FAMILIiE. [Mclitta. ^*. c.) 14j 



antice obtusangulo, supra tuberculo munito; Max- 

 illis apice bidentatis dentibus obtusis ; Antennis pe- 

 dicello subgloboso, apice articulo primo saepius lon- 

 giori, basi attenuate ; Trunco subgloboso ; Pedihus 

 posticis basi flocculo instructis ; Tihiis ultimi paris 

 scopa densa pollinifera vestitis; Plantis dilatatis; 

 Ahdomine plerisque ovali /. elliptico^ ano rotun- 

 dato, fimbriato. 



Maris Corpus angustius. Caput sa?pe thorace 

 latius. Maxilhe interdum edentulae. Pedes et 

 flocculo et scopa destituti. Plantce vix dilatatge. 

 Abdomen saspius lanceolatum, ano nudo. 



Imago pollinilega. 



The individuals of which this family consists are 

 very easy to distinguish from those of any of the 

 preceding. The proboscis is downy and thicker, 

 the auricles are nearly perpendicular to the sides of 

 the apex of the tongue, which, when the proboscis 

 is folded, instead of retaining its direction to the 

 maxillae and lip, as in other Mditto', or forming 

 the exterior fold of that organ as in Apis, is reflec- 

 ted or folded upwards pointing towards the tube(o-), 

 so 'as to form the interior fold, or that next the 

 head ; the lip in these insects is strengthened by a 

 tubercle, the posterior legs of the aculeate sex 

 have a flocculus at their base, the tibiae a thick sco- 

 pa, and their anus is covered by a fiinge of hairs. 



The species of this family usually nidificate 

 under ground in a light soil, some choosing grass 



(^)Tab.3,**. c. fig. 5, b, 



banks 



