C. L. Walton 13 



Wasps. 



These insects are usually fairly abundant, but were peculiarly 

 scarce in 1916, although queens were plentiful during the spring and 

 I obtained specimens of Vespa vulgaris, V. germanica, and V. rufa ; 

 the two former commonly. Old nests of V. sylvestris have been observed 

 but I have not taken the insect. 



Humble Bees, Bomhi. 



I am indebted to Mr T. Alan Stephenson for the following notes 

 on the Bombi and Psithyri of the Aberystwyth Area. 



At my suggestion he gave considerable attention to these groups 

 during 1915-16. 



Twelve species of Bombus and five of Psithyrus have occurred, 

 namely : 



B. lapfonicus, Fab. 



B. hortorum, L. 



B. derhamellus, Kirby. 



B. sylvarum, L. 



B. agrorum, Fab. 



B. helferanus, Seedl. 



P. campesfris, Panzer. 

 P. quadricolor, Lepeletier. 



Of these, B. agrorum is the most abundant and widely distributed 

 species, while lapidarius, Jucorum, and hortorum, are almost equally 

 common. 



B. sylvarum. and helferanus are fairly frequent; while terrestris, 

 pratorum and soroensis are scarce. B. jonellus only occurred two or 

 three times; while of derhamellus, three queens have been taken, 

 and of lapponicus a single male only. 



Of the Psithyri the most abundant is campestris, which preys upon 

 B. agrorum : P. harbutellus is fairly frequent, as one would expect from 

 the fact that it is parasitic on B. hortorum. P. rupesfris is more fre- 

 quent than barbutellus, while of distinctus two queens have been obtained, 

 and of quadricolor one only. 



The Honey Bee, Apis mellifica. 



The Isle of Wight disease has caused serious loss around Aberystwyth 

 during the course of the Survey. Commencing apparently near the 



