230 



BEES OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



^ 



at Southend, where the insect abounds. The species is dis- 

 tributed over all parts of the United Kingdom, although it is 

 scarce in some districts ; specimens have been received from 

 North and South Wales, and from Moffat and Perth in Scotland ; 

 those from the latter locality are remarkable for the vivid red- 

 iiess of the pubescence on the apical segments of the abdomen. 

 Specimens have also occurred in various parts of Ireland. 



Although this bee may prefer constructing its nest under 

 stones, still it will be frequently found in banks and at the roots 

 of trees. 



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16. Bombus hortorum. 



B. hirsutus, ater ; thorace antice, scutello, abdominisque basi, 

 flavis; ano albo; capite elongato. 



Apis hortorum, Linn. Faun. Suec, p. 424. no, 1710 ; Sysf. Nat, i. 

 960. 42, and type in Cab, Linn. Soc. $ . 



Schrank, Ins. Aust^ p. 395. 797. 

 Bombus hortorum, Latr. Hist. Nat. xiv. 65. 5 $ . 



Illig. Mag. v. 168. 17. 



WalcJc. Ins. Par, ii. 146. 



Bahlb. Bomb. Scand. 38. 12 (? ? ^ . 



St. Farg. Hym. i. 466. 12. 



Bridle J Eocped. Sc. de Moree, iii. 328. 731. 



Drews. Sf Schiodte, Kroy. Tidsskr. ii. 120. 16. 



Smith, ZooL ii. 546. 7. 



Nyland, Ap. Boreal, p. 231. 11. 

 Huher, Obs. p. 226. t. 25. f. 10-12. 



Female. Length 10 lines. — The pubescence black; the collar, 

 scutellum and basal segment of the abdomen densely clothed 

 with sulphur-yellow pubescence, that on the three apical seg- 

 ments white; the face elongate; the tongue nearly as long as 



B.M. 



the body. 

 Wor'ker 



Length 5-6j- lines. 



2 



■The colour as in the female. 



Male. Length G-'J lines. — The distribution of colour as in the 

 other sexes, the apical segment having black pubescence ; the 

 mandibles bearded with black hairs. B-M. 



i 



A 



I 



I have not observed any varieties in the sexes of this species; 

 it is universally distributed, and is most abundant and easily 

 distinguished. I formerly regarded the B. ruderatus of Fabn- 

 cius as synonymous with this, but it is certainly distinct; it 

 differs from B. hortorum in having the pubescence longer, the 

 second segment being fringed^ or sometimes entirely covered with 



