4 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [January, 



The Bees of Maine and Indiana. 



By JOHN H. L,ovELL, Waldoboro, Maine. 

 PROSOPIS. 



While the bees of the genus Prosopis are widely distributed, 

 comparatively few species occur in any one locality. In New 

 Mexico there have been described P. asinhia, mcsillcF, ritd- 

 bcckicr, tridcntidfc and wootoni ; in Illinois P. ajfinis (ziziee), 

 illinccnsis, modesta, ndnmbonis, pygmcea, sanicuhe and thaspii ; 

 in New Jersey P. affinis, antennata, conflucns, modes fa and 

 pygm&a ; and in Canada P. affinis, basalis, clliptica, modesta 

 and varifrons. It will be observed that the species of New 

 Mexico differ entirely from those of Illinois, and belong to a 

 southern type. The bees of northeastern America, including 

 Illinois, New Jersey, New England and Canada, form a natural 

 group containing several species in common, while others are 

 more local in their distribution. 



My collections have been made within an area of a few 

 square miles in Lincoln County, in southern Maine. This 

 county lies in latitude 44 and borders upon the salt water. 

 Very likely, when the State has been thoroughly explored, 

 additional species may be discovered. This paper is based upon 

 66 specimens taken by myself at Waldoboro, Maine ; and 37 

 specimens collected for me by Mr. R. J. Weith, at Elkhart, 

 Indiana. I have been unable to find any record of observations 

 upon Maine bees. 



i. P. basalis Sm., 1853. 



This is a very rare species in this locality. I ^have taken 

 only a single specimen, a female, on the flowers of Aralia his- 

 pida which blooms in July. This species has been recorded 

 from Canada, New Hampshire and New York. It may be re- 

 cognized by its large size and the absence in the female of all 

 yellow markings. The length of this specimen is 9 mm. Black, 

 tarsi ferruginous, also the edge of the wing base. Face closely 

 punctate, punctures elongate ; clypeus and sides of face mi- 

 nutely pubescent ; thorax closely punctate. First segment of 

 abdomen smooth and shining, apical margin fringed laterally 

 with a white pubescence. 



