BEES, WASPS, ANTS, ETC. 



537 



Sphecodes, the first genus of the Acutilingues, has also l)een considered as parasitic 

 upon bees of the genus HaUctus^ but Smith has observed the females in the act of 

 burrowing. They burrow in the same situations as the Halicti, the two forming, as it 

 were, mixed colonies, but each individual has a distinct burrow. The above-men- 

 tioned author was iinnly of the opinion that there are no parasitic or inquilinous 

 species among the Andrenida 1 . The species of Sphecodes are smooth and wasp-like 

 in appearance, and derive their generic name from their resemblance, both in form and 

 habits, to the wasps of the genus fy>/iv,r. 



The species of the genus Ilalictus are very numerous, and are among the smallest 

 of the bees. The species are often metallic in color. They dig branched cells to a 

 depth of from six to ten inches, and are semi-gregarious in habit, a great many of the 

 burrows often being found clustered together. This genus, together with Sp/tecodes, 

 differs from all other solitary bees in the fact that the impregnated females hibernate, 

 as with the Vespidae, and as with JSombus, among the social bees. The mah-s and 

 females appear in the autumn, the former antedating the 

 latter in issuing. The females are impregnated and hibern- 

 ate, the males dying. The ensuing spring the surviving 

 females dig their burrows, make and provision their cells 

 and oviposit. The common American Ilalictus parallelus 

 is stated by Emerton to be double-brooded. The egg of 

 this species is long, slender, and much curved, obtuse at 

 one end and much smaller at the other. The larva is also 

 comparatively long and slender, and is large behind, taper- 

 ing towards the head. Its body is somewhat tuberculated, 

 enabling it to move about in its cell. The head of the pupa 

 is furnished with six distinct, conical tubercules, two larger, 

 between two of the ocelli, and four smaller, just in front 

 of the ocelli. Ilalictus is also subject to the attacks of 

 Stylops. 



The typical genus Andrena is of large extent, compris- 

 ing nearly two hundred European species. In habit the 

 bees of this genus closely resemble Ilalictus, burrowing in 

 light soil to a depth of from five to twelve inches, and 

 preferably choosing a southern aspect. With the common 

 Andrena vicina the burrow is perpendicular, with short 

 side passages obliquely downwards. The sides of the walls 

 are rough, but are glazed with a mucous-like secretion. 

 The deepest cells are provisioned last. In Massachusetts 

 the burrows are dug in May, provisioned by the last of this 

 month, and the larvae reach full growth by the last of July, 

 transforming to pupae early in August, and issuing as adults 

 before the first of September. The larva differs from that 



f TT T f -x -, T -, , .r. 



of Halictus in its stouter and less curved form, and in the FlG . 663 ._ Nestof AlldrenaviciHa . 

 less convex segments of its body. The bees of this genus 



are among the earliest insects seen in the spring, flying about in the sunshine and fre- 

 quenting the willow catkins and other early flowers. 



The insects of the family APID^E are characterized by the long labium and men- 

 turn which, with the maxillae, form an elongate proboscis, which may be folded 



