412 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Various species of Megachile have been recorded elsewhere. 

 It will be observed that in Texas the species of Nomia become 

 quite conspicuous. In New Mexico N. triangulifera Vachal occurs 

 on Helianthus. 



Do the bees distinguish the annual and perennial sunflowers, 

 or between the species of either group? Are there species of bees 

 adopted to particular species of Helianthus? At present we cannot 

 produce any satisfactory evidence on this point; differences 

 observed may be no more significant for the discussion than those 

 between the visitors of the same species (H. lenticularis) in 

 different regions. Robertson, in Illinois, finds Andrena helianthi 

 Rob., A. pulchella Rob., and A. alicice Rob., on perennial 

 sunflowers. At Boulder we get only one of these on the annual 

 species, A. helianthi; but in New Mexico A. pulchella appears on 

 H. lenticularis. In the vicinity of Milwaukee, Wis., Graenicher 

 gets four species of Andrena on sunflowers; A. helianthi Rob. (the 

 most common), A. alicice Rob., A. peckhami Ckll., and 

 A. clypeonitens Ckll. These all visit perennial species. 



In view of the fact that Helianthus is exclusively American, 

 and possesses in our fauna a long series of more or less adapted 

 bee-visitors, it becomes very interesting to enquire what happens 

 when sunflowers are grown in the Old World. Do the bees of 

 those regions find them out, and if so, are they allied to the 

 regular American sunflower bees? 



Aljken, in Bremen (Abh. Nat. Ver. Bremen, XXII, pp. 180- 

 181) observed the bees visiting cultivated H. annuus. His list is 

 as follows: Bombus, 8 species; Psithyrus, 3 species, all males; 

 Megachile, 2 species, females; Halictus leucozonius; Coelioxys 

 acuminatus; Apis mellijera; Anthidiuni manicatum. It will be 

 seen at once that this closely corresponds in character with 

 American lists, leaving out the genera peculiar to America, and 

 also certain genera, as Andrena,. our species of which appear to be 

 oligotropic. 



The perennial sunflowers in European gardens are visited by 

 Apis, Bombus, Psithyrus, Halictus, Megachile and Heriades. 



In Australia, Mrs. M. Anderson collected bees for me from 

 flowers of H. annuus, and it was very interesting to find that 



