194 



Andrena.- 



-INSECTS.- 



-Apid.e. 



together in perfect harmon}', issuing from and entering 

 into the burrows indiscriminately. It may be observed 

 that between Eucera and Nomada no resemblance 

 exists in general appearance, one being several times 

 larger than the other, and covered with pubescence of 

 a sombre colour; whereas the parasite is a gaily- 

 coloured insect, destitute of pubescence, and readily 

 observed from the briglitness of its colouring. To some 

 extent a constant connection between certain species 

 exists ; and some species of these parasites are always 

 found in connection with certain species oi Andreiia." 

 It is the opinion of some authors that when the parasitic 

 bee has deposited her egg upon the store of pollen col- 

 lected by the industrious bee, the latter at once deserts 

 it, and proceeds to construct a fresh burrow ; and that 

 the parasites, which may be seen constantly entering 

 dilTereiit burrows, enter them that they may find the 

 requisite quantity of food, which will usually be found 

 to be much less than that required for the industrious 

 bee. Aa soon as they have found this, they deposit 

 their egg, and the nest is then possibly deserted by its 

 legitimate owner. 



ANDRKNA HATTORFIAHA is the largest species of the 

 genus found in these islands. The female is eight lines 

 long, while the male is a line shorter. Andrena florea 

 is truly a summer insect, is associated with the brightest 

 of all the sunny days of June, when the wild bryony is 

 creeping over the hedge, the flowers of which are its 

 chief delight. Andrena cineraria is an early species, 

 appearing in April. It is fond of burrowing in trodden 

 palliwaj's, and may be met with abundantly in the 

 walks of Hyde Park. It is deep blue-black, the head 

 and thorax clothed witli white pubescence. 



ANDRENA PILIPES is seldom found but in the county 

 of Kent ; is very partial to thistle heads, from which it 

 obtains a white pollen ; when loaded with this it has a 

 very strange appeariuice. 



ANDRENA NITIDA may be found in the flowers of 

 the common dandelion, in which they cover themselves 

 with pollen. It is an early spring bee, and so is the 

 Andrena albicans, a species found too by arctic travel- 

 lers on tlie shore of Lake Winnepcg. 



ANDRENA FULVA is a bee fond of the apple blos- 

 som, and appears wlien that bloom is out. 



ANDRENA CLARKELLA is usually the first bee which 

 appears in spring. It is found all over Europe, in 

 Algeria, and occurs also in Nova Scotia. 



ANDREA TRIMMERANA is very abundant on Hamp- 

 stead Iloatli, and is frequently infested by Stylops. 



Among the Andrence one species is peculiarly liable 

 to the attacks of Slylops ; this is the A. convcxiuscida, 

 some having frequently one, two, and a few even three 

 specimens, projecting from the segments of the abdomen. 



Of the genus Macrojiis there is one species (Itlacropis 

 lahiata) occasionally found in these islands; but it would 

 appear to be very rare, as it has only been met with 

 thrice. 



There are two species of the genus Cilissa found 

 in Britain. In habit they resemble the species of 

 Andrena. Cilissa hmmorrhoidalis is found in the 

 month of August "where the blue-bells grow," for it 

 docs not appear to frequent any other (lower (Smith, 

 Monograph, p. 110). 



The genus Dasypoda contains but one British species, 

 which is perhaps the most beautiful bee found in this 

 country (Dasyjioda hirtipes). This bee derives both 

 its generic and its specific names from the long dense 

 brush of fulvous hairs on the hind legs. The appear- 

 ance of the female, when loaded with pollen, is sulB- 

 ciently singular to attract the attention of the most 

 apatlietic observer. Kirby records that she forms 

 burrows, like Andrena, and sits at the mouth of them 

 enjoying the warmth of the sun, while the male flies in 

 circles round her. 



Family— APIDiE. 



This family is characterized by Professor Westwood 

 as follows: — -The mcntum is long, with the labium 

 at its extremity forming an elongated slender seta, 

 reflexed when at rest, and as long as, or longer than the 

 mentum, with two small lateral filaments, and form- 

 ing with the elbowed maxillae an elongated proboscis, 

 capable of being stretched out in front of the head 

 when in action, or folded up beneath it and the breast 

 when at rest, in the shape of a flattened 2. 



Without alluding to sub-families, we proceed to 

 give, from Mr. Smith's Monograph, an account of tho 

 economy of the British genera of the family. 



Genus Panurgus. — There are two species of the 

 genus Pamirgus in Britain. In structure they are 

 very similar to the Andrenidie ; the females possess 

 the brush on tho tibife and the apical fringe on tlie 

 abdomen, and their tarsi are similar. The chief diiler- 

 ence lies in the tongue being folded at the tip when 

 in repose. They excavate burrows, and lay up a store 

 of pollen and honey, like the Andrense. They are 

 summer bees, and black in colour. The most abun- 

 dant species is the Panurgns Banksianus, which forms 

 large colonies in retired sandy spots on heaths, making 

 its appearance in July. For j'ears such a community 

 has existed on the north side of the Vale of Health, 

 Ilampstead Heath, where in spring the larva3 may 

 be found in small cells about sis inches beneath the 

 surface. They do not change to nymphs many days 

 before arriving at their perfect condition. This species 

 and the Panurgus calcaratus seem to prefer the flowers 

 of the mouse-ear hawkweed {Hieraciuni) to those of 

 any other plant. 



Genus Nomada.- — The bees of the genus Nomada 

 are popularly called Wasp bees, from a close resem- 

 blance they have in their gay colouring to some of the 

 smaller wasps. The body is elongated and smooth , 

 the legs are simple in both sexes. The maxillary 

 palpi are six-jointed. The bees of this genus are 

 known to deposit their eggs in the nests of other bees. 

 They deposit their eggs on the provision laid up by the 

 working bee, which, finding an egg deposited, com- 

 mences a fresh cell for her own progeny. Mr. Smith 

 tliinks it probable that the parasite closes its cell, having 

 frequeiitl}' captured Nomada: and Mclectm with masses 

 of clay attached to their posterior tibias; and in the well- 

 known genus of exotic pai-asitic bees (Crocisa) speci- 

 mens are of frequent occurrence, which have masses 

 of clay or mixed earth on their tibia;. Twenty-four 

 British species are described ; one of these {N. iSoli- 

 daginis) is often very abundant on the ragwort and 



