200 



A tachinid fly, Brachycoina davidsoni Coq. (Coquillett, '97, p. 

 10) has been bred from a larva of Bomhiis fcrvidus Fabr. The larva 

 of the syrphid fly Volucella lives as a scavenger in Bombus nests (Cf. 

 Metcalf, '13, p. 68). The conopid flies Physocephala and Conops are 

 parasitic on Bombus. A nematode parasite, SpJiccndaria bonibi, in- 

 fests hibernating queens. It has been found in B. pcnjisylvanicus, fer- 

 vidus, and consiinUis (Cf. Stiles '95). 



Bombus auricomus Rob. 



Two males of this species were taken from flowers of the large- 

 leaved rosin-weed, Silphiiun terebinthmaceum, on the prairie area 

 east of Charleston (Sta. Ill, b), Aug. 26 (No. 175). This bumble- 

 bee was also taken bv T. L. Hankinson (Sta. I) Julv 3, 191 1 (No. 

 7665). (Cf. Franklin, '13, Pt. I, p. 413.) 



Bombus impaticns Cress. Impatient Bumblebee. 



A sino-le female was taken from the flowers of the broad-leaved 

 rosin- weed, Silpliiuui terebintJiinaceum, east of Charleston (Sta. 

 Ill, b), Aug. 26 (No. 175). 



Bombus f rat emus Smith. 



Two females of this species were taken on flowers of the swamp 

 milkweed, Asclcpias iucaniata: one of them (No. i) at Station I, g, 

 Aug. 8; and the other (No. 12) at Station I, d, Aug. 9. 



Bombus scparatus Cress. 



This species was collected from the swamp milkweed, Asclcpias 

 incarnata, as follows : Station I, g, Aug. 8 (No. i) ; Station I, d, Aug. 

 9 (No. 12); Station l,d, Aug. 24 (No. 157) — the latter had been 

 captured by the flower spider Mismnena alcatoria Hentz ; and one 

 male from flowers of the horse mint, Monarda (Sta. I), Aug. 11 

 (No. 22). 



Psithyrus variabilis Cress. False Bumblebee. 



A single female was taken from the flowers of the horse mint, 

 Monarda (Sta. I), Aug. 11 (No. 22) ; and a male was taken on the 

 prairie west of Loxa from flowers of the blazing star, Liatris scar- 

 iosa (Sta. II), Aug. 27 (No. 176). These bees are parasitic in the 

 nests of Bombus. For an excellent account of the habits of the Brit- 

 ish species, Sladen ('12, pp. 59-72) should be consulted. 



Apid^ 



Apis mellifera Linn. Honey-bee. 



Workers of this species were extremely abundant on flowers of 

 the milkweed Asclcpias incarnata (Sta. I, and Sta. l,d,g) Aug. 8 



