42 MELITTA. (*. b.) 



This Melitla is larger than any of the preceding 

 species of this family. It is entirely black, ex- 

 cepting only the underside of its antennae, the 

 spots on its front, a white fringe of short hairs on 

 each side of the margin of the first dorsal segment 

 of the abdomen, and its anterior tibiae. Variety 

 y, appears to be P^espa nigra, fronte tlioracisque 

 hasij^avis of GeofFroy, I am not certain that this 

 may not be more than a variety. The aculeate sex 

 of M. avnuIatGy annularis, and signata have each 

 a male agreeing with them in their peculiarities^ a 

 circumstance which famishes a very strong proof 

 that they are distinct species. On the other hand 

 they all emit the same strong scent of balm, and 

 are to be found usually on the same plants, viz. the 

 different species of Reseda, to which they appear 

 to confine themselves; this seems to indicate that, 

 they are only varieties. But when we consider 

 that the same circumstances attach to AI. dilatata, 

 so remarkably distinguished from the other males 

 by the shape of the scapus of its antennae, I think 

 we are warranted in concluding that they point 

 out the habit of a family, rather than of a species. 



Ibla. 7. M. atra; abdomine ferrugineo, apice nigro. 



Nomada gihha nigra ; abdomine rufo, apice nigro. 



Fah. Ent. Syst. Em. w. 12. 



Lin. Syst. Nat. ed. Gmel. p. 27Q4. n. 202. 



Fill. Ent. Eur. 3. Apis, n.68. 



Ross. Fn. Etrusc. Mantiss. n. 325. 



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