IlaUctine Bees of the Australian Region. 209 



nervure ; t. m. = transverso-medial nervuve; hind spur=:liiiid 

 spur of hind tibia ; area = basal area of metathorax. 



Parasphecodes, Smith. 



Similar to Ilalictus, but with head and thorax black and 

 abdomen red or largely so. Males with clypeiis yellow, 

 except at sides above. This genus does not differ from 

 Halictus in any good structural character, and its separation 

 is only justified by the fact that it includes a compact and 

 easily recognized group of species. In his generic diagnosis 

 Smith says that the first r. n. always meets the second t. c. ; 

 but this is not invariably the case. So far as I know, the 

 hind spur of the female is always without spines or teeth. 

 The following table separates Smith's species : — 



6. 



First r. n. entering basal corner of third s. m. ; 



size smaller ; abdomen red, with only the 



apex slightly blackish ; Hagelliim entirely 



black _ \ sidthica, Sm. (T.) 



First r. n. entering second s. m. not far from its 



end 1. 



1. Flagellum ferruginous beneath ; size rather large ; 



a black cloud on third abdominal segment and 

 segmei^ts 4 to 6 all black ; area coarsely 



wrinkled altichus, Sm. (T.) 



Flagellum entirely black 2. 



2. Area rugose-granular ; middle femora very dark, stuchila, Sm. (T.) 

 Area longitudinally plicate ; middle femora clear 



red hilactus, Sm. (T.) 



?• 



First r. n. entering second s. m. near apex ; red 

 of abdomen quite bright ; area often without 

 longitudinal ridges or wrinkles 1. 



First r. n. meeting second t. c. ; red of abdomen 

 darker or duller ; area with longitudinal ridges ' 

 or wrinkles 3. 



1. Abdomen red, only faintly blackened apically ; 



area dull, without distinct wrinkles or ridges; 

 hind spur simple ; second s. m. higher than 



broad . Itt/iusca, Sm. (T.) 



Abdomen with segments 1 to 3 red, 4 and 5 black. 2. 



2. Smaller; red of abdomen very bright, hind mar- 



gins of segments 1 and 2 darker ; clypeus 

 with few large punctures on a shining surface ; 

 mandibles strongly dentate ; hind spur simple ; 



second s. m. about as high as broad tuchilas, Sm. (T.) 



Larger ; red of abdomen darker, chestnut colour, 

 hind margins of segments 1 and 2 not dark- 

 ened ; area with a delicate raised sculpture ; 

 hind spur simple ; second s. m. very broad, 



