282 INSECTS 



cornioides and probably all the shrubby species; Muehlenbectda australis, Knightia 

 excelsa (rewarewa or native honeysuckle), Nothqfagus sp. (native birches or beeches), 

 probably all the species are visited but whether for nectar or pollen is not recorded ; 

 Podocarpus (miro and black and white pines) several species, all for pollen ; Rhipo- 

 gonum scandens (supple-jack, kareao or pirita) ; Cordyline australis (cabbage-tree or 

 ti). This species is blamed by some apiarists for producing very thick honey, which 

 is difficult to extract. Astelia nervosa, Phormium tenax (New Zealand flax or hara- 

 keke), and BuUnnella Hookeri. 



Of introduced plants probably the best honey producer is the white clover 

 (Trifolium repens) which gives a beautiful pale honey. In districts where it abounds 

 the ragwort (Senecio jacobeed) produces somewhat late in the season a dark, strongly- 

 flavoured honey which is not always saleable. 



In April, 1919, I noticed bees in great numbers feeding on fallen 

 (rotten) pears, at Whangarei. 



In Europe, Apis melUfica fertilises the following flowering plants 

 which have been introduced into New Zealand : 



Ranunculus aquatilis, R. acris, R. repens, R. bulbosus, Nigella damascena. 



Berberis vulgaris. 



Papaver Rhaeas, P. somniferum, Chelidonium majus. 



Fumaria officinalis. 



Nasturtium officinale. Sisymbrium officinale, Brassica Rapa, B. oleracea, Cheiran- 

 thus Cheiri, Sinapis arvensis, S. alba, Capsetla Bursa-pastoris, Cakile 

 maritima, Crambe maritima, Raphanus Raphanistrum, R. sativus. 



Reseda luteola, R. lutea. 



Spergula arvensis, Stellaria media. 



Hypericum perforatum. 



Malva sylvestris. 



Geranium molle, Erodium cicutarium, Tropceolum majus. 



Cytisus scoparius (for pollen only), Medicago sativa, Trifolium repens, T. fragi- 

 ferum, T.pratense (after the flowers have been punctured by short-trunked 

 humble-bees), Lotus corniculatus, Robinia pseudo-acacia, Vicia tetrasperma. 



Rosa canina, R. rubiginosa, Rubus fruticosus, R. idceus, Fragaria vesca, Crattegus 

 oxyacantha, Pyrus communis, Pyrus malus. 



Ribes nigrum, R. rubrum, R. Grossularia. 



CEnothera biennis. 



Daucus carota. 



Petasites vulgaris, Centaurea cyanus, Cnicus arvensis, C. lanceolatus, Cichorium 

 Intybus, Hypochoeris radicata, Tanacetum vulgare, Senecio jacobeea. Tarax- 

 acum officinale. 



(See Appendix B, p. 559.) 



Family Vespid^e 



Poltstes tasmaniensis, Sauss. Australian Wasp 



This wasp has been established about Hokianga and Whangarei, 

 probably, indeed, all over North Auckland Peninsula for a great 

 number of years, and was first recorded from Rawene in 1893. It 

 was then common over the Hokianga district. In 191 1 Colonel 

 Boscawen reported of an orchard in Opitonxii, that it was full of 

 their nests. It is extremely common in the north, but has spread 

 very slowly to the south of Auckland. In 1918 Mr Howes met with 

 it both at Dunedin and Waipori^. 



•* In Nicol's book, Acclimatisation of Salmonides at the Antipodes, we are told 

 (p. 46) : " a living wasp was found among the moss" in which the eggs were packed, 

 in the shipment of salmon ova sent to Otago in 1869, in the ' Mindora.' 



