198 



BEES OF GREAT BRITAIN 



Male. Length 5-7 lines.— Black : the labrum and clypeug 

 yellow, the pubescence on^the face yellowish-white; oii the 

 margin of the vertex, disk of the thorax, and two basal seg- 

 ments of the abdomen, it is fulvous ; the antennse as long as 

 the entire insect ; the extreme apex of the abdomen fulvous ; 

 the wings and legs as in the other sex, B.m! 



This insect is found in all parts of the country; it usually 

 makes its appearance about the latter part of May, and in some 

 situations forms large colonies. Few insects are more widelv 

 distributed throughout Europe ; it is found not only in Southern 

 Europe, but also in Russia, Siberia, Denmark, Sweden and Lap- 

 land. 



Genus 14. SAROPODA, 



Apis, pt., Panz, Faitn. Germ. fasc. 55. f. 17(1800). 

 Anthophora, pt., Spin. Ins. Liff. fasc. i. 127 (1806). 

 Ileliophila, King, Illlg. Mag. vi. (nee Burmann) (1807). 

 Saropoda, Latr. Gen. Crust, et Ins. iv. 177 (1809). 



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

 the antennae filiform, the basal joint of the flagellam narrowed 

 at the base; the labrum subquadrate, the angles rounded. The 

 labial palpi four-jointed, the basal joint more than six times the 

 length of the second joint, the two apical ones minute, placed in 

 a successive line with the two basal joints ; the apical joint very 

 slender, pointed, and minute ; the labium about one-third longer 

 than the palpi, and twice the length of the mentum. The 

 maxillary palpi four-jointed; the basal joint one-third the length 

 of the second, the third shorter than the second, and the fourth 

 cylindrical and minute. The superior wings with one marginal 

 and three submarginal cells ; the marginal cell rounded at the 

 apex, the second submarginal cell receiving the first recurrent 

 nervure in the middle, the third receiving the second at its apex- 

 Thorax globose. Abdomen subovate, the calcaria simple, the 

 claws bifid. 



Of all the busy bees that revel in the beauty of a summer's 

 day, Saropoda himaculata 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 seeu it, wheu for a moment 



