T. D. A. COCKERELL. Ill 



acteristic. It is very possible that tliis autumnal example indicates 

 another species, but if so, it cannot be defined without better ma- 

 terial. Named after Mr. C. T. Brues, who has done good work on 

 Texan bees. 



In Robertson's table, M. bruesi runs nearest to J/, petalostemonis 

 Rob., but the bare patch on segment 4 is much elongated trans- 

 versely, and the vertex carries some dark hairs. It may be that 

 bruesi is a form of petalosteynonis, but Robertson's account of the 

 latter is very brief, and the statements in his table (1905) do not 

 wholly accord with his original description (1900). From the 

 name, it is inferred that M. petalostemonis visits Petalostemon, and 

 is therefore probably a species flying in July and August. 



.^IeliS!«ode!$ wheeleri n. sp. 



$ . In my tables runs to 3f. communis Cress., which it resembles 

 in size and appearance, differing, however, as follows : hair of lab- 

 brum lighter, fulvous at apex ; area behind ocelli with a large 

 amount of black hair ; eyes reddish (green in covununis); patch of 

 black hair on mesothorax much larger, extending forward at an 

 terior corners ; wings practically clear (very smoky in comniuHi.'<); 

 subbasal area on second abdominal segment practically impunctate ; 

 median band on third segment narrower ; fourth segment with no 

 bare patch, but the hind margin covered with black hair. The 

 light hair is white, not at all ochreous; the hair of the pleura is 

 pale throughout, except a few hardly noticeable dark hairs just 

 under the wings. The ventral surface of the abdomen has dark 

 fuscous hair. 



Compared with 31. hortivagans, it is easily known by the smaller 

 size and color of the thoracic hair. From M. humilior it difl^ers 

 conspicuously by the light ferruginous scopa of hind legs, much 

 greater amount of black hair on thorax, etc. In Robertson's table 

 it runs to M. boltonia', but differs by the greater amount of black 

 hair on anterior part of thorax, and the second abdominal segment 

 not distinctly punctured between the bands. The median band on 

 the second segment is broken in the middle, but the parts are not 

 distinctly oblique as they are in M. perplexa. 



Hab. — Fedor, Texas, May 23, 1902 (Birkmann). Named after 

 Dr. W. M. Wheeler, in recognition of his work on the insects of 

 Texas. 



TBANS. AM. ENT. SCO. XXXII. FEBRUARY, 1906. 



