70 WM. H. ASHMEAD. 



Family VIII. XYLOCOPID.E. 



(The Large Carpenter Bees). 



The bees belonging in this family are for the most part very large, 

 robust bees, having the head and thorax, especially laterally, clothed 

 with a rather dense pubescence, the abdomen convex above, with a 

 ventral scopa, while the hind tibire and tarsi in the females are 

 furnished with a dense polleniferous scopa. 



These bees closely resemble the bumble bees, and some of the 

 largest bees, if not the largest bees known, belong to it. 



I have included with them two genera of uncertain position, 

 namely, Oxcea and Lestes, which probably should be considered as a 

 subfamily Oxseinre. They are placed here on account of possessing 

 the long, narrow, marginal cell, which is characteristic of the family. 



Dr. Henry Freise has quite recently placed Oxa-a with certain 

 Col letidse, Megacilissa, Gaupolocana, etc., but I cannot believe this to 

 be its true position, since the mouth parts are totally different from 

 these bees. Its affinities, it seems to me, are much closer to the 

 Anthophorida?, where some authorities have already placed it. I 

 believe, however, its true position can only be settled definitely when 

 its habits are known. 



The genera which I have recognized in this family may be tabu- 

 lated as follows : 



Table of Genera. 



Front wings with three cubital cells 2. 



Front wings with two cubital cells. 



Thorax in J with either a blue or bluish gray pubescence ; maxillary palpi 

 5-jointed, the first joint short, stout, the second much the longest 

 joint; lab rum in 9 trilobed ; % with the eyes somewhat convergent 

 above, the tibiae long and rather slender, the bind tibia? at apex pro- 

 duced into a strong blunt process beneath (Java). 



Cyaneoderes Ashm. n. g. (Type C. Fairchildi Ashm., 



also A*", coerulea Fabr. ). 



2. Third cubital cell, along the cubitus, only slightly longer than the second, but 



along the radius a little shorter; second cubital cell oblong-quadrate, 



never triangular; legs clothed with moderately long, sparse hair. . . .5. 



Third cubital cell much longer than either the first or second. 



Second cubital cell half the length of the first, quadrate or nearly; first 



recurrent nervure interstitial or nearly with the second transverse. 



cubitus 4. 



Second cubital cell triangular; first recurrent nervure interstitial or nearly 

 with the second transverse cubitus, sometimes entering the second 

 cubital cell just in front of this nervure; second recurrent nervure 

 received by the third cubital cell a little beyond the middle: eyes 

 densely pubescent. 



