February 1S94.J 



PSrCHE. 



23 



willi the same mixture could not be decided, 

 but from the analogous case of the honey- 

 bee, it is to be expected that the kind of food 

 does influence the size and functionj.of the 

 bee. The males, it may be added, are com- 

 monly supjiosed to have come from eggs laid 

 by the sterile females (workers). 



In early August females (queens) and 

 males began to emerge. Both left the nest 

 within a few days, and did not return, nor 

 were they seen to copulate. 



In the first chilly afternoon of autumn the 

 workers become stiffened with cold, and do 

 not return; and after a few freezing days the 

 old queen, too, succumbs. The males also 

 perish, and only the young queens survive 

 the winter. 



This genus is parasitized by Diptera 

 belonging to the genera Volucella, Con- 

 ops, Tachina, Coleoptera belonging to 

 the genera Meloe and Stylops, while 

 Afiobiuni faniceu7Ti and Antherofha- 

 giis ochraceus Say, prey upon the 

 pollen stored up in their cells. A 

 Lepidopterous larva JVep/ioptervx ed- 

 viaiidsii is also supposed to be parasitic, 

 and it itself is preyed w<^ox\\>y Apanteles 

 nephoptcrygis Pack. 



The genus Apatlnis structurally 

 closely resembles Bonibus and the species 

 are found living in the nests of the latter. 

 The species are stated to be inquilinous 

 or guest-flies, and not true parasites, and 

 this is apparently the sum total of our 

 knowledge. In all the literatiu'e at my 

 command. I can find no direct observa- 

 tion respecting the rearing and develop- 

 ment of a single species. Shuckard 

 makes this general statement : — 



Both sexes appear to have free in and 

 egress to the nests of those Bombi which 

 they infest, without any let or hindrance on 

 the part of the latter, with whom they seem 



to dwell in perfect amity. In the times of 

 their appearance they closely resemble the 

 Halicti and the neighboring Bombi. Thus 

 the females, after impregnation in the 

 autumn, having hibernated during the winter 

 in selected receptacles, come out with the 

 first gleams of spring conjunctively with tlie 

 large maternal Bombi, in whose nests they 

 have taken their long repose in perfect tor- 

 pidity; and as soon as these begin to accu- 

 mulate the masses of conglomerated honey 

 and pollen whereon to deposit their eggs, 

 the parasite takes advantage of it, lays her 

 eggs too, and thus secures food for her 

 oftspring. 



The genus Xvlocopa comprises some 

 of the largest bees known, many of 

 which closely resemble the bumble- 

 bees. The species are not rare and 

 from their method of .boring into posts 

 and rafters, in which they construct 

 their nests, they are known as carpenter- 

 bees. About a dozen species are found 

 in the United States. 



Our most common species in the 

 eastern, southern and middle States 

 is Xvlocopa virginica Drury, and its 

 nest is readily found in the rafters or 

 frame work .^f any old house, barn or 

 out-house built of soft white pine. 



I have frequently found their nests 

 made in the railings of a porch, in posts, 

 in rafters, in doors, in palings of fences 

 in door frames, in window sills, etc. 



Dr. Packard in his Guide, p. 132, has 

 given an excellent account of the nest- 

 ing habits of this species, as observed 

 by Mr. James Angus, of West Farms, 

 N. Y. 



The species bores a cylindrical hole, 

 about half an inch in diameter until 

 the depth of ten, twelve or more inclies 



