134 • UKNERA OF ilYMENOPTERA. 



are subject to tlie attacks of Sti/tofm, a curiouf* little {'oleopterourt para- 

 site, the fl'iiiaU'H of which are apterous, jjjrub-like insects which never 

 leave the bodies of the bees, and whose presence is known by the 

 protrusion of her head between the upper se;;rnents of the abdomen. 



Sphfcoden is easily recognized by the smooth, jM)lished abdomen, 

 which is ^fenerally of a red color. Some authors have j)laced this 

 genus among the panusites, but the late Frederick Smith, who made 

 the study of the Anthophila a specialty, says that the result of his 

 observations has led to the conclusion that no species of the An- 

 drenidie is parasitic. 



The sjHJcies of Augochlora and Agapodemon are the most brilliant 

 of our bees, being colored with metallic blue and greei;. 



The genera Nomla and Eunomia are very closely allied, and are 

 remarkable for the curious manner in which the legs of the nniles 

 are dilated, curved and spined. 



The sjjecies belonging to the Apidse have been recently catalogued 

 in a paper on that family published in the seventh volume of these 

 Transactions, but with the study of a large amount of material, the 

 number of species will doubtless be much reduced, and some be more 

 properly referred to genera not yet characterized or recognizeil as 

 inhabiting our fauna. 



The genera Panurgiis, CalUopsls and Perd ita, }iaye been made the 

 receptacle for a number of species which do not properly belong to 

 either of those genera, and have been placed there provisionally 

 until more abundant material can be obtained, when a more careful 

 study may be made of their characters. 



The species belonging to Nomada have been called " Wasp-bees" 

 on account of their close resemblance in their gay coloring to the 

 smaller wasps. The genus is represented in our fauna by a large 

 number of species, over sixty, which, however, show great variation 

 in coloring and markings; the ajiex of the abdomen is truncate in 

 the 9 and acute in the % . They are parasitic on the species of 

 Halietus and Andreiui. 



The genus Epeolm is easily recognized by the cinereous or yellow- 

 ish bands of depressed pubescence on the abdomen, the apex of which 

 is acute in the % and obtuse in the 9 ; they are said to be parasitic 

 on the species of Colletes. 



Ericrocis is a new genus formed for the reception of Crocimf lata 

 Cress., a short, broad, Epeoliis-like species from Texas. 



