197 



the mountain mint Pycnanthemum flexuosum (Sta. I, g) Aug. 8 (No. 

 6) ; from flowers of Silphium integrifolium (Sta. II) Aug. 13 (No. 

 48) ; and from flowers of Pycnanthemum flexuosum or pilosum (Sta. 

 II) Aug. 13 (No. 52). 



It is said to be "parasitic on the species of Colletes," but Robertson 

 ('99> PP- 35' 37) does not accept this view, and Ashmead (Psyche, Vol. 

 7, pp. 41-42. 1894) states that Bpeolus donatus Smith makes a nest 

 in the ground and provisions it with a honey-paste. He describes the 

 burrows, egg, and larva. 



Robertson has published keys to the Carlinville (111.) species of 

 Bpeolus (Can. Ent, Vol. 35, pp. 284-288. 1903). 



EUCEEIDJE 



Melissodes aurigenia Cress. 



A single female of this species was taken from flowers of ver- 

 bena ( near Sta. 1,6) Aug. 11 (No. 23). 



The homing behavior of this genus of bees has been studied by 

 Turner (Biol. Bull., Vol. 15, 247-258. 1908). He concludes that 

 memory is utilized. 



Melissodes himaculata St. Farg. 



This bee was taken from the heads of the cone-flower, Lepachys 

 pinnata (Sta. I, e), Aug. 8 (No. 8) ; abundantly from flowers of the 

 mountain mint Pycnanthemum flexuosum (Sta. 1, g) Aug. 8 

 (No. 6) ; on the Loxa prairie on flowers of the rosin- weed, Silphium 

 integrifolium (Sta. II), Aug. 13 (No. 48; and on the cleared margin 

 of the Bates woods on flowers of the mountain mint, P. pilosum ( Sta. 

 IV, a), Aug. 22 (No. 146). 



Some observations on the "sleeping habits" of this bee and of other 

 Hymenoptera have been made by Banks ( Journ. N. Y. Ent. Soc, Vol. 

 10, pp. 209-214. 1902). Graenicher ('05, p. 164) has recorded ob- 

 servations on the habits of M. trinodis Rob. and also on its bee para- 

 site Triepeolus. Ashmead (Psyche, Vol. 7, p. 25. 1894) found the 

 burrows of himaculata eight inches deep in the soil. 



Melissodes desponsa Smith. 



This bee was taken on the cleared margin of the Bates woods on 

 flowers of the mountain mint Pycnanthemum pilosum (near Sta. 

 IV, a) Aug. 22 (No. 146). 



Melissodes obliqua Say. 



This bee was found abundant upon flowers of the cone-flower, Le- 

 pachys pinnata (Sta. I, e), Aug. 8 (No. 8) ; it was taken from flowers 

 of the white mint, Pycnanthemum flexuosum (Sta. I), Aug. 11 (No. 



