THE ENTOMOLOGIST 



Vol. XXXVI.', 



JULY. 1903. 



FNo. 482. 



NOTES ON THE BEE: GENUS APIS. 

 By T. D. a. Cockerell. 



An examination of the mouth-parts of three species of Apis 

 shows great uniformity ; the maxillary palpi are always two- 

 jointed, notwithstanding the statement of all authors examined 

 to the contrary. The species studied can be separated thus : — 



1. Second joint of labial palpus about 420 /x long . indica, Fabr. ^ . 



2. Second joint of labial palpus about 600 /i. long 



in ^ 3. 



3. " Spoon " at end of tongue long and narrow, about 



150 />t long, 80 broad dorsata, Fabr. 



" Spoon " at end of tongue circular, about 100 /x 



long, 110 broad ...... Ivjustica, Spin. 



The difference in the " spoon " between the last two was 

 observed and pointed out to me by Miss Irma Bell, one of my 

 students. The second joint of labial palpus in dorsata may 

 measure as much as 650 /x, but this " giant " bee has the mouth 

 practically of the same size as the Ligurian bee. The second 

 joint of labial palpus in the male ligustica is comparatively short, 

 only about 450 u. I am indebted to Mr. E. E. Green for material 

 of indica and dorsata,- ligustica is the form of the honey-bee 

 common in New Mexico. 



Apis is usually placed at the head of the bees, and regarded 

 as the extreme limit of bee-development. It is of course greatly 

 specialized in its mouth-parts, its habits, &c. ; yet it retains 

 some very primitive characters. The venation of the winga is 

 very wasp-like. The peculiar submarginal cells suggest those of 

 Notogonia, Tachytes, or Laphyragogus. The long marginal cell 

 and the form of the eyes in the male recall the primitive bee 

 genus Protoxcea. The shape of the marginal cell, and the 

 venation approaching the apical margin of the wing, suggest the 

 wasp Monedida ,- and it is to be remarked that some genera of 



ENTOM. — JULY, 1903. P 



