_.]

[Footnote 7: .078 x .039 inch.--_Translator's Note_.]

Of all the batches of eggs collected, one alone hatched. The rest were
probably sterile, a suspicion corroborated by the lack of pairing in
the breeding-cage. Laid at the end of July, the eggs of the
Twelve-spotted Mylabris began to hatch on the 5th of September. The
primary larva of this Meloid is still unknown, so far as I am aware;
and I shall describe it in detail. It will be the starting-point of a
chapter which perhaps will give us some fresh sidelights upon the
history of the hypermetamorphosis.

The larva is nearly 2 millimetres long.[8] Coming out of a good-sized
egg, it is endowed with greater vigour than the larvae of the Sitares
and Oil-beetles. The head is large, rounded, slightly wider than the
prothorax and of a rather brighter red. Mandibles powerful, sharp,
curved, with the ends crossing, of the same colour as the head, darker
at the tips. Eyes black, prominent, globular, very distinct. Antennae
fairly long, with three joints, the last thinner and pointed. Palpi
very much pronounced.

[Footnote 8: .078 inch.--_Translator's Note_.]

The first thoracic segment has very nearly the same diameter as the
head and is much longer than those which come after. It forms a sort
of cuirass equal in length to almost three abdominal segments. It is
squared off in front in a straight line and is rounded at the sides
and at the back. Its colour is bright red. The second ring is hardly a
third as long as the first. It is also red, but a little browner. The
third is dark brown, with a touch of green to it. This tint is
repeated throughout the abdomen, so that in the matter of colouring
the creature is divided into two sections: the front, which is a
fairly bright red, includes the head and the first two thoracic
segments; the second, which is a greenish brown, includes the third
thoracic segment and the nine abdominal rings.

The three pairs of legs are pale red, strong and long, considering the
creature's smallness. They end in a single long, sharp claw.

The