170 SOLITARY BEES AND WASPS. 



though very idle time. This seems to be the case 

 with the males of all species of bees. The females 

 are the hard workers; they make the home, lay 

 the eggs, collect the pollen and mix it with honey 

 for the food of the young when hatched, and then 

 they hibernate through the winter so as to be 

 ready to begin their work again the following 

 spring. 



There are five species of this bee, and they 

 choose different places for their nests according 

 to their species. Some like a sunny aspect, some 

 choose shady places, some bore into the face of 

 sandy rocks, others into the mortar in old walls, 

 but wherever it may be, there are generally multi- 

 tudes of them to be found in the same place, each 

 one having its separate hole, but dwelling in large 

 colonies. 



This bee has three great enemies : two of them 

 are a bright-coloured bee, called Epeolus, and a 

 fly, Miltogramma, either of which will go down 

 the hole in the absence of the bee and lay its 

 egg in place of the rightful owner. These usurpers 

 turn to grubs and eat up the food which has been 

 prepared for the Colletes. The third enemy is the 



