154 





BEES OF GREAT BRITAIN 



Genus 6. MELECTA. 



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Apis, pt., Fabr. Si/st, Ent. p. 378 (1775). 

 Centris, pt., Fabr, Syst. Piez. p. 354 (1804). 

 Melecta, Latr, Hist. Nat. xiv. 48 (1805). 

 Crocisa, pt., Jurine, Hym. p. 239 (1807). 

 Symmorpha, King, Illig, Mag. vi. (1807). 



Head transverse, the ocelli placed in a line on the vertex ; the 

 antennsc filiform, the basal joint of the flagellum most slender at 

 the base. The labial palpi four-jointed, the basal joint thrice 

 the length of the second joint, the two apical joints minute, 

 placed at the side and near the apex of the second joint. The 

 maxillary palpi five-jointed, the basal joint short, stout and ovate, 

 the second, third and fourth, of nearly equal length, the apical 

 jomt shorter. The superior wings with one marginal and three 

 submarginal cells ^ the marginal cell not much longer than the 

 first submarginal cell, rounded at its apex; the second sub- 

 marginal cell much narrowed towards the marginal, receiving 

 the first recurrent nervure towards its apex ; the third sub- 

 marginal receiving the second recurrent nervure ; the third 

 transverse cubital nervure much bent or elbowed towards the 

 apex of the wing. The calcaria of the posterior tibi^ have the 

 inner spine serrated, those on the intermediate tibi^ are simple; 

 the claws of the anterior tarsi bifid. 



The two species of the genus Melecta wliich are found in this 

 country are amongst the most conspicuous and elegant of our 

 indigenous bees. The shining jet spotted with snow-white which 

 adorns the type, iH. luctuosa, cannot fail to excite our admiration. 

 Melecta is the parasite of Anthophora; I have frequently bred it 

 from the cells of that bee. In the autumn of 1852 a large number 

 of larvae from the nests of Anthophora were obtained; no differ- 

 ence of form could be detected amongst them, but some were 

 of an orange-yellow, and others white : all the yellow larvae 

 proved to be those of Anthophora, and some of the pale-coloured 

 specimens those of Melecta. These bees are frequently infested 

 with the larvse of Meloe; sometimes as many as a dozen may be 

 observed adherhig to the sides of the metathorax of a single in- 

 dividual. 



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