8 
T. D. Ä. COCKERELL. 
hind tibia is only about half as long as that on middle one; hind ba- 
sitarsus broad and flat, as figured by Buttel-Reepen (Apis meliponoides ) ; 
claws deeply bifid; pulvillus large; stigma very small, triangulär; 
marginal cell only moderately long, ending rather bluntly, away from 
costa; three submarginal cells, subequal in length; second submarginal 
receiving first recurrent nervure a little before its middle, its lower 
side with the end of the recurrent nervure forming a broad Y; third 
submarginal cell receiving second recurrent nervure just before the 
end, the cell narrowed at least one-half above; all three submarginals 
about equally broad on marginal; first recurrent nervure with a bend 
or angle near end, as in Bombus ; se- 
cond recurrent nervure forming with 
third submarginal cell an angle some- 
what greater than a right angle; third 
discoidal cell with a very strong appen- 
dicular nervure nearly reaching the 
margin; basal nervure meeting trans- 
versomedial; lower section of basal 
nervure at least four times as long as 
upper; first discoidal cell fully as long 
as marginal; trans versomedial nervure 
of hind wing trans verse, hardly oblique. 
qY Similar to the female (or worker), with eyes far apart, and 
facial quadrangle about square, but antennae much longer, over 5 mm, 
the last joint obliquely truncate; upper side of flagellar joints with 
very numerous oval sensory pits; hind basitarsus broad as in 
Type Electrapis meliponoides , described below; Apis meliponoides 
Büttel-Reepen is identical so far as can be ascertained, and is assumed 
to be the same. This very interesting genus is fairly between Apis 
and Bombus . With the general form of Apis, it has a venation nearer 
to that of Bombus , hairless eyes, and a single spur on the hind tibia. 
Whether the females and workers were fully differentiated, it is perhaps 
impossible to say; but from the occurrence of many specimens crowded 
together in one small piece of amber, it seems likely that it was a 
social insect, with habits similar to those of Apis. In a rough and 
general sense, Electrapis may be regarded as representing the ancestral 
stock of Apis , and to some extent that of Bombus ; but it is no doubt 
actually a side-branch derived from that stock, and not strictly in the 
line of descent leading to the modern genera. Thus, with the hind 
tibial spurs already far toward elimination, it could not very well 
produce Bombus ; with the eyes already hairless it is perhaps doubtfui 
Electrapis meliponoides (Buttel) 
Second submarginal cell. 
