Studies of NortJi America)! Bees 23 



species, characterized at once by having antennal joint 3 nearly 

 = 4, and no yellow on inner lower orbits or sides of abdomen 

 (in taraxacclla joint 3 is only about one-third the length of 4. and 

 the inner lower orbits and spots on sides of abdomen are usually 

 yellow), and other minor differences. Both females bearing 

 Baker's No. 2179 are taraxacella as determined by Cockerell. 

 The eight males are probably referable to A^ iiwdocorniii 

 Cockerell, since they agree in general with his characterization 

 of that species and were not satisfactorily separable from it after 

 comparisons by Cockerell himself (/. c., p. 238), and the two 

 females probably go with them and arc separable from N. ultima 

 by the longer third antennal joint, ultima agreeing in this respect 

 with taraxacella. These males differ from taraxacella males at 

 once in the longer third antennal joint which is one-half as long 

 as the fourth (less than one-third as long in taraxacella) and 

 average larger size. The real male of taraxacella, which has 

 never been described, may be recognized by the appended 

 diagnosis : 



c?. Length 7-8 mm. Black; the clypeus, labrum, mandibles except tips, 

 narrow lateral face marks which attain level of antennae, tubercles and 

 spot beneath them, usually lines on collar and spots on mesoscutellum (the 

 latter sometimes red), bright yellow. Antennae black above, bright red 

 beneath, scape in front yellow, joint 3 less than one third as long as 4, 

 the flagellum conspicuously denticulate beneath, especially on joints 6-1 1 

 which are very concave medially beneath and apically produced into a 

 denticle on each joint. Head and thorax coarsely and closely punctured, 

 rather copiously white haired, the hair of thorax above strongly tinged 

 with ochreous. Tegulae red. Wings subhyaline, broadly darkened 

 apically, a clear spot beyond submarginals, nervures and stigma brownish 

 fuscous, basal nervure interstitial with transverso-medial on the basad 

 side. Legs reddish, the coxae, femora and tibiae behind more or less 

 black. Abdomen black with broad complete yellow bands, more or less 

 narrowed medially on tergites 1-6, the apical margins of these tergites 

 and the base of the second tergite red or stained with reddish. Venter 

 yellow, the sternites stained with red at the sides and with more or less 

 extensively black basal margins, sternite i with a large black cordate 

 mark. Apex reddish brown, slightly but distinctly notched. 



Allotype. — Sioux county, Nebraska. ^lay (L. Bruner), J*. 

 These males have a remarkable resemblance to M. {Herni- 

 al 



