1048 Insects. 



ever deposits her eggs in cells preoccupied by those of a parasite. I 

 am led to believe that she does. I know from observation that Epi- 

 pone spinipes deposits in the same cell in which Chrysis bidentata 

 has previously done so. In the instance referred to, the larvae of the 

 Chrysis, three in number, devoured all the caterpillars stored up, and 

 I subsequently detected the grub of the wasp escaping from the egg. 

 It dried up, the food being eaten by the larvae of Chrysis, and I have 

 little doubt such is also the case with the eggs of bees, but this wants 

 further investigation. 



Genus. — Melecta, Latreille, St. Fargeau. 

 Apis, Panzer, Kirby. Centris, Fab. 



Three submarginal cells. Maxillary palpi five-jointed. 



Sp. 1. Melecta punctata. 

 Male. — Andrena armata, Panzer. Melecta Alecto, Newman. 



Female. — Length 6| — 7 lines. Black. Head beneath and the 

 labrum clothed with black, and the face with cinereous pubescence. 

 The thorax anteriorly, and the metathorax laterally, also clothed with 

 similar pubescence. Scutellum bidentate, clothed with black hairs. 

 Tegulae black. The wings subhyaline, their margins fuscous. Legs 

 black ; the intermediate and posterior tibiae have a white patch at 

 their base externally. Abdomen ; the basal segment has a thin fringe 

 of cinereous hair, forming laterally distinct patches, a lateral patch on 

 the second segment, with sometimes a round spot within, the third 

 and fourth have each a lateral round spot within the margin. The 

 cinereous pubescence in very recent specimens will be fusco-cinere- 

 ous. This is the Melecta Clotho of Newman. 



Var. 1. Melecta Megcera, Newman. Melecta nigra, St. Fargeau? 

 Black : a few fusco-cinereous hairs on the face, and on the vertex 

 posteriorly ; a similar pubescence on the thorax anteriorly, and on 

 the metathorax laterally, also an obscure patch of similar pubescence 

 on the intermediate and posterior tibiae at their base ; the abdomen 

 has a cinereous patch on the first and second segments laterally, and 

 the third and fourth have a minute spot within their margin. 



Var. 2. Melecta Tisiphone, Newman. Melecta aterrima, St. Far- 

 geau ? Black : a few indistinct fuscous hairs on the metathorax 

 laterally, also on the first, and sometimes on the second segment of 

 the abdomen laterally, with two minute cinereous spots on the third 

 ment, frequently obliterated. 



