xxiv INSECTA : HYMENOPTERA 387 



together, and finally they are covered by a continuous layer 

 of " mortar," which hides and protects them. In G. muraria, 

 one of the commonest species, the dome-shaped " nest," when 

 finished, is about as large as half an orange. No species of 

 this genus is known in Britain. 



These solitary bees are a fascinating study, and a most 

 delightful account of them, as well as of solitary wasps and 

 many other insects, is given by J. H. Fabre in his well- 

 known Souvenirs entomologiques, parts of which have now been 

 translated into English. 1 



The last three genera mentioned Megachile, Osmia, and 

 Chalicodoma are all alike in carrying pollen attached to the 

 hairs on the under side of the abdomen. 



Classification of Apidae mentioned in Chapter XXIV. 



Family. APIDAE. 



Sub-family 1. Societies. Long-tongued forms living in com- 

 munities. 



Apis mellifica, the Honey Bee. 



Bomlus terrestris, the Common Earth 



Humble Bee. 



Bombus agrorum, the Moss-carding Bee. 



Sub-family 2. Andrenidae. Short-tongued, solitary bees, each 

 individual with a separate burrow, but gregarious 

 to some extent. 



Andrena, the Burrowing Bee. 



Sub-family 3. Dasijgastres. Short-tongued, solitary bees which 

 construct special cells for their young ; pollen 

 is carried on the hairs on the under side of 

 the abdomen. 



Megachile, the Leaf-cutting Bee. 

 Osmia. 



Chalicodoma , the Mason Bee (no British 

 species). 



PRACTICAL, NOTES ON BEES 



1. If possible visit an apiary, and get the bee-keeper to show 

 you the hives and to explain to you the care of bees. 2 Visit an 



1 Insect Life (Macniillan, 1901) ; The Life and Love of the Insect (Black, 

 1911). 



2 See Bees and Bee-keeping, by F. Cheshire. 



