106 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM. 



ENTOMOLOGICAL CONTRIBUTIONS. 



By Henry Hacker, F.E.S. 



(Plates XXXI, XXXII.) 



NOTES ON COLLECTING HYMENOPTERA. 



While some of our wasps and bees have a wide range, many of tliem are 

 very local ; consequently the number to be obtained in any one locality is usually 

 not large and is greatly intlueueed by the climate, soil, and flora. In Queensland 

 the richest localities are' contained witliin the coastal strip of country between the 

 sea and the Main Kauge. One might think tJiat the Northern scrulis or rain 

 forests, with their dense tropical vegetation and a hot steamy atmospliere, would 

 be an ideal place for Hymenoptera, but it is not so. As the majority of the wasps 

 and bees make burrows and nests in the ground, it is essential that both tliey and 

 their food supplies be kept dry and free from conditions favourable to the growth 

 of fungi and moulds. Conseciuently a comparatively dry climate, together with 

 a light sandy soil in which the fossorial species can ea.sily burrow, will be fouud 

 the most favourable habitat. The flora also is an important factor; districts with 

 a varied flora, the flowering periods of which extend over the whole summer, will 

 olmously support a nuich larger population of bees than a locality where the 

 plant poi)ulation is limited and the flowering period la.sts only a few weeks. This 

 applies to the domesticated as well as the wild bees. 



'J'lii' best iMillccting grounds for Hymenoptera in the Krisbane district are 

 on the South Coast line at Sunnybank, Birkdale, and Cleveland, and on the North 

 Coast line at Caloundra. Stradbrok° Island, which cou.sists mostly of pure sand, 

 is very rich in Hymenoptera. It is also remarkable in jiossessing several species of 

 Thynnidu' wliieh, while oceuiM-ing commonly about Sydney, have not yet been 

 recorded from the (,|uceiislaii(l coast. 



In most localities in South Queensland, bees and wasps make their appear- 

 ance in early spring, simultaneously with the flowering of Lrptoxprrmiim, which 

 generally commences about the last week in August and continiics throughout 

 Sejitciiibcr. After this sjiring burst of insect life there is a constant succession of 

 fresh forms until the hot niidsuiruiier, when a lull takes t)lace. Alt hough the 

 species are more numerous at this time, the specimens are less plentiful, and 

 require to be specially searched for in favourite localities. After the summer rains, 



