May, '02] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 137 



Lithurgopsis, a New Genus of Bees. 

 By WILLIAM J. Fox. 



A recent letter from Mr. T. D. A. Cockerell suggested that 

 I.ithurgus oblongus Fox, described from Lower California, was 

 possibly not a Lithurgus, but a species of Megachile. I find 

 on examining the type that, while having a strong superficial 

 resemblance to species of Lithurgus, i.e., in the laminate, or 

 projecting face, oblong us is really a Megachile, the first hind 

 tarsal joint being flattened as in the latter genus and not cylin- 

 drical as in L/ithurgus, and its labial palpi are 4-jointed. As 

 the name oblonga is preoccupied in Megachile it is necessary to 

 propose a new name for MegachiJc (=Li(hnrgi(s) oblonga Fox 

 and I herewith suggest the term long it lu. 



Historically, the genus [.itlutrgit* is not without interest. 

 Latreille, 1 825, * indicates Ccntris corniita Fab. (=Mcgachilc cor- 

 /////<z)as the type of a genus, to which he gives a French name, 

 Lithurge. In the same year Lepeletier de v St. Fargeau 2 refers 

 to Latreille's genus Lithurge without Latinizing it. Berthold, 

 1827, 3 edited a German translation of Latreille's Families, etc., 

 on page 467 of which the Latin term Lithurgus is used for the 

 first time. As vernacular names have no standing in nomen- 

 clature, obviously the genus should date from the first use of a 

 Latin term of it. Therefore, the name of the "stone-bees" 

 should henceforth stand as Lithurgus Berthold, 1827, and 

 not Latreille, to whom the generic term has heretofore been 

 crediled. 



The references to Lithurge Latreille which I have found are 

 in almost every instance either incorrect or incomplete. Box *. r 

 de Fonscolombe, 1834,* refers to the right work, but curiously 

 enough says "torn. 2, p. 350," there being but one volume, 

 and the term occurring on page 463. Later writers as Lepele- 

 tier de Saint Fargeau, F. Smith, and Freise in 1899, refer to 



1 Families naturelles du r'cgne animal, Paris, 1825, p. 463. 



2 Encyclopedic methodique, Insect., A', p. 795, sSj$. The title pai;r to 

 this volume is dated 1792, but the work having been issued in parts, page 

 795 did not appear until 1825. 



: .Vii/urliche Familicn </<. 77//V/vr/V//.\ init .Inincrkitngt'n mid /.usaf. 

 zcn :'<>n /)/-. .In/. .It/. Hcrlhold, W'cimar, 1827. 

 * Annales de la Socielc Entomol. de /'> ii/t, c \ T., Ill, 



