Wasps and Bees 29 G 



Ten queens as follows: Four from Collinson point, Alaska, July 10, 1914, 

 one of them somewhat undersized (F. Johansen); one from Barter island 

 Alaska, June 25, 1914 (D. Jenness); two from Bernard harbour, Northwest 

 Territories, August 10, 1915 (F. Johansen) ; two from Bernard harbour, North- 

 west Territories, August 17-18, 1915 (F. Johansen); one from Herschel island, 

 Yukon Territory, end of July, 1916 (F. Johansen). 



In unfaded examples of both males and queens the yellow is of a browner 

 hue than in the other species of the Kirbyellus group. 



One queen, about 11 mm. long, and five larvae " secured cape Ross, Melville 

 island, Northwest Territories, June 21, 1916, by Emiu (Eskimo)" (V. Stefansson). 

 The Canadian National Collection contains another queen taken at Melville 

 island, July 20, 1909, by F. C. Hennessey. Both the Melville island specimens 

 differ from those taken on the mainland in being slightly smaller, length 19-20 

 mm., with the yellow pale and dingy, the yellow band on the posterior part of 

 the thorax narrower than on the anterior part, and the pleura only faintly 

 tinged with yellow. It is possible they represent a distinct variety or even 

 species. 



Bombus arcticus is probably the B. hyperboreus of European authors, found 

 in Greenland and Arctic Eurasia. 



(Two females of another species of the Kirbyellus group, B. strenuus Cr. 

 from the Kutlan Glacier, Yukon Territory (alt. 9,000 feet), taken by H. F. J. 

 Lambart and Alf. Pattison in June, 1913, are in the Canadian National 

 Collection). 



Pratorum Group. 

 Vraiorum Group, Franklin, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. XXXVIII, p. 304. 



Species of smaller size than those of the Kirbyellus group. Malar space 

 shorter, one-quarter to one-third as long as the eye. Male genitalia very 

 different. 



Bombus sylvicola Kirby. 



Bombus sylvicola Kirbv, Fauna Boreali- Americana, Insecta 1837. 

 Bombus sylvicola Franklin, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. XXXVIII, p. 338. 



MALE. Hairs on head black, a patch of yellow on the middle of the face 

 usually reaching upwards to between the antennae, vertex with a yellow patch, 

 ventro-lateral sides of the head more or less yellow, sometimes entirely black 

 malar space about one-fourth as long as the eye. Thorax with a wide anterior 

 yellow band, a medial and about equally wide black band and a yellow band 

 on the scutellum, the anterior median portion of which is more or less covered 

 with an extension of the black from the medial band; pleura yellow to base of 

 legs. Abdomen, first segment yellow, second and third red, sometimes more or 

 less black in the middle, fourth and fifth yellow with more or less black in the 

 middle, sixth and seventh segments black, often more or less yellow at the 

 sides; hairs on venter mostly pale. 



The specimens from Nome and Teller are smaller (average length, 11 mm.) 

 and have the pile somewhat shorter and less shaggy, and on the average more 

 yellow (less black) on the fourth and fifth segments than those from Herschel 

 island (average length, 12-75 mm.), and Bernard harbour (average length, 

 13-27 mm.). In five of the specimens from Bernard harbour the red extends 

 more or less on to the fourth segment. 



