THE WASP-BEES AND THEIR HABITS. 350 



In this genus the ocelli are set in a slight curve on tlie 

 crown of the head. The upper wings have one marginal and 

 two submarginal cells, the labial palpi have four joints and the 

 maxillary palpi six. Mr. F. Smith calls this ' the most beau- 

 tiful Bee found in this country ; the appear-ance of the female 

 when loaded with pollen is sufficiently singular to attract the 

 attention of the most apathetic observer.' There is no dif- 

 ficulty in identifying it, as the very long and dense hair of the 

 legs, especially of the hinder pair, is sufficient to indicate it. 

 The general colour is black, but the abdomen has three white 

 bands. The male may be distinguished by his smaller size and 

 brighter colouring. E.ich segment of the abdomen is reddish 

 yellow at the upper edge, and is fringed with pale yellow down. 



It is one of the burrowers, making its tunnels in sand-banks. 

 It does not appear to breed in the immediate neighbourhood 

 of London, but is plentiful in many parts of Kent, especially 

 those in which sand abounds. Sandown, Isle of Wight, is, 

 for that reason, a favourite locality of this beautiful insect. 

 The head and hind legs of the male are seen at Figs, c and d. 

 both the scientific names of this insect refer to the exceedingly 

 long hair of the hinder legs. The word ' Dasypoda ' is Greek, 

 and signifies 'shaggy-footed,' and the word 'hirtijDes' has 

 exactly the same signification in Latin. 



We now come to the Bees or Apidse. In these insects the 

 tongue is very long, and can be folded under the head and 

 breast when not in use. They are divided into several groups 

 or sub-families, the first of which is called Andrenoides, or An- 

 drena-like Bees. They have similar habits to the Andrena. 

 Only two species of this sub-family are known, both belonging 

 to the genus Panurgus. 



Ax example of the next sub-family, the Cuculinae, is given on 

 Plate XL Fig. 9, and is named Nomada ruficornis. The insects 

 belonging to tliis group are popularly known as Wasp-beeS; 

 because, although evidently Bees, they have a very wasp-like 

 look about them, especially in the colouring. They have no 

 pollen-gathering apparatus, neither pollen brushes nor pollen- 

 scales, and are by some authors termed Denudata, or Naked 

 Bees, in consequence of this peculiarity. Tlie reason for the 

 absence of this ajMJaiatus is evident enough. Nature never 



