HYMENOPTERA. 260 



noidcs — which approximates to those of the last of the preceding 

 subgenera in tlieir labial palpi, composed of six slender, linear joints 

 placed end to end, and almost precisely similar to those of the maxil- 

 lary palpi. The labnmi is always short. The abdomen of the fe- 

 males is destitute of a brusli ; but their posterior legs are pilose or 

 furnished with tufts of hairs, which enable them to collect the pollen 

 of flowers. 



Some have narroAV mandibles, contracted near the extremity, and, 

 as well as the labrum, smooth and terminated in a point. 



Systropha, Illig., 

 Where the mandibles have one dentation under the point, where 

 there are three complete cubital cells, and the extremity of the an- 

 tennae is curled in the males *. 



RopHiTES, Spin., 

 Where the mandibles are also dentated, but in which we find but two 

 complete cubital cells; the antennae are not contorted in both sexes f. 



Panurgus, Panz., 



Where the mandibles are not dentated. The stem of the antennae, 

 from the third joint, in the females, forms a sort of fusiform or elon- 

 gated and almost cylindrical club, thinned at base. But two cubital 

 cells in the superior wings :|:. 



The mandibles of the females, in the others, are almost in the form 

 of the bowl of a spoon, very obtuse, carinated or sulcated, and biden- 

 tated at the extremity. The labrum is extremely hard and ciliated 

 superiorly. The antennae are strongly geniculate and filiform. The 

 superior Avings have three complete cubital cells, the first intersected 

 by a little transparent line, the second triangular, and the third the 

 largest, and receiving the two recurrent nervures. 



Xylocopa, Lat. Fab., 

 Commonly called Aheilles perce-hois, Menuisieres, &c. The Xylo- 

 copae are related in many points to the Megachiles, and more particu- 

 larly to the OsmicP. They resemble large Bombi. Their body is 

 usually black, sometimes partially covered with a yellow down; the 

 wings are frequently violet, cvipreous, or green, and brilliant. The 

 male, in several species, differs considerably from the female. Their 

 eyes are large and approximated superiorly. Their anterior legs are 

 dilated and ciliated. 



X. violacea, L. ; R-eaum., Insect., VI, v, vi. About one inch in 

 length; black, with violet-black wings; a russet ring round the 

 antenn?e of the male. The female bores a long vertical hole in 

 the body she has selected, usually old dry wood exposed to the 

 sun, and parallel to its surface. It is divided into several cells 

 by horizontal septa, formed with agglutinated raspings of wood. 

 She then, commencing with the lowest, deposits an c^g and some 



* Lat.„ Gener. Crust, et Insect., IV, 156. 



t Lat.„ Ibid., 161 ; andthe Nouv. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. 2nd edit. 



X Lat., Ibid., 157 ; and Encyc. Method,, article Panurge. 



