460 INSECTA. 



is very large, strongly compressed, and forms a square paletle or a 

 reversed triangle. 



The maxillae and lips are most commonly very long, and compose 

 a sort of proboscis. The ligula is most frequently shaped like the 

 head of a lance, or resembles a very long thread, the extremity of 

 which is downy or hairy. The larvae feed exclusively on honey and 

 the pollen of flowers. The perfect Insect feeds on the honey of the 

 latter only. 



These Hymenoptera embrace the genus 



Apis, Lin. 

 Or that of the Bees, which I will divide into two sections. 



In those of the first or the Andrenetje, Lat., the intermediate division 

 of the ligula is cordiform or lanceolate, shorter than its sheath, and bent 

 underneath in some, and almost straight in others. 



These Insects live sohtarily, and consist of but two kinds of individuals, 

 males and females. Most of the females collect the pollen of flowers with 

 the hairs of their posterior legs, and with the aid of a little honey form it 

 into a paste (bee-bread), with which they feed their larvae. They excavate 

 deep holes, and frequently in hard ground, along the borders of roads, or 

 in the fields, in which they place this paste along with an egg; they then 

 close the aperture with earth. 



rhey form various genera, such as Hylseus, Colletes, &c. 



The second section of the Anthophila, that of the Apiari^, Lat-, com- 

 prises those species in which the mediate division of the ligula is at least as 

 long as the mentum or its tubular shield, and is fiUform or setaceous. The 

 maxillae and labium are much elongated and form a sort of proboscis which, 

 when at rest, is geniculate and bent under. 



The Apiarise either live solitarily or form communities. 



The former never consist of more than the ordinary number of Individuals, 

 and each female provides singly for her young. The posterior legs of their 

 females are neither furnished with a brush on the inner side of the first 

 joint of the tarsi, nor with a particular depression on the exterior side of 

 their tibiae; this side, as well as the same of the first joint of the tarsi, is most 

 commonly and densely' covered with hairs. 



One of the most common genera of this section, vulgarly called Humble- 

 Bees, is the 



Xtlocopa, Lat. Fab. 

 The Xylocopac resemble large IJombi. Their body is usually black, 

 sometimes partially coveied vvitli a j'ellow down; the wings are frequently 

 violet, cupreous or green, and brilliant. The male, in several species, 

 differs considerably from the female. Their eyes are large and approxi- 

 mated superiorly. Tlieir anterior legs are dilated and ciliated. 



