138 apid^;. 



is in my possession. The species is parasitic upon Anthophora 

 acervorum ; Chrysis ignita has also been reared from the cells of that 

 bee. I have never taken either of the species of Melecta on a flower. 



B. With two sub marginal cells. 

 Genus 5. STE1IS. 



Apis (pt.), Firby, Mon. Apum Anql. i. 154 (1802). 

 Megilla (pt.), Fabr. 8yd. Piez. 328 (1804). 

 Megachile (pt.), Latr. Hist. Nat. xiv. 51 (1805). 

 Stelis, Panz. Krit. Mem. ii. ( 1800). 

 Gyrodrorna, King, Illig. Mag. vi. (1807). 



Head transverse, the ocelli in a triangle on the vertex ; antenna? 

 filiform and geniculated ; the labial palpi 4-jointed, the two basal 

 joints elongate, the first about two thirds of the length of the second, 

 which tapers to an acute point near the apex ; the third and fourth 

 minute joints are articulated ; the maxillary palpi 2-jointed, the 

 joints minute. Thorax subglobose ; the scutellum slightly produced ; 

 the anterior wings with one marginal and two submarginal cells, the 

 marginal eell as long as the two submarginals united, its apex 

 rounded ; the submarginal cells of nearly equal length, the second 

 receiving the first recurrent nervure a little within ; the second 

 recurrent nervure nearly uniting with the second transv erso-cubital 

 nervure, or passing very little beyond. Abdomen oblong, truncate 

 at the base. 



The number of species at present known is twelve ; six are found 

 in Europe, one in Siberia, two in India, one in North China, and 

 two in the United States ; others will doubtless be found in the 

 latter coxintry. The British species are widely distributed, extend- 

 ing northwards to Denmark, Sweden, and Finland ; they are para- 

 sitic on different species of bees belonging to the genus Osmia. 



1. Stelis aterrima. 



S. nigra, punctulatissima, scutello bidentato, abdominis segmentis 

 marginibus decoloratis. 



'e 1 



Stelis aterrima, Latr. Gen. Crust, et Ins. iv. 103. 



St.-Farg. Ilym. ii. 527 § • 



Smith, Zool. iii. 1154 <3 $ ; Bees Great Brit. 151 J $. 



Nyland. Notis. ur SaUsk. pro Faun, et Flo. Fenn. i. 275. 



Schenck, Nass. Bien. 350. 



Thorns. Hym. Scand. ii. 205. 

 Apis aterrima, Panz. Faun. Germ. 56. 15. 

 -Megilla aterrima, Fabr. Syst. Piez. 331. 

 Apis punctulatissima, Kirby, Mon. Apum Angl. ii. 231, tab. 16. 



tig. 9 ? . 

 Megachile punctulatissima, Latr. Jlist. Nat. xiv. 54. 

 Tmrhu-a aterrima, Jurine. Hym. 253. 



