THE INDUSTRIES OF WILD BEES 273 



XLIX. THE INDUSTRIES OF WILD BEES. 



(a) THE BURROWING BEE. 



Almost any day in early summer I can amuse myself 

 by watching the industry of a burrowing bee (Andraena) 

 which abounds in my garden. It is a little smaller than a 

 hive-bee, but so like it in general appearance that it might 

 easily be taken for one. The observer's attention will 

 probably be first roused by seeing the Andraena enter the 



FIG. 52. Burrowing bee (Andraena), magnified. 



ground, or it may be by seeing the little heap of sandy 

 earth which it throws out from its hole, for in early summer 

 this bee is a great excavator, and throws out earth many 

 times exceeding the weight of its own body in the course 

 of a few hours. In dry, sunny April days the work gets 

 on fast, and a mound of fresh earth and sand forms close 

 to the hole, which is almost big enough to admit a lead 

 pencil. The bees often leave their burrows and come back 

 again. When they return, their hairy bodies, and especially 

 the hind legs, are dusted all over with pollen, and the 

 microscopic examination of this pollen shows that they 

 have been visiting sallows, dandelions, gooseberries, and 



s 



