96 AHDBENTDiE. 



extreme base of the wings testaceous, the wings hyaline and beau- 

 tifully [iridescent ; the legs have a thin cinereous pubescence. 

 Abdomen ovate, impunctate, very glossy, and having a very thinly 

 scattered downy pubescence ; the apical margins of the segments 

 slightly testaceous, at the basal margin of the second and third 

 segments laterally a patch of white pubescence ; the sides of the 

 apical rima pale fulvous. B.M. 



Male. — Of the same colour as the female, the apex of the clypeus 

 pale yellow, the antennae as long as the thorax, the flagellum ful- 

 vous beneath, the apex of the mandibles ferruginous. Thorax, 

 the tegulae piceous ; the wings hyaline, splendidly iridescent. Ab- 

 domen elongate, widest towards its apex, shining green ; at the 

 base of the two intermediate segments sometimes a little short 

 white pubescence. B.M. 



This is a local insect, but found occasionally in the London district 

 south of the Thames. Mr. Bridgman found it near Norwich ; it 

 also occurs near Lowestoft. 



22. Halictus aeratus. 

 H. viridi-aeneus, nitidus, abdomine nigro-aeneo. 



Halictus aeratus, Smith, Zool. vi. 2043 ; Bees Great Brit. 37 j Entomol. 



269. 

 Melitta aerata, Kirby, Mon. Apum Angl. ii. 58. 



Female. Length 2J-3 lines. — Head and thorax brassy green ; the 

 flagellum slightly testaceous towards the apex beneath ; the thorax 

 shining, the metathorax having at its base a subdefined space, its 

 margin behind ridged, the space longitudinally rugose ; the wings 

 subhyaline, splendidly iridescent. The abdomen nigro- aeneous, 

 smooth and shining, the apical margins of the segments slightly 

 testaceous ; the basal margins of the intermediate segments have 

 sometimes laterally a little short white pubescence, frequently 

 obliterated. B.M. 



Male. Length 3 lines. — Head and thorax of a bronzed or brassy 

 green ; antennae nearly as long as the thorax, the flagellum fulvous 

 beneath, apex of the clypeus pale yellow ; the wings subhyaline, 

 the tegulae rufo-piceous. Abdomen black, slightly nigro-aeneous 

 at the base, which is very glossy ; the two intermediate segments, 

 and sometimes the third segment also, have a little white pubes- 

 cence on each side at the base. B.M. 



This species closely resembles H. morio ; but it differs from that 

 species in the colour and also in the form and sculpture of the meta- 

 thorax, which is subtruncate, its base is more strongty rugose, it is 

 also concolorous with the mesothorax ; the latter is also more strongly 

 punctured, the abdomen being nigro-seneous ; the mesothorax is 

 more strongly punctured than in H. morio. 



It is generally distributed, but not so abundant as H. morio. 



