200 



A tachinid fly, Brachycoma davidsoni Coq. (Coquillett, '97, p. 

 10) has been bred from a larva of Bombus fervidus Fabr. The larva 

 of the syrphid fly V olucella lives as a scavenger in Bombus nests (Cf. 

 Metcalf, '13, p. 68). The conopid flies Physocephala and Conops are 

 parasitic on Bombus. A nematode parasite, Sphcendaria bombi, in- 

 fests hibernating queens. It has been found in B. pennsylvanicus, fer- 

 vidus, and consimilis (Cf. Stiles '95)- 



Bombus auricomus Rob. 



Two males of this species were taken from flowers of the large- 

 leaved rosin-weed, Silphium terebinthinaceum, on the prairie area 

 east of Charleston (Sta. Ill, b), Aug. 26 (No. 175). This bumble- 

 bee was also taken by T. L. Hankinson (Sta. I) July 3, 191 1 (No. 

 7665). (Cf. Franklin, '13, Pt. I, p. 413.) 



Bombus impaticus Cress. Impatient Bumblebee. 



A single female was taken from the flowers of the broad-leaved 

 rosin-weed, Silphium terebinthinaceum, east of Charleston (Sta. 

 Ill, b), Aug. 26 (No. 175). 



Bombus fraternus Smith. 



Two females of this species were taken on flowers of the swamp 

 milkweed, Asclepias incarnata: one of them (No. 1) at Station I, g, 

 Aug. 8; and the other (No. 12) at Station I, d, Aug. 9. 



Bombus separatus Cress. 



This species was collected from the swamp milkweed, Asclepias 

 incarnata, as follows : Station I, g, Aug. 8 (No. 1) ; Station I, d, Aug. 

 9 (No. 12); Station l,d, Aug. 24 (No. 157) — the latter had been 

 captured bv the flower spider Misumena aleatoria Hentz; and one 

 male from flowers of the horse mint, Monarda (Sta. I), Aug. 11 

 (No. 22). 



Psithyrus variabilis Cress. False Bumblebee. 



A single female was taken from the flowers of the horse mint, 

 Monarda (Sta. I), Aug. 11 (No. 22) ; and a male was taken on the 

 prairie west of Loxa from flowers of the blazing star, Liatris scar- 

 iosa (Sta. II), Aug. 27 (No. 176). These bees are parasitic in the 

 nests of Bombus. For an excellent account of the habits of the Brit- 

 ish species, Sladen ('12, pp. 59-72) should be consulted. 



Apid/e 



Apis mellifera Linn. Honey-bee. 



Workers of this species were extremely abundant on flowers of 

 the milkweed Asclepias incarnata (Sta. I, and Sta. I, d,g) Aug. 8 



