36 OUTLINES OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



with which they cut out the circular pieces of leaf or petal is something 

 astonishing. The cells are over half an inch in length, nine or ten in a 

 row, placed end to end. As, in the latitude of St. Louis, these bees 

 may be seen at work from May until .September, there are doubtless 

 several broods in a season. 



Bees belonging in the family Andrenidce are distinguished by hav- 

 ing the tongue short and rather broad, and the most characteristic 

 genus (Andrena) can be recognized by a lock of long curled hair on 

 each trocanter. The colors are dark, banded with dull red. This fam- 

 ily of bees includes a large number of small, prettily colored insects 

 which make their nests in tunnels excavated horizontally in banks or 

 perpendicularly in level ground. The tunnels commonly consist of a 

 straight gallery into which the separate cells open on all sides. 



Many species of both Apidas and Andrenidce are sorely annoyed 

 by Parasitic or Cuckoo bees. These build no nests for themselves, 

 but when one of them discovers a Carpenter or Mason or other bee at 

 work, she constantly hovers about the spot, and as fast as the cells are 

 completed she slips in and deposits her eggs, always choosing her time 

 when the builder is absent. The larvoefrom these eggs usually kill the 

 rightful tenants of the cells, or the latter perish from starvation be- 

 cause the intruder has devoured the lion's share of the food. A few 

 of the Cuckoo bees are rather guests than parasites, living very ami- 

 cably with their hosts, on whose bounty their young are reared. This 

 is the case especially with those that choose their homes with the so- 

 cial species. A certain large species of ApaiJius is said to live in this 

 way in the nests of Humble bees, and the mature insects, which are 

 similar in appearance, are often seen together, harmoniously sipping 

 nectar from adjoining flowers. 



The habits of all wild bees are extremely interesting subjects for 

 study, and have not by any means been thoroughly investigated. 



