BEES OF GREAT BRITAIN. 53 



Andrena spinigera, Smith, ZooL v. 1670. 7 <, var. 3 (not of 



Kirby). 

 Andrena eximia, Smith, ZooL vi. 2211 $ . 



Female. Length 5i lines. Black ; the face and cheeks have a 

 pale fulvous pubescence ; the flagellum fulvo-testaceous be* 

 neath, the mandibles ferruginous at the tips ; thorax very finely 

 punctured ; the sides and metathorax clothed with pale fulvous 

 pubescence ; wings subhyaline, nervures rufo-testaceous ; the 

 legs have a fuscous pubescence above, beneath it is pale fulvous, 

 that on the tarsi beneath ferruginous, the apical joints of the 

 tarsi ferruginous. Abdomen ovate, the three basal segments 

 red ; the base of the abdomen, the apical margin of the third 

 segment, and a quadrate spot in the middle black, the three 

 apical segments black, the apical fimbria fusco-ferruginous. 



B.M. 



Male. Length 5-5^ lines. Black ; the face densely clothed 

 with sooty-black pubescence, the mandibles forcipate, ferrugi- 

 nous at their apex, and armed at their base with an acute spine ; 

 the antennae nearly as long as the thorax, the joints subarcuate. 

 The thorax thinly clothed with fulvo-ochraceous pubescence ; 

 the wings hyaline, the nervures rufo-testaceous, the apical mar- 

 gins slightly clouded ; the legs fusco-ferruginous, the posterior 

 tibiae and the tarsi ferruginous ; their pubescence obscure ful- 

 vous. Abdomen lanceolate, coloured as in the other sex. B.M. 



In the year 1836 a single specimen of the female of this 

 species was captured at Darenth Wood in the beginning of May, 

 and for some years was regarded as a variety of A. Rosce; but 

 subsequently, numbers were met with in the autumn of 1846. 

 In 1846 Mr. Weir took both sexes in company on the 10th of 

 April; on a re-examination of the specimen first captured, it 

 proved to be distinct from, although very like, A. Roses. 



It is quite possible that it may be synonymous with the A. 

 spinigera of Kirby; but the latter insect has occurred near 

 Hampstead, and never with any appearance of the red belt on 

 the abdomen ; they are therefore kept apart. This species has 

 occurred at Darenth Wood in May, at Bexley, captured by 

 Mr. S. Stevens; and at Pembury, captured by Mr. Weir; 

 Mr. Heales also met with some males in the month of April, 

 at Hastings, 



