no MEMOISS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM. 



NOTES ON WASPS FREQUENTING ASCLEPIAS 

 CURASSAVICA. 



Asckpias curassarica is not indigenous to Anstrnlia, having been intro- 

 duced into this country from America within comparatively recent years. At the 

 present time the plant exists throus;hout the eastern coast lands of the continent. 

 It is a well-known and interesting fact that the introduction of the plant marked 

 also tho introduction of the butterfly Daiiaida archippiis, Fabr.,- the existence of 

 which in this country is co-extensive with the existence of the plant. 



AVhile collecting insects last season, I captured a wasp having the curious 

 winged pollen of the above plant attached to its tarsi. By looking specially for 

 wasps similarly affected, I obtained quite a number belonging to the following 

 species: — Chhrion vestitus, Sm. ; Odyncnis hicolor, Shuss. ; Odijncrus nigro- 

 cinctus, Sauss. ; Ecthromorpha insidiator, Sni. All these species had the paddle- 

 shaped pollen of Asclepias attached to their tarsi, tarsal claws, and occasionally 

 to their mouth parts. 



xVll the above-mentioned wasps are endemic, and have a wide range in 

 Australia ; and three of them pos.sess strong powers of flight. There is little 

 doubt that their assistance in fertilising the flowers of Asclepias has tended to 

 spread the plant over areas on which it was not previously found. 



NOTES ON BEES. 



Lestes bomhylans, Sm. — A number of nests belonging to these bees were 

 collected at various places near Brisbane, and it was noticed that they made use 

 of several different kinds of wood in which to build their cells. At Caloundra 

 the nests were plentifvd in the early summer inside the dry flower-stems of Grass- 

 trees, Xanfhorrhaa. The nests were ;dso found on the edge of a swamp inside 

 dead Lc pi on perm urn stems. At Stradbruke Island they wei'e numerous, and were 

 all found inside the stems of young Shea-oaks (Casuaritta) which had been killed 

 by grass fires. None of the Sti'adbroki' Island specimens were found occui)ying 

 Xanthorihua flower-stems, although that plant occurred plentifullv in the neigh- 

 bourhood. 



"While the nest is under const ruction, the female bee spends the night just 

 inside the entrance-hole. If distui-bed, oi' if danger thi'eatens, slu; rushes to the 

 hole, which she liloeks u|) with her liead, at the same time making a loud buzzing 

 noise. 



TriehricoUetes venusta^ Sm. — During a period of Four years of observation 

 this species has been found to be tin; first to appear in the spring. There arc a 

 few bees which may be taken singly on fine days throughout the winter months, 



* First recorded l)y MiHkin as occurring in considerable numbers at Brisbane in 1870 

 (Ent. Mo. Mag., vol. viii, p. 17). 



