60 Entomological Society. 



" Notes upon the genus Hylceus, and on Cryptus bellosus, and 

 other insects." By G. H. K. Thwaites, Esq., M.E.S. 



In this communication (addressed to the Secretary) Mr. Thwaites 

 states, that he discovered in the preceding summer that Hylceus is not 

 parasitical, having reared several individuals of two species from 

 bramble sticks, the holes in which exactly corresponded with the size 

 of the insects, and were much too small for any other bee likely to 

 be found in such a situation except Heriades, which does not occur 

 in the neighbourhood of Bristol. Great care is taken by Mr. Thwaites 

 in cutting away the wood of bored sticks so as to expose the cocoons, 

 which are carefully watched, so that the insect escaping from each 

 is at once detected. 



It is desirable, Mr. Thwaites adds, to discover upon what kind of 

 food the larva of the Hylceus is fed, and if on pollen, how the parent 

 insect conveys it to its nest. Both Hylceus and Ceratina emit, when 

 captured, a considerable quantity of sticky fluid from the mouth ; 

 but they can scarcely convey pollen to their nidi by means of a ca- 

 pacious stomach. The cocoons of the Hylceus are arranged regu- 

 larly end to end, and the upper ones produce males, which come out 

 first. Mr. Thwaites has also reared a new species of Hylceus allied 

 to H. dilatatus, K., from bramble sticks. 



Mr. Thwaites has reared Cryptus bellosus from a cocoon in a hole 

 much too small for Epipone levipes, and which he believes to be 

 that of a new species of Trypoxylon which he has discovered near 

 Bristol. 



Upon reading Mr. Dale's account of the curious mode in which a 

 Stylops acted when a bee was placed under the glass in which it 

 Vas confined, it occurred to Mr. Thwaites that the Stylops may per- 

 haps lay its eggs on the body of the bee, and that they may be intro- 

 duced into the nest by being brushed off with the pollen. If the 

 bees, not infested, come out later than the others, the above idea 

 cannot be true ; but it is possible that he may have been deceived, 

 and that the bees he observed later may not have been the same 

 species. The Stylopized and other Andrence (mentioned in Mr. 

 Thwaites's short article in Trans. Ent. Soc, vol. iii. p. 67), appear 

 to have been introduced in his garden with some mould brought 

 there some months previously, as none had appeared since last year. 



" Memoir on the genus Hylceus, with descriptions of several new 

 British species." By Mr. F. Smith, who also stated that he had 

 reared Cryptus bellosus from the nests of more than one species of 

 bee. The following are the new species described in this memoir : — 



Hylceus cornutus, Kirby MSS. $ This species is remarkable for 

 the two teeth and frontal prominence which arm the clypeus ; an- 

 tennce fulvous beneath, posterior tibice annulated with yellow. — Cove 

 Common, Hants. Mus. Ent. Soc. London, and Smith. 



Hylaeus plantaris, Smith. $ Black ; plants of the intermediate legs 

 dilated at the base ; antennce yellow, short, with the scape consi- 

 derably dilated in males, with a black streak above ; thorax with 

 a yellow spot on each side of the collar. Length 3 lines. — Cove 

 Common, Hants. Mus. Smith. 



Hylaeus pallidens, Kirby MSS. <J Black ; scape of antenna with 



