696 Insects. 



which the label is attached, is undoubtedly our insect, having the 

 marginal fascia of the abdomen obliterated ; several other insects are 

 placed near it, belonging to this genus. There is only one known 

 British species of this genus, if captured in a recent state, which has 

 the abdominal segments margined with white hairs, namely, the 

 Leachella of Kirby : they doubtless become white with age, but ori- 

 ginally are more or less yellow. This species nidificates in wood, in 

 banks, or in the mortar of walls, &c. I have observed it forming its 

 nest in each situation : it is an abundant species, and appears to be 

 generally distributed. 



Sp. 8. MEGACHILE ALBIVENTR1S. 



Apis albiventris, Panzer. Apis Leachella, Kirby, MS. 



Female. — -Length 4j — 5 lines. Black. Head as broad as the tho- 

 rax ; the face clothed with pale yellow hairs ; the cheeks with a thin 

 white pubescence. The thorax thinly clothed with pale yellow hairs, 

 beneath with white hairs. The legs with a scattered white pubes- 

 cence. The abdomen short, broad at the base, somewhat wedge- 

 shaped, the segments margined with continuous fasciae of white hairs, 

 beneath entirely clothed with white hairs, excepting a few dark brown 

 hairs on the apical segment. 



In recent specimens, the sixth segment has two round patches 

 of white hair, but they are frequently obliterated. 



Male. — Length 4 lines. Black. Head wider than the thorax ; the 

 face densely clothed with yellow hair, inclining to white towards the 

 mandibles ; the antennas filiform. The anterior legs have their coxae 

 armed with an obtuse tooth, having a minute spine at their apex : all 

 the legs have a thin ashy pubescence beneath. The abdomen has the 

 first, second, third and fourth segments margined with yellow hair, the 

 sixth segment is entirely clothed with hair of the same colour, and is 

 emarginate, with some irregular dentations on each side of the emar- 

 ginations; the ventral segment is entire; the second, third and fourth 

 segments beneath have a fascia of pale hair. 



This insect I think is undoubtedly the Apis albiventris of Panzer. 

 It appears to be a very local species. Until this season I never cap- 

 tured it ; I took two males and one female near Byfleet, on an excur- 

 sion to Weybridge. The late Mr. Bainbridge took it in Essex, and 

 gave me a specimen. I do not know where the species was first ta- 

 ken, or if by Dr. Leach. It is a pretty insect, and easily distinguished. 



