IDS 



EUCERA.- 



-INSECTS.- 



-HuMBUE Bee. 



their burrows in decaying posts and rails; but when 

 tliey meet with ready-formed tubes adapted to their 

 purpose, they avail themselves of tlie convenience. 

 Mr. Jlarsham describes the PimpJa manifestator as 

 introducing its eggs into the nests of this bee ; but the 

 bee is so small, and the parasite so large, that it can 

 hardly be ou the Chelostonia that the Ichneumon preys, 

 but more probably on some beetles (such as the Clyhis 

 arietis) which deposit their eggs in the same posts. 

 Fcenus assectator enters the burrows and searches till 

 it finds the nest. Two species of Chrysis are also 

 found to be parasitic on this bee. 



Cekatina. — The labial palpi in the genus CeraUna 

 have four joints. Spinola iirst ascertained the habits 

 of the species. These bees hollow out the pith of 

 brambles and briars, and furnish their larvae with a 

 deposit of semifluid honey. Mr. Smith, who has con- 

 firmed the observations of Spinola, says — " Some years 

 ago I observed a small bee most industriously employed 

 in excavating a dead bramble stick. My attention was 

 directed to the circumstances from observing some of 

 the falling pieces of pith on the ground immediately 

 beneath. Occasionally fresh quantities of dust were 

 pushed out. At length the little creature came out 

 of the stick as if to rest, and after sunning itself a 

 few minutes, it re-entered, and again commenced its 

 labours." Later in the day he stopped up the hole, 

 cut off the branch, and found a male and female Cera- 

 tina. The Count St. Fargeau regarded these bees as 

 parasitic, from their wanting pollenigerous appendages ; 

 but there are, as has been shown before, other genera 

 similarly destitute, and yet not parasites. The Cera- 

 tina cmruka, is very local. It frequents the flowers of 

 the Echium vulgare. 



EuCEUA. — The genus Eiicera is so named from the 

 antenna in the males being as long as the body. There 

 is but one species found in this country — the Eucera 

 loiifficoniis, or Long-horned bee. Eucera prefers a 

 clayey soil for its burrows. At the end of the burrow 

 the female forms an oval chamber or cell. The sides 

 of this are made perfectly smooth, and capable of resist- 

 ing the moisture of the mixture of pollen and honey 

 stored up for its young brood. Each cell has one larva. 

 This larva does not spin a cocoon, but passes the winter 

 as a larva ; about the end of April it changes to the 

 pupa state, shortly after attaining which, it becomes a 

 perfect bee. "The male, on emerging from its cell, passes 

 its long antenna; tlirough the notch at the base of the 

 first joint of the anterior tarsus, drawing the anteunfe 

 through, and thus readily divests those organs of the 

 thin pellicle in which they are enveloped. Here we 

 see another beautiful exemplification of the trutli, that 

 nothing is made in vain. The long antennce of the 

 males of this genus are doubtless adapted to some 

 peculiar phase in their economy, and the remarkable 

 hexagonal reticulation of the joints also answers some 

 purpose connected with a peculiar sense, the exact 

 function of which we are unable to appreciate." 



Sarapoda. — The genus Sanipoda is distinguished 

 from all the other genera of British bees by the setiform 

 labial palpi, the joints of which are continued in a 

 straight line. The only British species, the Sara- 

 2>oda bimactdaia, is abundant in Hampshire and San- 



down Bay in the Isle of Wight. It is evidently a 

 prime favourite of the able monographer of the British 

 bees, who thus writes of it : — " Of all the busy 

 bees that revel in the beauty of a summer's day, Sara- 

 poda bimacuhtta must ever be an especial favourite. 

 It is only to be found when it is sunniest, brightest, and 

 hottest — when summer days are summer days indeed. 

 Who has not heard its merry hum? Who has not 

 seen it when for a moment it settles on a flower, or 

 rests on some sunny bank, panting with delight? 

 Their eyes splendid as opals : could their brilliancy be 

 preserved, this bee would rival and challenge admira • 

 tion with the most brilliant of its tribe. It is a local 

 species, but abounds in many localities; it flies with 

 incredible swiftness, darting from flower to flower." 



Anthopuoua. — There are four British species of 

 the very fine genus Anthoplwra, which is one of great 

 extent, and distributed over the whole world. One 

 of the British species [Anthophora furcata) is a wood- 

 burrower, according to Kirby. It occurs abundantly 

 near London in July and August, frequenting the flowers 

 of the red dead-nettle. The other indigenous species 

 burrow in the ground or in walls, and such like places. 

 The Anthophora acervorum is found in all parts of the 

 United Kingdom. It literally swarms in some places. 

 " There is a colony of this bee, in the chalk-pits at 

 Norlhfleet, of such amazing extent that, in the middle 

 of April, a dark flickering shadow is cast on the ground 

 from the countless numbers assembled." There is 

 little doubt that this is the very bee alluded to by the 

 Rev. Gilbert White — in his Observations on Insects 

 usually printed with the "Natural History of Sel- 

 borne " — in the following passage : — • " There is a 

 remarkable hill on the Downs, near Lewes in Sussex, 

 known by the name of Mount Carburn, which over- 

 looks that town, and affords a most engaging prospect 

 of all the country roimd, besides several views of the 

 sea. On the very summit of this exalted promontory, 

 and amidst the trenches of its Danish camp, there 

 haunts a species of wild bee, making its nest in the 

 chalky soil. When people approach the place these 

 insects begin to be alarmed, and, with a sharp and 

 hostile sound, dash and strike round the heads and faces 

 of intruders. I have often been interrupted myself 

 while contemplating (he grandeur of the scenery around 

 me, and have thought myself in danger of being stung." 

 In the south of the Isle of Wight, the cliff's are often 

 completely I'iddled with their burrows. Among the 

 parasites attacking this bee, we may specially men- 

 tion the chaloiilidous genus MiUttohta, of which an 

 account is given elsewhere. The common earwig is 

 also very destructive, as it penetrates their burrows, 

 and eats greedily the food laid up for the progeny of 

 the bee. 



Genus Bombus {Humble Bee). — Bees of this genus 

 may be at once known by their very large and hairy 

 bodies. In Hampshire they are called Dumbledors, 

 while in other districts they are named Bumble bees and 

 Hummel bees. The name Humble may be a corruption 

 of Humming bee, from the loud hum so characteristic 

 of the species. In Scotland they are called "Bumbees," 

 while the brown species are called "Foggies." No 

 one who loves to watch nature, in all her varied guise, 



