242 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



genus, Nomia diversipes of Latreille, but they are by no 

 means constant in the species usually included in the genus ; 

 the neuration of the wings, and the oral organs, are precisely 

 the same as in many tiue Halicti ; but an extensive acquaint- 

 ance with some of the most abundant species shows the 

 necessity that exists for a certain degree of latitude being 

 given even in the neuration : a precise mapping out of the 

 nervures will not be found to be always constant ; one or 

 other of the cells will be, at times, a little wider or narrower, 

 as the case may be. 



The genus Augochlora, containing the splendid metallic 

 species of North and South America, as well as those of 

 Mexico, are all members of the family Halictidse. Among the 

 species of the genus Augochlora are some of the most bril- 

 liant insects of the whole tribe of Apidse — bees of an entire, 

 rich emerald-green ; others adorned in all the tints of golden 

 lustre ; and others of the colour of bright fiery copper, or 

 tinted with all the shades of blue and carmine. 



The Britsh species of Halicti cannot vie with the exotic 

 species, but many have more or less of metallic lustre, and 

 their history is equally interesting with those of their more 

 brilliantly coloured allies. The Halicti are usually found to 

 colonize in greater or less numbers ; sometimes a consider- 

 able space of some bare pathway, or of some sloping sunny 

 bank, will be filled with their burrows. Several species of 

 the parasitic bees belonging to the genus Nomada are para- 

 sitic on them ; N. Solidaginis, N. JacobEese and N. furva, all 

 frequent their colonies. Two species of Stylopidae have 

 also been captured in their company ; these are the genera 

 Halictophagus andElenchus; the former was captured by 

 Mr. Dale, in August, 1832, in company with H. a^ratus ; 

 Elenchus was first taken by Mr. Walker, in June, at South- 

 gate ; three or four additional specimens have since been 

 captured ; but no one has hitherto succeeded in breeding 

 either of the parasites from the bees. These parasites are 

 very minute, the expansion of their wings not exceeding a 

 line and a half. The species which I have observed to be 

 most frequently attacked is Halictus nitidiusculus; 1 have 

 repeatedly captured specimens with one female, aiid more than 

 once with two females, of Halictophagus ? protruding from 

 beneath the tliird segment of the abdomen, but 1 never 

 observed a bee with a male parasite infesting it. 



