PSYCHE 
NOTES ON THE BEES OF SOUTHERN MAINE: ANTHOPHORIDAE, 
HALICTOIDIDAE, MACROFIDAE AND PANURGIDAE. 
BY J. H. LOVELL AND T. D. A. COCKERELL. 
The Anthophoridae, which are represented by numerous species in the Middle 
States, become comparatively rare in northern New England. At Waldoboro in 
southern iMaine there have been taken as the result of much diligent collecting only 
five species of Melissodes and one of Clisodon. With few exceptions, which will 
be noted under the respective species, they are visitors in this locality of the Com- 
positae ami fly ihiring midsummer and early autumn. With the exception of Melis- 
sodes desponsa Sm., which is rather common, they might easily escape the attention 
of the general entomological collector. 
Melissodes. 
Melissodes desponsa Sm. 
? 1854 Melissodes desponsa Sm. $ , Cat. Hym. Brit. Mus. 2:310. 
This is the commonest species of Melissodes in this locality, and has been taken 
from July 21st to September 1st. It is a frequent visitor of the larger thistles, espe- 
cially the pasture thistle {Carduus odoratus), though occasionally it is taken on the 
Canada thistle {Carduus arvensis). It also visits more rarely a number of other 
flowers, as Ponlederia cordaia, Inula heleniuin and the gohlenrod. 
Length of $ 12-14 mm. Length of c? 1 1-12 mm. This species is readily recog- 
nized by its robust form, the thorax clothed with ochraceous pubescence, and the 
black abdomen without fasciae. The male closely resembles the female, but is 
readily distinguished by the yellow clypeusand longer antennae; the labrum is entirely 
black. The female has the hair of occiput black, and the nervures black; it is 
questionable whether it is Smith’s desponsa. For this species Robertson has pro- 
posed the name M. cnici. 
