130 HYMENOPTEEA. 



clothed with whitish hairs, or pubescence, or with fulvous pubes- 

 cence. They are found all over the world, and are well represented 

 in England, the genus Andrena, Fabr., being by far the most 

 numerous in species among our British bees. They form burrows 

 in the ground, or in the crevices of walls, and the species of 

 Andrena appear in early spring, when they may be met with at 

 the flowers of the sallow. The species of the genus Prosopis, Fabr., 

 form their nests in bramble sterns, and occasionally in dock. 

 According to Smith, living examples of Andrena exhale an agree- 

 able odour when alive. Some species are very subject to the 

 attacks of the curious Coleopterous parasite Stylops, which may 

 frequently be seen slightly protruding from their bodies, and 

 disfigures them to such an extent that stylopised bees have fre- 

 quently been described as distinct species. 



FAMILY II. Apidw. 



Solitary or social species ; mouth-parts produced into a long 

 proboscis ; basal joint of the hind tarsi often externally dilated. 



The species belonging to this family are very numerous, and 

 very varied in their structure, colours, and habits. We shall 

 confine ourselves here to noticing a few of the most interesting 

 genera in systematic order. 



The species of the genus Osmia, Panz., are black hairy bees, 

 generally more or less varied with reddish hairs, and measuring 

 about one-third of an inch in length. They form their nests in 

 the ground, under stones, in walls, in old trees, or in empty snail 

 shells. A long account of their habits is given by F. Smith in 

 his Catalogue of British Bees in the Collection of the British Museum. 

 Anthocopa Papaveris, Latr., a Continental species allied to Osmia, 

 which has not yet been ascertained to be British, lines its under- 

 ground nest with the scarlet petals of the field-poppy ; the species 

 of Megachile, Latr., which are grey, pubescent bees, are also leaf- 

 cutters. Many species are very common in England, especially 

 M. Centuncularis, Linn., which may often be seen cutting very neat 

 segments of a circle out of rose-leaves, etc. 



There is a small section of bees the habits of which are not 

 yet thoroughly understood, though it has long been known that 

 they are parasitic on other bees ; or at least they lay their eggs 

 in their nests, and the young larvae are believed to feed on the 

 store laid up for the use of the offspring of the rightful owners. 

 Hence Latreille called the invaders Cuckoo Bees. They belong 



