128 PACKARD, HUMBLE BEES, ETC. 



nid creus dans le bois". p. 290. " All these authors 

 have, however, overlooked the direct observations of 

 Schaffer, who has figured the larva, pupa and imago of 

 Anthrax ornata (or a closely allied species) as one ol the 

 parasites in the nest of the Mason bee (Megachile muraria) 

 (Abhand. v. Ins. vol. II. pi. 5. figs. 11, 12, 13.)" 



"M. V. Audouin has confirmed in his unpublished obser- 

 vations the parasitic habits ot Anthrax morio by rearing it 

 from the nest of an Anthophora. He has given me one of 

 the exuviaa of the pupa, which retains its previous pupa- 

 form, and exactly resembles the pupa of Bombylius. He 

 remarked that the Anthrax makes its way out of the cell 

 of the bee, immediately before assuming the perfect state, 

 by the assistance of its dorsal spines, in the same manner 

 as Cossus. I have also found exactly similar exuviae in 

 the nest of Megachile muraria.' 7 p. 534. 



The muscid genus Tachina besides attacking parasitically 

 grasshoppers, caterpillars, the larvae of saw-flies and other 

 insects, is known also to frequent the burrows of the 

 smaller species of wild bees, such as the Aridrenidae. 



ANTHEROPHAGUS Latreille. 

 ANTHEROPHAGUS OCHRACEUS Melsheimer. 



Female. Pale testaceous honey yellow, with darker 

 antennae, legs, and elytra ; the head and pro-thorax above 

 and beneath are honey yellow ; the anterior two-thirds 

 of the head, pro-thorax and elytra is covered with very 

 fine yellowish hairs arising from the fine punctures which 

 cover the upper part of the body ; the antennae are also 

 very finely haired ; on the head the minute hairs are 

 arranged longitudinally ; while upon the pro-thorax they 

 all converge to a mesial point near the hind edge of the 

 pro-notum. The elytra are a little darker especially along 

 the suture. The ends of the antennal joints, the base of 

 the coxae and tibiae, and tip of the terminal joint of the 

 tarsi are black. Length of the body, .16 .18; breadth, 

 .06 .08 inch. 



This species was identified for me by Mr. F. G. Sanborn 

 of Boston. He informs me that the species is common 



