1896.] 



39 



A LIST OF IRISH HYMENOPTERA ACUEEATA. 



BY PERCY K. FREKE. 



I OFFER the following paper on the Aculeate Hymenoptera 

 of Ireland, not with any pretentions to its being a complete 

 list of that part of our fauna, but as a first effort towards a 

 more complete knowledge of the number and distribution of 

 its members. 



When taking up lately the study of this subject I found no 

 list of our Irish Aculeate Hymenoptera to guide me with 

 reference to occurrences or the distribution of such insects as 

 I obtained, and it is with a view to establishing some such 

 record, and inducing others to aid us with more complete 

 information, that I now propose the following list as a basis 

 on which to commence. 



I regret that my notes cover but a part only of this country ; 

 from much of the western side of Ireland I have no records ; 

 and even the eastern side, with the exception of what might 

 be termed the Dublin district, has hitherto been worked in a 

 most casual manner. When others who have better 

 opportunities than I have had, can be induced to record 

 their captures, the number of species in my list will probably 

 be very much increased, and many that I have met with but 

 sparingly may be found abundant in other localities. 



I must here offer my warmest thanks to Mr. Edward 

 Saunders, for the patience and kindness he has shown me in 

 naming insects which I have sent for his determination ; to 

 Mr. Carpenter and Mr. Halbert, of the Irish National Museum, 

 for their unfailing kindness and courtesy in giving me on all 

 occasions the benefit of their experience, and allowing me to 

 inspect the insects in the National collection ; and to my 

 coadjutor, Mr. H. G. Cuthbert. in freely furnishing me with 

 records of his many captures, and in largely adding to the 

 material of my collection. I have also to thank the Flora and 

 Fauna Committee of the Royal Irish Academy for the records 

 of specimens collected under their auspices. 



The letter (M) signifies that the specimen is in the Dublin 

 Museum collection. The name of the collector or authority 

 is added in all but the common species of general distribution* 



