11 



then proceeds to construct a nest, in a hole in the ground in some 

 species, amongst heritage in others, often appropriating an old nest 

 of a field-mouse. A mass of pollen is provided for the larvae and 

 added to when necessary, and a cell containing a nuiTiber of eggs 

 placed on it. These are kept warm by the brooding queen. When 

 hatched they feed on the pollen and also on a liquid honey and 

 pollen, on which they are fed by the queen. A few workers are 

 soon produced who help in the labours of the nest. As the nesfc 

 becomes more populous the Queen devotes all her time to egg- 

 laying and various indoor duties, the workers collecting the honey 

 and pollen and doing most of the work of the nest, such as cell 

 construction, feeding the larvje, and clearing away debris. The 

 young queens emerging late in the season help in the home for a 

 little while, but after pairing seek out their winter quarters ; the 

 males do not return to the nest but continue a life of pleasure at 

 flowers, etc., until killed off by inclement weather. The parasitic 

 queen, Psitlu/rus, makes its appearance later in the spring than 

 Bomb Its, and searches for a nest of the latter that already contains 

 a small number of workers. It puts the queen Bombits to death, 

 and persuades the workers to rear a Psit/ujrns family. This genus 

 contains males and females only, no workers being required. They 

 are very similar to Jyombits in appearance, and it is interesting to 

 note that the red-tailed P. nipestris is parasitic on the red-tailed 

 Bonibus lapidariKs. P. vestalis also is very like its host, B, 

 terre:<tris. 



This brings my few notes to an end. I think enough has been 

 said to prove that the Aculeate Hymenoptera are an exceedingly 

 interesting order, or sub-order, of insects. There is room for any 

 amount of research, and it is impossible for a few workers to do 

 it all. In many cases I have had to depend on the observations 

 of others ; but where possible I have relied on my own experiences. 



