7. osmja. 147 



Subfam. III. DASYGASTRiE. 

 Genus 7. OSMIA. 



Apis (pt.), Linn. Syst. Nat. i. 953 (1766). 

 Andrena (pt.), Fabr. Ent. Syst. ii. 307 (1793). 

 Anthophora (pt.), Fabr. Syst. Piez. 372 (1804). 

 Osmia, Panz. Krit. Revis, Ins. ii. 230 (1806). 

 Aniblys, King, Illig. Mag. vi. 226 (1807). 

 Hoplitis, Klug, Illig. Mag. vi. 225 (1807). 

 Tracknsa (pt.), Jurine, Hijm. 247 (1808). 

 Dipkisis, St.-Farg. Hym. ii. 307 (1841). 



Head scarcely as wide as the thorax, subglobose ; ocelli placed in 

 a curve forward on the vertex ; antennae filiform, the scape stout, 

 slightly thickened at the apex ; the labrum oblong ; the mandibles 

 stout and dentate ; tongue elongate, nearly thrice the length of the 

 labium, acute at the apex ; paraglossaz very short ; labial palpi 

 4-jointed, the first two joints elongate, the second longest and 

 tapering to a point, the third and fourth minute and articulated to 

 the second joint near its apex ; maxillary palpi 4-jointed, the basal 

 joint thickest at its base, the second joint longest and, as well as the 

 third joint, subclavate, the apical joint minute. Thorax subglobose; 

 anterior wings with two submarginal cells, the second receiving the 

 two recurrent nervures, the first at about One third of its length, 

 the second at or near its termination. Abdomen convex and densely 

 pilose beneath in the female ; the male with the apical segments 

 emarginate, toothed or serrated, rarely entire. 



If I were asked which genus of bees would afford the most abun- 

 dant and interesting materials for an essay on the diversity of in- 

 stinct, I should without hesitation point out the genus Osmia. Mr. 

 Kirby, in the ' Monographia Apum Angliae,' has quoted the history 

 of Reaumur's mason-bee, which, although closely allied to the bees 

 included in this genus, differs generically ; but its history is parallel 

 to that of some of the European Osmice. It is merely alluded to here 

 in order to direct attention to the highly interesting history given 

 by Reaumur of its economy. Species of the genus Osmia are appa- 

 rently confined in their geographical range to temperate climates. 

 About sixty species are known, forty being found in Europe, eight 

 or ten in North Africa, the rest inhabiting the United States, Nova 

 Scotia, and Hudson's Bay. 



The most abundant species found in this country is Osmia r-ufa ; 

 its economy is varied by circumstances. In hilly country or at the 

 seaside it frequently forms its burrows in the sunny side of cliffs or 

 in sandy banks ; whilst in cultivated districts, particularly if the 

 soil be clayey, it selects a decaying tree, usually preferring the 

 stump of an old willow ; at another time it burrows in the mortar 

 of old walls. It occasionally avails itself of holes adapted to its 

 requirements, such as the lock of some outhouse-door or a cavity in 



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