Sphecidae, Andrenidae, and Megachilidae 517 



label inside. This is a double check to accuracy. The emerging insects 

 are given the same number and are distinguished one from another by 

 the date or time of emergence. 



When the insects are in the late stages of development, there has been 

 little need for supplying moisture. When one has pollen and eggs, or 

 young bee larvae and pollen, a piece of a live plant leaf inserted in the 

 tube has supplied sufficient moisture. The amount of moisture may be 

 regulated easily and successfully by varying the size of the leaf surface. 

 The leaf does not require changing oftener than every day and may be 

 left longer. The period during which this attention is required is com- 

 paratively short, being only until feeding is over. The same treatment 

 applies to wasps, although there is no need for adding moisture except 

 in a few cases, as for example in the case of the pollen-using wasps, 

 Pseudomasaris spp. The temperature does not need to be constant and 

 may be increased somewhat above ordinary room temperature. This 

 increase hastens development and, by regulating it, one may have in- 

 sects emerging any month of the fall, winter, or spring. The emergence 

 may easily be "timed" to meet the need of the individual or the needs 

 of general or special classes in entomology. 



The nests of insects taken from the ground, especially of those insects 

 nesting near the surface or in hard banks, respond readily to the methods 

 outlined above. In a few instances, involving but a comparatively small 

 number of species, it would seem that a careful regulation of tempera- 

 ture and humidity are needed. The required change should follow an 

 attempt to approximate the normal conditions under which the species 

 develop in nature. 



Bees successfully reared have been those belonging to the following 

 genera: Alcidamea, Andronicus, Anthidium, Anthophora, Ashmeadiella, 

 Augochlora, Bremus, Callanthidium, Ceratina, Chelynia, Coelioxys, 

 Dianthidium, Dioxys, Exomalopsis, Halictus, Hoplitina, Hylaeus, Lith- 

 urgus, Megachile, Mellisodes, Nomia, Osmia, Perdita, Proteriades, 

 Pseudomelecta, Spinoliella, Stelis, Xylocopa, Zacosmia and some 

 others. 



Some of the wasps reared have been specimens belonging to these 

 genera: Anoplius, Bembex, Cerceris, Ceropales, Chalybion, Chlorion, 

 Crabro, Dryudella, Eucerceris, Eumenes, Eusapyga, Odynerus, Poda- 

 lonia, Polistes, Psammochares, Pseudomasaris, Sapyga, Sceliphrons, 

 Sphex, Trypoxylon and others. Many parasites and other insects, such 

 as chalcids, chrysids, ichneumonids, parasitic beetles, mutillids, gall in- 

 sects, sawflies and the like, have likewise been reared. 



This method of rearing enables the investigator to obtain large num- 

 bers of various adult insects and to follow their earlier development. It 

 supplies insects for taxonomic work, for studies involving accurate 



