194 apid^:. 



wide as the thorax ; ocelli in a curve, placed in a transverse depres- 

 sion on the vertex ; antennce geniculated and filiform, the scape half 

 the length of the flagellum ; labrum transverse, its anterior margin 

 ciliated ; mandibles stout, broad at the base and grooved at their 

 apex, which is rounded ; tongue elongate and pubescent, its propor- 

 tions differing in the species ; labial palpi 4-jointed, three fourths 

 the length of the tongue, the first joint longer than the mentuin, the 

 second joint about one fourth the length of the first, in some species 

 one third of the length ; the two apical joints minute and articulated 

 outside the second joint near its apex ; paraglossia short and roun- 

 ded at their apex ; maxillary palpi 2-jointed, the first usually robust, 

 the second of about equal length, but varying in length in different 

 species to twice the length. Thorax globose ; anterior wings with 

 three subtnarginal cells, the second narrowed towards the marginal 

 and receiving the first recurrent nervure near its centre, the third 

 receiving the second recurrent nervure near its apex ; legs stout and 

 pubescent ; the posterior pair in the female smooth, gradually 

 widened to the apex, and fringed at the external edges with long 

 curled pubescence, forming a corbicula or a pollen-basket ; the basal 

 joint of the tarsi oblong, broad, externally concave, its edges 

 fringed with short stiff hairs ; the inner surface pilose, the hair 

 short, forming a dense brush ; its base notched and having a stout 

 external tooth ; all the tarsi with the claws bifid. Abdomen sub- 

 globose. 



The males have the tongue more elongate and slender ; the man- 

 dibles fringed with stiff curled hairs ; the antenna? 13-jointed, longer 

 and more slender ; the posterior tibiae slightly widened at the apex 

 and convex externally ; the abdomen with seven segments. 



Sexes three — males, females, and workers. 



The geographical distribution of Bombus is very extensive, its 

 species numbering little short of one hundred, twenty being British. 

 Although found both in the Old and New World, and in a few in- 

 stances ranging into the tropics, Bombus only penetrates Africa as 

 far as Oran ; it has not been found in Madagascar, Australia, or New 

 Zealand. Wheresoever it occurs its parasite {Apathus) appears to ac- 

 company it, although it is of rare occurrence in the tropics. The 

 range of Bombus in the Old World is probably more extensive than 

 that of any other Hymenopterous genus ; it is found in Lapland, 

 Siberia, Kamtschatka, North China, Syria, and Northern India ; 

 and it has been found in Java, but that appears to be its southern 

 limit, as not a single species has to my knowledge been found in 

 the eastern archipelago. In the New World its geographical range 

 extends to Greenland ; Sir John Richardson found several within 

 the arctic circle, at the Great Bear Lake ; Captain Parry on his 

 second voyage found two species at Boothia Felix. North America 

 is rich in species of Bombi, and from Mexico some of the most 

 beautiful species have been received. In South America we find it 

 in Cayenne, and again on the Amazons at Para ; further south it 

 occurs on the Tapajos ; and crossing eastwards we find it again at 

 Monte Video. The largest species known is found in Chili. 



