197 



the mcnintain mint Pyciiauthcnntni fic.riiosiiui (Sta. I, g) Aug. 8 (No. 

 6) ; from flowers of Silphium intcgnfolium (Sta. II) Aug. 13 (No. 

 48) ; and from flowers of Fycnaiifhcnntiu flcxuosinn or pilosum (Sta. 

 II) Aug. 13 (No. 52). 



It is said to be "parasitic on the species of Colletes," but Robertson 

 ('99. pp. 35, 37) does not accept this view, and Ashmead (Psyche, Vol. 

 7, pp. 41-42. 1894) states that Bpcoliis donatiis Smith makes a nest 

 in the ground and provisions it with a honey-paste. He describes the 

 burrows, tgg, and larva. 



Robertson has published keys to the Carlinville (111.) species of 

 Bpcolns (Can. Ent., Vol. 35, pp. 284-288. 1903). 



EUCERID.^ 



McUssodcs aurigenia Cress. 



A single female of this species was taken from flowers of ver- 

 bena ( near Sta. I, &) Aug. 11 (No. 23). 



The homing behavior of this genus of bees has been studied by 

 Turner (Biol. Bull., Vol. 15, 247-258. 1908). He concludes that 

 memory is utilized. 



Melissodes himacidata St. Farg. 



This bee was taken from the heads of the cone-flower, Lepachys 

 pinnata (Sta. I, e), Aug. 8 (No. 8) ; abundantly from flowers of the 

 mountain mint Pycnanthemitm flcxnosum (Sta. I, ^) Aug. 8 

 (No. 6) ; on the Loxa prairie on flowers of the rosin-weed, Silphiniu. 

 intcgrifoliiun (Sta. II), Aug. 13 (No. 48; and on the cleared margin 

 of the Bates woods on flowers of the mountain mint, /-*. pilosnin (Sta. 

 IV, a), Aug. 22 (No. 146). 



Some observations on the "sleeping habits" of this bee and of other 

 Hymcnoptcra have been made by Banks ( Journ. N. Y. Ent. Soc, Vol. 

 10, pp. 209-214. 1902). Graenicher ('05, p. 164) has recorded ob- 

 servations on the habits of M. trinodis Rob. and also on its bee para- 

 site Triepeolus. Ashmead (Psyche, Vol. 7, p. 25. 1894) found the 

 burrows of biniacidata eight inches deep in the soil. 



Melissodes desponsa Smith. 



This bee was taken on the cleared margin of the Bates woods on 

 flowers of the mountain mint PycnantJieuium pilosum (near Sta. 

 IV, a) Aug. 22 (No. 146). 



Melissodes obliqiia Say. 



This bee w^as found abundant upon flowers of the cone-flower, Le- 

 pachys pinnata (Sta. I, e), Aug. 8 (No. 8) ; it was taken from flowers 

 of the white mint, Pycnanthemum flexuosum (Sta. I), Aug. 11 (No. 



