1924 Insects. 



Sp. 59. Andrena albicrus. 

 Melitta albicrus, Kirby. Melitta barbilabris, Kirby, male. 



Female. — (Length 5 — 5j lines). Black; the mandibles rufescent 

 at their apex ; a little fulv ous pubescence at the base of the antennae ; 

 on each side of the clypeus, which is coarsely punctured, it is white. 

 Thorax clothed above with fulvous; the wings sub-hyaline, very 

 slightly clouded at their margins ; the stigma nearly black ; the floc- 

 cus white ; the scopa fuscous above, beneath it is silvery white ; the 

 tarsi ferruginous within ; the claws ferruginous. Abdomen ovate, 

 smooth and shining ; the second, third and fourth segments have a 

 white marginal fringe, the two first generally interrupted ; beneath, 

 the margins of the segments are narrowly testaceous, and have a nar- 

 row white fascia, and also a few long white hairs between the fasciae. 



Male. — (Length 4 — 5 lines). Black ; the pubescence hoary, slightly 

 tinged with yellow on the thorax ; on the clypeus it is silvery white, 

 and as it were combed down over the mouth ; the wings are iridescent ; 

 the stigma nearly black. Abdomen ovate-lanceolate, the margins of 

 the segments slightly piceous ; beneath, the margins of the segments 

 are ciliated with white hair. 



This species appears about the middle of May. I have found 

 colonies of it at Hampstead and Charlton, and have frequently taken 

 pairs in coitu : at the former place I have observed Nomada lateralis 

 entering its burrows : both sexes are remarkable for having the stigma 

 much darker than is usual with these insects. Mr. Kirby's M. barbi- 

 labris I consider to be a variety of the male. 



Sp. 60. Andrena c^ nectens. 

 Melitta connectens, Kirby. 



Female. — (Length 5 lines). Black; at the base of the antennae a 

 little long pale fulvous pubescence ; the antennae piceous beneath. 

 Thorax slightly pubescent on the disk, the pubescence pale fulvous ; 

 rather paler on the sides and on each side of the metathorax ; the 

 tegulae testaceous ; the wings sub-fuscous and slightly clouded at their 

 margins, the nervures testaceous; the legs nigro-piceous ; the pos- 

 terior tibiae and all the tarsi rufo-testaceous ; the floccus nearly white ; 

 the scopa of a golden yellow. Abdomen ovate, shining, and finely 

 punctured, the margins of the segments slightly piceous. 



Of this species there is only a portion of the specimen left in the 

 Kirbyan cabinet. It is a species which I do not possess. 



