INSECTS 



locality at which many important captures have been made ; the coast 

 between Deal and Dover has also been a favourite collecting ground for 

 some time, the most productive spots on it being Kingsdown and St. 

 Margaret's Bay. Some very good collecting has recently been done in 

 the neighbourhood of Maidstone, and here Oaken Wood near Barming, 

 Ightham Common and Upper Hailing have proved to be the best 

 localities. 



The late Frederick Smith took several species in various parts of 

 the county which have not been met with since his time. One or two 

 of his insects have however been rediscovered at or near the original 

 locality — some quite lately — and it is probable that a careful search will 

 bring more of them to light. Of those that have recently been redis- 

 covered there are two species that deserve special mention, Phtlanthus 

 triangulum. Fab., and Andrena polita, Sm. A single male of the former 

 insect — a very handsome sand-wasp — was taken on the leas at Folkestone 

 14 August, 1898. The latest previous record of the capture of this in- 

 sect in Britain was more than thirty years before. This insect is particu- 

 larly interesting on account of its being the only sand-wasp which has 

 been observed to be bold enough to attack honey-bees for the purpose 

 of provisioning its nest with them. Andrena polita, Sm., was taken by 

 Smith probably about fifty years ago in the chalk pits at Northfleet, and 

 there has been no other recorded capture of this rare bee in Britain until 

 a female was taken at Upper Hailing in July, 1901. 



Sphecodes rubicundus, v. Hag., is an interesting species of bee that 

 was first discovered to be British near Dover in 1895 ; it has however 

 since been taken in one or two places in the east and south of England. 

 The males of almost all the other British species of the genus Sphecodes 

 appear in July and August, but those of this species were found flying 

 in May. This and other circumstances pointed to the theory that this 

 species associated with Andrena labialis as an inquiline, and the idea has 

 lately gained weight. It is the more interesting because other species of 

 Sphecodes are believed to associate with the Halicti. 



Another bee that calls for special attention is Botnbus smtthianus. 

 White. The variety of this species that occurs in Kent resembles 

 B. venustus very closely. It appears to be quite common in Romney 

 Marsh, where the writer has taken the males in abundance at the 

 flowers of the marsh mallow [Althcea officinalis). 



Andrena lapponica, Zett., was discovered as a new bee to Britain 

 at Ightham near Maidstone in May, 1895. It has however occurred 

 recently in Cumberland and Scotland. 



The collectors in the county are much indebted to Mr. Edward 

 Saunders, who has identified a large number of their captures and has 

 done much to arouse and maintain interest in this somewhat neglected 

 order of insects. 



It is hoped that the following list may form the basis of a fuller 

 one in later years when our knowledge of the Kentish distribution of 

 these insects is increased. 



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