128 GEXKKA OF IIYMEXOl'TKRA. 



workers. By some systematise the latter family is restricted to tlie 

 social species only. 



In the larva state all the species feed on pollen or honey stored up 

 by the parent, the parasitic species, cuckoo-like, consuniinu' the food 

 provided foi- the legitimate inhabitant of the nest. 



In tabulatinj>: the "enera bclonii-inij to this series use has been iikkK' 

 of external characters when possible, simply because they arc more 

 easily seen, and although the arrangement is far tiom being a natuinl 

 one, as will be observed liy the way in which the genera of tlic two 

 families are intermixed in the tables, yet it will be found a much 

 easier mode of identification than if the more natural, tlnnigh olU'U 

 invisible characters, founded upon the modification of the mouth 

 parts, were used. These latter are generally retracted and hidden 

 in cabinet specimeiis, and unless drawn out and arranged before be- 

 coming dried, are troublesome to get at, and moreover cannot be dis- 

 tinctly seen without the aid of a lens of more than ordinary power. 



From the fact that the characters separating the two families of 

 this series are taken from the form of the tongue, and that no exter- 

 nal characters have been found that will distinguish them, the genera 

 belonging to both must necessarily intermix in the following table : 



Table of Genera. 



Anterior wings with three sul)inari;inal cells 2. 



Anterior wings with two subniarginal cells 19. 



2. — Posterior tibiae without apical spurs: eyes hairy, approximate above in % ; 

 marginal cell very long, almost reaching the a])ex of the wing : 



HKixillary palpi l-jointed; sexes 'J) 9 $^ Apis Linn. 



Posterior tibiae with apical spurs; tip (if marginal cell nnidte tVoni the apex 



of the wing 3. 



3. — First recurrent nervure quite or nearly uniting with the first transversc- 



cul)ital nervure Movjaoilissa Smith. 



First recurrent nervure received by the second submarginal cell near its 

 middle or beyond the middle, rarely uniting with the .second trans- 

 verse cubital nervure 4. 



4. — First discoidal cell nuich longer thau the marginal cell 5. 



First discoidal cell not as long or scarcely longer than the marginal cell.. 8. 

 ."). — Marginal cell short, not half the length of the first discoidal. and not or 

 scarcely extending beyond the apex of the third submarginal cell. 

 Scutellnm bituberculate; maxillary jialjii 5-jointed ; claws of the four pos- 

 terior tarsi dilated; abdomen generally with spots or inti'rrni>ted 

 bands of pale, depressed, scale-like pubescence .... .>I<'I<M'Iji Latr. 

 Scutellum bispino.se; maxillary jxilpi fj-jointed : tarsal claws uoi dilated; 



abdomen without pale spots l{4»iiil»oill4'l('<'la Tattoii. 



Marginal cell at least half the length of the first discoidal, and extending 

 more or less bevond the third siilniiargiiial cell 6. 



