Order 9. HY]MENOPTEIlA. 599 



The maxillae and labium are greatly elongated, and form a kind of proboscis, elbowed and folded beneatli, 

 in inaction. The two basal joints of tlie labial palpi have often the form of a compressed scaly seta ; 

 the two others are very minute, and affixed obliquely near the end of the second. 



The Apiariae are either solitary or social in their habits. 



The Solitary Bees have never more than the two ordinary kinds of individuals, males and females, 

 each female providing alone for the support of her posterity. The hind feet of these females are fur- 

 nished with neither pollen baskets, nor silken pollen brushes. They are provided on the outside with 

 numerous close hairs. 



A first division of Solitary Bees comprises those which have the second joint of the posterior tarsi in- 

 serted in the middle of the extremity of the preceding joint. 



The Andrenoides approach the Andrcnetae in having the labial palpi composed of slender joints, 

 placed end to end, and similar to the Gjointed maxillary palpi ; the females have no ventral brush, but 

 their hind legs are provided with bundles of hairs, with which they collect pollen. 



The three following; have the mandibles of the females narrowed at the tip. 



Systri>pha, lUig-., has a tooth beneatli the apex ; three complete cubital cells, and the male antennae curled. 



Rophites, Spin., with similar mandibles, but having; only two complete cubital cells, and the antennae nevei 

 curled. 



Panurgus, with the mandibles not toothed ; the wing's with two complete cubital cells. 



Xylocopa, Latr., or the Carpenter Rees, have the mandibles nearly spoon-shapeii ; the labrum is ciliated in front; 

 the upper wing;s have three complete cubital cells, the first of which is cut in two by a transparent line. The male 

 In many species differs g;reatly from the females, which resemble g;reat Humble Bees ; their wings are often violet, 

 copper, or g:olden-colo\u-ed, and brilliant. Type, Apis violacea, Linn, [a continental species, the female of which 

 forms long; burrows in wood, paling's, &c., in which it makes several cells, in each of which it deposits an eg;g and 

 a supply of pollen paste. The species are numerous, and chiefly inhabitants of tropical climates. 



The labial palpi of the other Apiaria; resemble scaly plates ; the two basal joints very long; the maxillary palpi 

 short, and often with fewer than six joints. 



The Dasygantrw are remarkable for the under side of the abdomen of the females being furnished 

 w ith a stiff, silky coat of hairs ; the labrum is as long as broad, and square ; the mandibles of the females 

 strong, triangular, and toothed. 



Ceratina, Latr., approaches Xylocopa, the only subgenus which has 6-jointed maxillai-y palpi, and three complete 

 cubital cells. The abdomen is oval, and destitute of a ventral brush, as well as in Stelis and delioxys, which never- 

 theless ought, from their general characters, to form part of this group. 



All the other Dasygastree have never more than four joints in the maxillary palpi, and two complete cubital 

 cells. 



Chelostoma, Latr., has the body long and subcylindric ; the mandibles advanced, narrow, and curved ; and the 

 maxillary palpi 3-jointed. 



Heriades, Spin., has the body also long and subcylindric, but the mandibles are triang\ilar, and the maxillary 

 palpi '2-jointed. 



In the four following subgenera, the abdomen is shorter and subtriangular, or semi-oval. These are Mason Bees 

 and Leaf-cutter Bees. 



Megachile, Latr., has the maxillary palpi 2-jointed ; the abdomen flat above, and capable of being elevated so as 

 to be able to use their sting above their bodies. M. muraria [a continental species], with violet-coloured wings, 

 makes its nests of tine earth, and fixes them against walls exposed to the sun, each nest containing from twelve to 

 fifteen cells. Other species, named Leaf-cutter Bees, employ in the construction of their nests portions of leaves, 

 perfectly oval or circular, which they cut out of leaves with their jaws with surprising dexterity ; these they carry 

 to their burrows made in the earth, or sometimes in walls, or the trunks of old trees, forming cells of them of the 

 size of a thimble, and inclosing an egg in each cell, with a supply of pollen paste, the cover of one cell forming the 

 bottom of the next above it, and so on until the burrow ib filled. Of this number is Apis centuncularis, Linn., [a 

 common British species]. 



Lithiirgus, Latr., has 4-jointed maxillary palpi, and the abdomen depressed above. [Exotic species.] 



Osmia, Panzer, has also 4-jointed maxillary palpi, but the abdomen is convex above. Some of the species of 

 this genus, [which is numerous,] are Mason-bees, and others Leaf-cutters ; amongst the latter is the Tapestry-bee 

 of Reaumur, which uses portions of the wild scarlet poppy to form its nests. It belongs to Saint Fargeau's genus 

 Anthocopa, difl'ering from Osmia in having tridentate instead of bidentate mandibles. Some species make their 

 nests in the galls of trees. 



Anthidium, Fabr., has the abdomen convex, and the maxillary palpi only l-jui...^J. The females strip off tlu 

 cottony matter growing upon various wild plants, in order to form their nests therewith. 



Stelis, Panz. (with the scutellum simple and the abdomen semicylindrical), and 



detioays, Latr. (with two teeth or spines to the scutellum, and the abdomen triangular), differ from the pre 

 ding and agree with the following in wanting the ventral brush, which leads to the supposition that they ar^- 

 parasites. 



