236 CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 



Mason-bees or Melliturgites. Larva inhabits nests con- 

 structed by its parent, either in the ground or against a 

 bank or wall, and consumes pollen provided by its parent, 

 and stored up at the time the egg is deposited. Pupa 

 changes in a silken cocoon in the same situation. Imago 

 with antennae twelve-jointed in the female, thirteen-jointed 

 in the male, elbowed at the second joint; maxillce with 

 the blade lanceolate, elongate ; the maxillary feelers six- 

 jointed and setaceous ; labium with its ligula trilobed, cen- 

 tral lobe very long, obtuse, pubescent, lateral lobes not 

 more than a fourth of its length, very acute ; ligula, labial 

 feelers, and blade of maxillce, nearly corresponding in 

 length ; hind tibia formed for collecting pollen ; body short, 

 robust ; wings small. Two kinds of individuals only, 

 males and females. Saropoda, Anthophora. 



Social-bees or Apites. Larva inhabits a cell usually 

 hexagonal, and made of wax by the imago, which feeds 

 it with honey or a preparation of pollen. Pupa changes 

 in a silken cocoon within the cell. Imago with the 

 antenna twelve-jointed in the female, thirteen-jointed in 

 the male, elbowed at the second joint; labium with its 

 ligula trilobed, the central lobe elongate, hirsute, extending 

 beyond the labial feelers, the lateral lobes very short and 

 obtuse ; the labial feelers with the basal joint twice the 

 length of the second, the third and fourth minute, short, 

 and seated on the back of the second, rather before its 

 extremity ; blade of the maxilla lanceolate, nearly as long 

 as the labial feelers ; maxillary feelers minute, apparently 

 exarticulate ; hind tibia with brushes for collecting pollen. 

 Lives in large societies composed of three kinds of indivi- 

 duals, males, females and abortive females ; the latter per- 

 form the laborious offices of the commonwealth. Apis, the 

 honey-bee, represented in all its states at page 40: Bombus, 

 the humble-bee, represented in the imprint on the title-page. 



