SOME BEES FROM SANDAKAN, BORNEO 
By T. D. A. Cockerell 
Of the University of Colorado 
Borneo undoubtedly possesses a very large bee fauna, as yet 
imperfectly known. Collections from different widely separated 
localities furnish different species; and, while it is not yet pos- 
sible to reach definite conclusions, there are some indications 
that there may be greater specific diversity in different parts 
of Borneo than in the Philippines, in spite of the fact that the 
latter area is divided into many islands. Sandakan, in North 
Borneo, is only about 250 miles from Mindanao; but its fauna 
appears to be very different in many respects from that of the 
Philippines. Especially striking is the great abundance and 
variety of Trigona, a genus represented by few species in the 
Philippines and, so far as we yet know, not present on Mindanao 
at all. Another remarkable fact is the presence of the genus 
Heterapis at Sandakan, a genus of minute and very peculiar 
bees, previously known only from three Australian species. 
All the Sandakan material was received from Prof. C. F. 
Baker. 
Genus NOMIA Latreille 
Nomia strigata (Fabricius). 
The specimens from Sandakan appear to represent a single 
species, but the variations are very striking, as follows: 
Variety a. Abdominal bands bright emerald green suffused or shot with 
brilliant violet. Female, Baker 961U; male, Baker 9613. 
Variety b. Larger than a; fourth band as in a, the others yellower green, 
without violet. Female. 
Variety c. All the bands bright yellowish green suffused with pale ver- 
milion. Male. This is variety ridleyi (Cockerell), already known 
from Singapore, Java, and the Philippines. 
Narnia iridescens Smith. 
One female of variety rhodochlora Cockerell, described from 
Mindanao and Negros. The first two abdominal segments en- 
tirely lack the metallic color seen in a specimen of N. iridescens 
from F. Smith’s collection. 
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