244 fiNTOMOLOGlCAL NEWS. [Sept., '04 



stem, where the color is most protective. The shaking of a 

 limb in ascending a tall willow quite often causes this rara avis 

 to take flight, to the dismay of a collector. 



A large green grasshopper, Schistocera shoshone, in the early 

 part of summer, is found hiding among the green foliage and 

 resting on a green stem of mesquite. Later in autumn it affects 

 the leaves of cotton wood, — Populus freniontii, — as well as of 

 Salix fluviatilis, the only trees and shrubs retaining green 

 leaves until the latter part of December, in the Salt River Val- 

 ley. There shoshone, as well as a Xiphidium, find a secure 

 resting place. 



Numbers of Mantids of many hues, — carneous, green, gray 

 and brown, — select the leaves or stems of plants in unison 

 with their own colors, and usually fully illustrate color pro- 

 tection. Mantis religiosa, quietly and patiently, with uplifted 

 forelegs, may be noticed awaiting the approach of some other 

 insect, and pounces upon it like a tiger upon his prey. This 

 peculiar attitude has been likened by Mexicans to a child with 

 uplifted hands engaged in prayer, and the popular name, 

 "Nina de la terra," child of the earth, has been bestowed 



upon this insect. 



. ♦ . 



A Bee Visitor of Pontederia (Pickerel- weed). 



By H. ly. ViERECK. 

 Within the last five years I have received specimens of an 

 interesting bee which seems to represent a new genus and spe- 

 cies belonging to the Dufoureidse and closely allied to Halictoi- 

 des as represented by H. marginatus Cress. The first specimen 

 that came to me was a male, taken at Darby, Delaware Co., 

 Pa., August 10, 1899, by Mr. C. W. Johnson ; the next speci- 

 men was a female, collected at Chestertown, Md., August 12, 

 1 90 1, by Mr. E. G. Vanatta. L,ast year I received the first 

 specimen with flower record from Mr. J. H. lyovell, who later 

 sent me, in all, one female and ten males, taken on Pontederia 

 cardata L,., July 20, at Waldoboro, Me. I quote Mr. Novell's 

 interesting notes on the capture of these specimens. ' ' On the 

 afternoon of the 20th of July I was on the river in a boat. A 

 thunder-shower was coming up in the northwest. The air 



