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III. Descriptions of new Species of Aculeate Hymenoptera, 

 collected at Panama hy R. VV. Stretch, Esq , with a 

 List of described Species, and the various Localities 

 where they have previously occurred. By Frederick 

 Smith, Esq., President of the Entomological Society of 

 London. 



[Read March 4th, 1861,] 



The Collection of Hymenoptera, described in the following 

 paper, was most liberally presented to nie by Mr. Stretch. I 

 need scarcely add, that this has greatly enhanced the pleasure 

 which has attended the working out and describing of the species. 

 A peculiar interest is attached to the Hymenoptera of Panama, 

 forming, as it does, an intermediate station between North and 

 South America. Amongst the Fespidce will be found species 

 common to both countries j and the capture of Cryptocerus 

 atratus shows the known range of that species to be over an ex- 

 tent of country of not less tlian two thousand two hundred geo- 

 graphical miles. 



The collection of specimens was accompanied by a number of 

 very interesting examples of nests of Formicidce and Vespidce, 

 and also by several valuable notes on the economy of some of the 

 species. This is the first collection of Hymenoptera which I have 

 seen from Panama, and will add greatly to our knowledge of the 

 geographical distribution of species. 



Family F0RM1CID.E, Leach. 

 Genus Formica, Linn. 



1. Formica arborea, Smith, Cat, Hym. pt. vi. (FormicidtB), p. 



44, 148. 

 Hab. Brazil; Island ofMorago. 



2. Formica ser'ice'wentris, Guer. Voy. de la Coq. Zool. ii. 205 ^ , 

 Hab. Rio Janeiro ; Columbia ; Mexico. 



Formica albo-fasciata. 

 F. fusco- nigra, abdomine albo-fasciato ; pedibus articulationi- 

 bus pallide testaceis. 



Worker. Length 2f lines. Of a brownish black; the abdomen 

 shining black, with a broad white fascia at the base of the second 

 segment, not continued beneath ; the head oblong, nearly of equal 



