ANTHEROPHAGUS OCHRACEUS MELS. IN THE NESTS 

 OF BUMBLEBEES 



The recent appearance of two articles on "The Pboresy of 

 Antherophagns/' one by "W. M. Wheeler (1919) and the other 

 by H. Donisthorpe (1920) have prompted me to publish some 

 additional observations on the habits of Anther opliagus ochraceus 

 Mels. in this conntry. 



Wheeler writing in December, 1919, recorded the capture of 

 an adult of this beetle near Colebrook, Connecticut, attached to 

 the proboscis of a worker bumblebee (B. vagans^. When the 

 bumblebee, which vainly tried to rid herself of the beetle, was 

 plaeed in a cyanide jar, the beetle still maintained its hold. In 

 this same article there is a discussion of the phenomenon of 

 "phoresy" as defined by Lesne (1896) and expanded by Janet 

 (1897), together with an account of the known habits of An- 

 theropMgiis and a bibliography. Donisthorpe in October, 1920, 

 published a resume of Wheeler's paper, presenting further in- 

 formation concerning "phoresy" in general, the habits of An- 

 therophagns, and additional references. Scott (1920) has also 

 contributed to our knowledge of the biology of these beetles. 



Many of the rather numerous European references report the 

 finding of Antherophagns (pallens, silacens and nigrkornis) and 

 of Crifptophagus (setulosus, and sp.) in the nests of various 

 species of bumblebees. The only American record actually citing 

 an instance of finding Antherophagns ochracens Mels. in the nests 

 of bumblebees is that given by A. S. Packard (1864) based on 

 observations made by F. W. Putnam in Massachusetts and Ver- 

 mont. J. B. Smith (1909), without giving any data, says that 

 Antherophagns occurs in the nests of bumblebees. This latter 

 note is probably based on the statements by Packard, or else on 

 accounts of the habits of the European members of this genus. 



While in Wisconsin last summer (1920) , T was able to examine 

 many Inimblebees nests in various parts of that state, through the 

 kindnes.s of Dr. S. B. Fracker. On two different occasions I 

 found Antherophagns ochracens (C. A. Frost det.) in the nests. 

 In one nest of Bremns (Bornhns) fervidus (Fabr.) examined 

 August 12, 1920, were eighteen adult specimens of this beetle. 

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