THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
No. 155.] MAY, MDCCCLXXVI. [Price 6d. 
On the British Species of Sphekodes. By Enwarp NEwMan. 
1. SpHEKODES GIBBA, male. 2. Ditto, female. 3. S. SpHEKOIDES, male. 
4. Ditto, female (Mr. Smith now places these as synonymous with 
S.gibba). 5. S. susquaprara, female (the head of the male is of the same 
subquadrate form). 
SPHEKODES is a genus of small bees, whose life-history is 
at present extremely obscure. Authors are by no means 
unanimous as to the leading question, whether the species 
are constructors or parasites, who labour not themselves, but 
avail themselves exclusively of the labours of others. St. 
Fargeau believed them parasitic on the genus Halictus, but 
Kirby says they burrow in the ground for purposes of 
nidification. To Mr. Smith we are indebted for an excellent 
monograph of the species, published in the ‘ Zoologist’ 
VOL, IX. 2] 
