58 WM. H. A8HMEAD. 



Family III. EUGLOSSID^. 

 This family is erected to contain two genera of bees found in 

 Mexico, Central and South America, viz., Euglossa and Eulema, 

 usually placed with the Anthophoridae, but which clearly, on account 

 of the character of the hind legs, are not at all related to them, but 

 show a closer affinity with Bombus, Apis and Melipona. 



Table of Genera. 



Marginal cell at apex narrowly rounded, always separated from the costa ; second 

 and third subinargiual cells each receiving a recurrent nervure, cubi- 

 tal cells, along the cubitus, nearly equal, or the second is sometimes 

 the shortest or smallest. 

 Third cubital cell, along the cubitus, fully as long or distinctly longer than 

 either the first or second ; thorax and abdomen clothed with a short 



dense pubescence 2. 



Third cubital cell, along the cubitus, scarcely as long as the first, the second 

 clearly smaller than either the first or third ; body strongly metallic- 

 bare or nearly. 

 Labrum and clypeus tricarinate ; scutellum large, semicircular, with a median 

 depressed line posteriorly, which, in 9 , is frequently filled with a 

 cleft of black hairs Euglossa Latr. 



2. Labrum and clypeus tricarinate; scutellum large, quadrangular, fiat, the 

 lateral margins slightly reflexed, the 9 usually with a tuft of black 

 pubescence medially, as in Euglossa; maxillary palpi 1-jointed, com- 

 pressed Eulema Lepel. 



Family IV. PSITHYRID^. 

 (The Falsa Buinblee-Bee). 

 This family is monogenetic and comprises Bombiis-Y\ke parasitic 

 bees, easily and often confused with the genuine bumble or hum- 

 ble bees, their external structural characters being almost essen- 

 tially the same. The following characters will, however, readily 

 distinguish them : 



9 without eorbiculse, with the hind tibiae dorsally convex and densely pilose; 

 hind tarsi not forcipate at base; anus iuflexed ; % with the hind 

 tibise equally pilose, the genitalia, squama and lacinia always mem- 

 branous Psithyrus Lepeletier. 



Family V. ANTHOPHORIDSE. 



This is probably the most extensive family among the bees, and 

 is found widely distributed over the entire globe. Unlike the honey- 

 bees and the bumble bees, all the species are solitary in their habits 

 and consist of but two sexes — a S and a 9 . 



The following table will enable the student to determine the 

 genera at present recognized : 



