OF NEW EKGLAHD. Ill 



distinguish the two broods of larger and smaller sized 

 females, but would at present consider that the variation 

 noticed above is not confined to either size. 



This species is common in all parts of Maine, and is 

 one of the most common species in New England. 



BOMBUS PENXSYLVANICUS Cresson. 



Male. " Head black, intermixed with obscure yel- 

 lowish on the face and vertex ; eyes very largo and 

 prominent, almost contiguous on tlie vertex. Thorax 

 above and on the sides tawny-yellow, with a blackish 

 band between the wings; in some specimens the thorax 

 is entirely yellowish. Wings fusco-hyaline, darkest 

 along the costa and towards the base. Legs black; 

 hairs of the basal joint of the posterior tarsi pale ; tarsi 

 brown. Abdomen with the first three segments tawny- 

 yellow, slightly mixed with blackish on the base of the 

 first segment; remaining segments black. Beneath black, 

 sparsely clothed with pale hairs. Length 10 lines/' 

 Cresson. 



Female. Head and eyes as described in B. fervidus but 

 the antennae are longer and more slender; black in 

 front. The yellow band on the thorax is broader than iu 

 the male ; in some specimens there are a few yellow hairs 

 on the scutelium. The three basal rings""' of the abdo- 

 men are yellow above, and the basal one is often partially 

 black, the remaining rings black. First tarsal joint 

 fuscous, much larger than in B. fervidus. In the form of 

 the body this and fervidus are closely allied-, both being 

 flatter and a little longer than in the other species. 

 Length 1.05 ; breadth, .45 ; expanse of wings 1.85 inch. 



The measurement given would indicate that this species 

 was the same size as fervidus, but it is a little larger by 

 about .05 inch. 



From want of specimens I am obliged to quote Mr. 

 Cresson's description of the male. This is our least abun- 



* For convenience of description in this paper I have practically ignored 

 thr" fact that the basal ring of the abdomen is in most hyrnenoptera thrown 

 forward upon the thorax, as I have observed the passage to take place in 

 the serai-pupa state ; hence what is in reality the second segment of the 

 abdomen is called iu this paper the first or basal segment. 



