MELITTA. (**. c) 163 



DESCR. Acul. 



CORPUS atrum, cinereo-subvlllosum. 



Caput villosum adrnodum. Vertex macule 



sericea utrinque ad ocnlos, obscur^ tamen, 



notandus. jintennce nigrse. 

 Truncus. Squamulcp piceae. ^/^ paululum 



infuscatae, splendid^ iricolores, nervis nigri- 



cantibus. Pe^e^ cinereo-pilosi. Tibice Tposhcze 



scopa cinerea. 

 Abdomen breve, latum, pilosulum, maximd la- 



tera versus et anum. Venter cinereo-hirtus. 

 Maris Fades atro-hirsuta. Antennce thorace 



breviores. Squamulie nigrse. Alee coloribus 



prismaticis splendidissime micantes. Abdomen 



subovatum, convexuni, 



M. minutulay nana, and parvula are very similar 

 to each other, and extremely liable to be confound- 

 ed ; they are however distinct species, having each 

 a peculiar male. M. minutula is less hairy than 

 either of the others, the underside of its antennae 

 is more or less red, as are also its digiti. From M, 

 nana it is sufficiently distinguished, by having the 

 surface of its abdomen impunctulate, arid by its 

 brown wings. The antennae also of its male are 

 proportion ably shorter, then those of the same sex 

 of that insect. Its silver scopa, and differently 

 formed abdomen, evince its distinction from M» 

 parvula. The innumerable punctula which, undei* 

 a common magnifier, are visible upon the abdomen 

 of M. nana, furnish a characteristic which well dis- 



YOL. II. M tinguishes 



