HYMENOPTERA. 261 
Heriaves, Spin., 
Where the body is also elongated and almost cylindrical, but where 
the mandibles are triangular; the maxillary palpi consist of but two 
joints, and the second of the labial is much shorter than that of the 
others. These Insects, like the Chelostomae, make their nests in 
holes of old trees *. In the four following subgenera, the abdomen is 
shorter and almost triangular or forms a semi-oval. These Apiarie 
are the Abeilles maconnes and the Abeilles coupeuses de feuilles of 
Reaumur. 
Meeacuite, Lat.—AntTuornora,i(Xyiocopa, Fab.—Tracausa, Jur., 
Where the maxillary palpi consist of two joints; the abdomen is 
plane above and susceptible of being elevated posteriorly, thereby 
enabling the females to employ their sting over their body. 
M. murarium; Xylocopa muraria, Fab,; Reaum., Insect., 
VI, vii, vili, 1—8. One of the largest species of the genus. 
The female is black, with violet-black wings. The male is 
covered with russet hairs, and the last of his abdominal annuli 
are black. The female constructs her nest of very fine earth, 
which she forms into a kind of mortar, applying it against walls 
or stones, with a south exposure. It becomes extremely hard, 
and resembles a clod of earth. It contains from twelve to fif- 
teen cells, in each of which is deposited some bee-bread and an 
egg, The perfect Insect appears in the spring of the next year. 
Another species, closely allied to the preceding one—Aprsst- 
cula, Ross.—forms its nest into a ball and places it on the 
branches of plants. 
Others, Megachiles, called by Reaumur Abei/les coupeuses du feu- 
alles, in the construction of their nests, employ perfectly oval or cir- 
cular portions of leaves, which they cut out by means of their mandi. 
bles, with as much quickness as dexterity. These pieces are tran- 
sported by them into straight and cylindrical holes, previously exca- 
vated in the ground, and sometimes in walls or the decayed trunk of 
an old tree. They line the bottom of the cavity with these leaves, 
and form a cell, shaped like a thimble, in which they deposit the 
honied provision on which the larva is to feed, and an egg; they 
then close the cell with a flat or slightly concave lid, also formed of 
a portion of a leaf. A second cell is subsequently formed above the 
first; that is followed by a third, and so on until the hole is filled. 
Of this number is the 
M. rose; Apis centuncularis, L.; Reaum., Insect., VI, x. 
About six lines in length; black, with a fulvous-grey down; 
small white and transverse spots on the superior sides of the ab- 
domen; inferior surface of the latter covered with fulvous 
hairs. The male is described by Linneus as another species, 
under the name of éagopoda. 
* Lat. Gener. Crust, et Insect., IV, 162. 
