THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 173 
Doings and Observations among the Aculeale Hymenoptera 
during 1875. By J. B. BripGMan, Esq.* 
Tue past season has been the worst I have had for 
working the Aculeate Hymenoptera since | commenced the 
study, for though in novelties and rarities | have had no 
reason to complain, yet the days on which they could be 
collected have been very few: a few in April, the end of May 
and beginning of June, and a fortnight in August, were about 
the only occasions when there was a succession of fine 
weather. 
Many causes probably combined to render these insects so 
scarce. To the want of fine weather must be added, in some 
degree, the long-continued cold of the previous winter, which 
lasted till late in spring, the first fine warm day we had 
occurring on the 29th of April. Another cause may have 
been the unprecedented drought of the summer of 1874, 
which materially interfered with the growth and flowering of 
many plants, thereby causing a great falling off in the 
quantity of pollen and honey, both of which are essential for 
food for the larve of the bees. Still another fruitful cause of 
their scarceness was, no doubt, to be found in the prevalence 
of north and east winds, and sometimes the two combined. 
Cold winds or dull weather are very prejudicial to these 
insects: they will not stir from their bnrrows while either 
prevail ;-should a cloud even pass between them and the sun 
they will remain quiet on whatever flower they may happen 
to be till it is passed, and if of long duration they seem to 
fall into a deep sleep, or to be almost entirely numb, 
In consequence of the cold spring all vegetation was 
backward ; but when it did burst into bloom, and sunshine 
came, the early bees, which had been retarded by the cold, 
swarmed in some species. Amongst them was the hitherto 
unknown female of Andrena bimaculata, a beautiful insect 
belonging to the division with red or partial red abdomens ; 
the male was named by Kirby, who took it twice at Barham. 
Mr. Smith says in his book there are only two specimens 
known, and these are in the collection of the British 
Museum. I was fortunate enough to take a few males on 
* 
‘Transactions of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturslists’ Society’ 
Tresident’s Address), 1875—6. Norwich; Fletcher & Son. Price 3s, Gd, 
