MEGACHILE. 



471 



and the coxse in the male variable, the latter generally dentate, 

 the former and the basal joint of the anterior tarsi often flattened 

 and produced or otherwise modified. AVings broad, ample ; fore 

 wing with the radial cell moderately broad, more or less rounded at 

 apex ; two cubital cells, subequal on the cubital nervure, the 2nd cell 

 receiving the two recurrent nervures at base and apex respectively. 

 Abdomen variable, subcordate, oblong or elongate, base coucavo- 

 truncate : ventral segments ( 5 ) furnished with a more or less 

 dense pollen-brush ; apical segment (d) notched, often dentate. 



The species of Megachile, known as " leaf-cutter " bees from their 

 habit of cutting out portions of leaves as lining for their nests, 

 abound in India, many species coming into houses and stuffing up 

 every available hole ^^^th clay and the material of their nests. 

 The key-holes of boxes, of drawers in writing-tables, &c., are very 

 favourite nesting-places. Many species dig into the ground, and 

 line the tunnel thus made with neat round portions of leaves. All 

 store pollen as food for their larvas. 



Key to the Species. 



A. Abdomen black, with entirely black 



pubescence above. 



a. Wings dark fuscous. 



a'. Face witli black pubescence M. anthradna $ ,p. 473. 



b'. Face with white pubescence M. elizabethee $ , p. 474. 



c' . Face with golden pubescence 31. carbonaria <S , P- 474. 



b. Wings fusco- or Havo-hyaline. 



a'. Head and thorax in front with dense 



fulvous pubescence M. semivestita, p. 474. 



v. Head and thorax with black pubes- 

 cence. 

 d^. Clypeus produced and tuberculate 



in middle M. tuberculata, p. 475. 



b'^. Clypeus not tuberculate in middle. 



a^. Clypeus emarginate anteriorly. M. atrata, p. 475. 



b^. Clypeus arched anteriorly .... M. Iieteroptera, p. 475. 



c. Wings hyaline, fuscous along apical 



margin M. anthracina S > P- 473. 



B. Abdomen with fulvous or ferruginous-red 



pubescence above. 



a. Clypeus emarginate anteriorly M. ardens, p. 475. 



Clypeus arched anteriorly. 

 a'. Head and thorax with black pubes- 

 cence 

 a^. Abdomen cordate. Length 12- 



14 mm M. bellula, p. 476. 



b"^. Abdomen elongate. Length 8-9 



mm M. stulta, p. 47G. 



b'. Head and thorax with fulvous 



pubescence M.fidvovcstita, p. 477. 



c. Clypeus transverse anteriorly. 



a'. roUen-brush white M. bicolor, p. 477. 



