114 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM rou 75 



BEMBIX ROSTRATA Linnaeus 



Figures 187-189 



Apis rostrata Linnaeus, Oelandska och Gothlandska Resa, 1745, p. 246. 

 Bemhcx rostrata Handliesch, Sitz. Akad. Wissensch, Wien, Math.-Nat. CI., 

 vol. 102, 1893, p. 764.— Dalla Torre. Cat. Hym., vol. 8, 1897, p. 512. 



According to Handlirsch, this species is one of the most numerous 

 and most widely distributed of the paleartic group, being distributed 

 from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia and from Portugal to Mon- 

 golia. The male is strongly characterized by the dentate middle 

 femur, the deeply excavated and dilated last three segments of the 

 flagellum, the tuberculate second and sixth sternites, and the strong 

 carina of the seventh sternite, which, at the apex of the segment, 

 terminates in a two-pointed process. Of the five males before me 

 these structural characters are constant but variation in the macula- 

 tions is great. On one specimen the fasciae on the tergites are broad 

 and all except the first are continuous; on another they are narrow 

 and all are interrupted at the midline. One male bears the label, 

 " Europe " ; two bear the label, " Germany " ; the fourth bears the 

 label, "Aranjuez, G. Mercet " ; and the fifth bears the label, '' Gray," 

 A single female before me, which bears the label, " Los Molinos. 

 G. Mercet," has the fasciae on the tergites creamy white instead of 

 yellow as on the males. 



BEMBIX PICTICOLLIS Morawitz 



Figure.s 139-181 



Benibex pictioollls Morawitz, Horae soc. Eiit. Roi^s., vol. 23. 1889, p. 144. — 

 Handlirsch, Sitz. Akad. Wissensch. Wien, Math.-Nat. CI., vol. 102. 1893. 

 p. 7G7.— Dalla Torre, Cat. Hym., vol. 8. 1897, p. 511. 



This species is closely related to BeTnhix rostrata Linnaeus. With 

 I'egard to the form and structure of the antennae, middle femora, and 

 the genitalia, the two species are almost identical and their resem- 

 blance in the color and character of their maculations is quite close. 

 The form of the seventh sternite on the two species is quite different : 

 On roHtrata this sternite bears a distinct, median, longitudinal carina 

 that is bifurcate at the apex, whereas the carina on this sternite on 

 plcticollls is simple and does not reach the apex of the sternite. The 

 form of the spine^on the eighth sternite is also different : On rostrata 

 the spine is long, curved, and pointed in the normal fashion, whereas 

 on picticoJlh. although it is sliarply pointed, it is short, straight, and 

 broadly flattened. The form of the seventh tergite is also different as 

 is shown by Figures 161 and 189. 



