HYMENOPTERA. 
599 
The maxillae and labium are greatly elongated, and form a kind of proboscis, elbowed and folded beneath, 
in inaction. The two basal joints of the labial palpi have often the form of a compressed scaly seta ; 
the two others are very minute, and affixed obliquely near the end of the second. 
The Apiariae are either solitary or social in their habits. 
The Solitary Bees have never more than the two ordinary kinds of individuals, males and females, 
each female providing alone for the support of her posterity. The hind feet of these females are fur- 
nished with neither pollen baskets, nor silken pollen brushes. They are provided on the outside with 
numerous close hairs. 
A first division of Solitary Bees comprises those which have the second joint of the posterior tarsi in- 
serted in the middle of the extremity of the preceding joint. 
The Andrenoides approach the Andrenetae in having the labial palpi composed of slender joints, 
plaeed end to end, and similar to the 6 -jointed maxillary palpi ; the females have no ventral brush, but 
their hind legs are provided with bundles of hairs, with which they collect pollen. 
The three following have the mandibles of the females narrowed at the tip. 
Systropha, Illig., has a tooth beneath the apex ; three complete cubital cells, and the male antennae curled. 
Rophites, Spin., with similar mandibles, but having only two complete cubital cells, and the antennae never 
curled. 
Panurgus, with the mandibles not toothed ; the wings with two complete cubital cells. 
Xylocopa, Latr., or the Carpenter Bees, have the mandibles nearly spoon-shaped ; the labrum is ciliated in front; 
the upper wings have three complete cubital cells, the first of which is cut in two by a transparent line. The male 
in many species differs greatly from the females, which resemble great Humble Bees ; their wings are often violet, 
copper, or golden-coloured, and brilliant. Type, Apis violacea, Linn, [a continental species,. the female of which 
forms long burrows in wood, palings, &c., in which it makes several cells, in each of which it deposits an egg and 
a supply of pollen paste. The species are numerous, and chiefly inhabitants of tropical climates. 
The labial palpi of the other Apiariae resemble scaly plates ; the two basal joints very long ; the maxillary palpi 
short, and often with fewer than six joints. 
The DasygastrcE are remarkable for the under side of the abdomen of the females being furnished 
with a stiff, silky coat of hairs ; the labrum is as long as broad, and square ; the mandibles of the females 
strong, triangular, and toothed. 
Ceratina, Latr., approaches Xylocopa, the only subgenus which has 6-jointed maxillary palpi, and three complete 
cubital cells. The abdomen is oval, and destitute of a ventral brush, as well as in Stelis and Ccelioxys, which never- 
theless ought, from their general characters, to form part of this group. 
All the other Dasygastras have never more than four joints in the maxillary palpi, and two complete cubital 
cells. 
Chelostoma, Latr., has the body long and subcylindric ; the mandibles advanced, narrow, and curved ; and the 
maxillary palpi 3-jointed. 
Heriades, Spin., has the body also long and subcylindric, but the mandibles are triangular, and the maxillary 
palpi 2-jointed. 
In the four following subgenera, the abdomen is shorter and subtriangular, or semi-oval. These are Mason Bees 
and Leaf-cutter Bees. 
Megachile, Latr., has the maxillary palpi 2-jointed ; the abdomen flat above, and capable of being elevated so as 
to be able to use their sting above their bodies. M. muraria [a continental species], with violet-coloured wings, 
makes its nests of fine earth, and fixes them against walls exposed to the sun, each nest containing from twelve to 
fifteen cells. Other species, named Leaf-cutter Bees, employ in the construction of their nests portions of leaves, 
perfectly oval or circular, which they cut out of leaves with their jaws with surprising dexterity ; these they carry 
to their burrows made in the earth, or sometimes in walls, or the trunks of old trees, forming cells of them of the 
size of a thimble, and inclosing an egg in each cell, with a supply of pollen paste, the cover of one cell forming the 
bottom of the next above it, and so on until the burrow is filled. Of this number is Apis cenluncularis, Linn., [a 
common British species]. 
Lithurgus, Latr., has 4-jointed maxillary palpi, and the abdomen depressed above. [Exotic species.] 
Osmia, Panzer, has also 4-jointed maxillary palpi, but the abdomen is convex above. Some of the species of 
this genus, [which is numerous,] are IMason-bees, and others Leaf-cutters ; amongst the latter is the Tapestry-bee 
of Reaumur, which uses portions of the wild scarlet poppy to form its nests. It belongs to Saint Fargeau’s genus 
Anthocopa, differing from Osmia in having tridentate instead of bidentate mandibles. Some species make their 
nests in the galls of trees. 
Anthidium, Fabr., has the abdomen convex, and the maxillary palpi only 1-jointed. The females strip off the 
cottony matter growing upon various wild plants, in order to form their nests thei'ewith. 
Stelis, Panz. (with the scutellum simple and the abdomen semicylindrical), and 
Caelioxys, Latr. (with two teeth or spines to the scutellum, and the abdomen triangular), differ from the prece- 
ding and agree with the following in wanting the ventral brush, which leads to the supposition that they are 
parasites. 
