BEES OF GREAT BRITAIN. i>()l 



in some exotic species the recurrent nervure is received a little 

 within ; the posterior tibiae and the basal joint of the tarsi densely 

 pubescent on the outside. Abdomen usually subovate ; some- 

 times densely pubescent, sometimes subpubescent, and having 

 -regular bands on the apical margins of the segments. 



The genus Antliopliora is one of great extent, although there 

 are only four British species 5 it is found in all quarters of the 

 globe. The genus, as at present constituted, contains species of 

 varied habits ; A. f areata being a ■vvood-burrower'^ ; the rest of 

 the indigenous species burrow in the ground, or in walls and 

 similar situations; A. acervornm is sometimes seen in o-i^eat 

 numbers perforating the mortar of barns and outhouses ; its more 

 constant habit is to burrow in banks; many parts at the back 

 of the Isle of Wight have the cliifs completely riddled with their 

 burrows. They are sul}ject to the attacks of various parasites 

 and other destroyers; of the latter kind nothing can surpass the 

 wholesale slaughter committed on their broods by the common 

 earwig; this destructive insect penetrates their burrows and de- 

 vours the food laid up for the progeny of tlie bee, and there is 

 reason to believe that they also destroy the pupai; they appear 

 to be omnivorous, and to devour alike pollen, honey, pup^e, and 

 perfect insects. 



Of the insects which are parasitic on^. acervornm in the larva 

 ■ state, the first which claims notice is a species belonging to the 

 Chalcididm , of the genus Melittobia of Westvvood, with which 

 the genus Antliophorabia oi^ew^ovt is synonymous. The latter 

 gentleman published a valuable and highly interesting memoir 

 on this parasite in the ' Linna3an Transactions/ vol. xxi. p. 63. 



In the autumn of 1853 I had the pleasure of finding this in- 

 teresting parasite in the cells of Anthophora, Tlie female is a 

 minute shining dark green insect, not more than half a line in 

 length ; the male is equally minute, but is of a testaceous yellow 

 colour, having only rudimentary wings, and is not furnished 

 with the usual compound eyes, but has in their place exceed- 

 ingly minute simple eyes or ocelli, besides three true ocelli 

 on the vertex of the head : this remarkable conformation was 

 discovered by Mr. Newport, who has given ample details, and 

 the results of most elaborate physiological investigations, in the 

 paper alluded to. Melittobia is here treated as the parasite 

 of Anthophora, in accordance with the historv of its habits as 

 detailed by Mr. Newport; but when I discovered the larva, it 

 was feeding on that of Momdontor/ierus riitidits, a true parasite 



* See Kirby, Mon. Ap. Angl. ii. p. 290. 



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