The Nests of Bees of the genus Trigona. 135 



Trigona ruficornis, Smith.* 



When the nest above described was received, Mr. Ridley 

 also sent a nest of Trigona ruficornis, Smith, one of the 

 smallest bees known. This was in a post in the Botanic 

 Gardens at Singapoi'e, in a cavity evidently excavated by 

 Termites. The nest from which the type of this species 

 was described (Tr. Zool. Soc, vii, p. 185) was in a similar 

 excavation. 



The nest is 8 inches long, in a cylindrical cavity of 

 about 2^ inches diameter. There are various irregular 

 galleries or means of communication formed of black 

 waxy substance. In the lower part for about 4A inches 

 the space is occupied by closely-placed irregular closed 

 chambers, generally about one quarter of an inch in length, 

 formed of very thin, brownish wax. (Fig. 2.) These 

 chambers were nearly all filled with honey; two or three 

 with pollen. In the upper part of the nest are the brood 



Fr;. 



Fio. 3. 



cells. These are oval, about 3j mm. long, and nearly 

 3 mm. broad, formed of brownish-yellow wax, either 

 isolated or massed together. (Fig. 3.) Many of them are 

 on a short peduncle. Most of them were filled with 

 pollen, but many contained immature bees. Those con- 

 taining the bees were of a lighter, more testaceous colour. 

 This difference is no doubt due to the pollen having been 

 consumed, so that they are dry. 



Among the bees (which were alive when the nest 

 arrived) there were males and workers. They are 

 extremely alike, but nearly all the workers have the 

 abdomen entirely yellow ; a few, however, have the apex 



* If the genns TrUjona is united with Mel'ipoim as is done by 

 some authors, the name smitltii, proposed for it by Col. Bingham 

 (Fauna Indica) will have to Ije adopted on account of tlie ouler 

 Mdipona riijicornis, Latr. 



