THE CARPENTER BEES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 



By T. D. A. COCKERELL 

 (University of Colorado, Boulder) 



The carpenter bees (Xylocopidse), so-called because they nest 

 in wood, are easily recognized by their large size and robust 

 form ; the wings are often brilliantly iridescent. They are com- 

 monly seen about houses. Two genera may be recognized, 

 Mesotrichia Westwood and Xylocopa Latreille. Koptorthosoma 

 Gribodo, Platynopoda Westwood, and Cyaneoderes Ashmead are 

 here regarded as divisions of Mesotrichia. In Mesotrichia the 

 hind part of the thorax is flattened (at least in the females), 

 the scutellum having a sharp rim, and this posterior thoracic 

 truncation faces a similar basal truncation of the abdomen. 

 The basal segment of the abdomen contains a pouch, which opens 

 on the anterior face, and in this pouch will be found mites 

 of the genus Paragreenia Cockerell (family Gamasidse). In 

 true Xylocopa the hind part of the thorax is rounded as in 

 other bees, and the first abdominal segment also lacks a sharp 

 or angular rim above its basal declivity. 



For my Philippine material of this group I am indebted to 

 Professor C. F. Baker. It was principally collected for him 

 by Mr. Julian Valdez, who visited many of the islands for the 

 purpose. 



Genus XYLOCOPA Latreille 



Species. 



a'. Face of male narrow, the area below antennae about as broad as long; 

 sexes differently colored, the male with a good deal of olive-brown 

 hair, the female black, with the abdomen dark green. 



fuliginata Perez. 

 a'. Face of male broad, the area below antennae much broader than long. 

 6\ Wings brilliant rosy purple, with the apical field peacock green; an- 

 terior wing of female 28 millimeters long; abdomen black, without 



green tints (China) dissimllis Lep. 



b'. Wings otherwise colored, not so brilliant. 



c\ Abdomen black; male with only a small part of clypeus (band at 



upper end) light mimetica Ckll. 



c'. Abdomen distinctly greenish; male with larger part of clypeus pale. 



faUax Maidl. 

 345 



