230 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Para I ictus simplex, n. sp. 



9 . — Closely resembles P. platyparius, Rob., but may be readily 

 distinguished by the cheeks being broad and rounded, not produced to 

 an obtuse angle as in that species. 



Carlinville, Illinois ; 3 $ specimens. 



Halictus truncatus, n. sp. 



Hal ictus similis, Robertson, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc, 22 : 145, $ , 

 1893. 



Halictus similis, Robertson, Trans. Acad. Sci., St. Louis, 10: 52, 



6 , 19°°- 



This species and H. arcuatus, Rob., have both been identified as 

 H similis, Sm. It is doubtful to which one that name applies, or whether 

 it applies to either of them. 



Melissodes cuici, n. sp. 



? Melissodes desponsa, Smith, B. M. Cat. Hym., 2 : 310, $ , 1854. 

 Melissodes nigripes, Smith, ibid. 311, 3 (not $ ). 

 Melissodes desponsa, Robertson, Trans. Acad. Sci., St. Louis, 7: 354, 

 o, 1897. 



This is an oligotropic visitor of thistles. It is abundant on the 

 flowers, the female getting her pollen exclusively from them. Two males 

 taken on Mouarda fistulosa are the only specimens of this species taken 

 on any other flowers. 



Melissodes dentiveulris, Sm. 



? Macrocera Americana, Lepeletier, Hist. Ins. Hym., 2: 92, £ , 

 1841. 



? Melissodes obliqua, Smith, B. M. Cat. Hym., 2 : 310, 9 > ^'bA- 



Melissodes dent iventr is, Smith, ibid., 212, £ . 



Melissodes dentivcutris, Robertson, Trans. Acad. Sci., St. Louis, 7: 



353. 9, l8 97- 



This was identified for me by Mr. Cresson as M. obliqua, Sm., 

 and is about as likely to prove to be the true M. obliqua as the 

 preceding is. Specimens which are a little faded and in which the 

 oblique fascise of abdomen are not evident would readily be identified as 

 that species. The preceding, being an almost exclusive visitor of 

 thistles, is more likely to be overlooked. M. dentiventris has been taken 

 on the flowers of sixteen species of nine different genera. The dermina- 

 tion of M. Americana is too doubtful to justify its use. 



