IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 
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rather disagreeable. Nectar is abundant, and the insect reaches 
it in essentially the same way. The flowers open early in the 
morning, and when mature the pollen falls out, frequently filling 
the bottom of the flower. The grains are very large, round and 
spiny. When placed in water the spines in several places are 
thrown off, and in a short time the contents pass into the water. 
Insect Visitors : — 
Hymenoptera — Apidse: (1) Apis mellifica Linn.; (2) Bombus. 
pennsylvanica DeGeer; Formicedae. (3) Formica rufa ? Linn. 
Coleoptera — Chrysonielidae : (1) Biabrotlca 12-punctata Oliv; 
(2) D. vittata Fab. 
The Coleoptera in this species bear the same relation to the 
flowers as in the squash. 
Additional visitors taken on pumpkin in 1894: — Hymenoptera 
— Apidae : Melissodes sp F aurigenia Cr. , . Xenoglossa jwuinosa 
Say S ' . Patton also records the latter species. He remarks*, 
“The loose scopa seems particularly adapted to retain the large 
spinyg lobes which form the pollen of the pumpkin. In the 
blossoms of these plants the bees delight to revel.” 
^ The following were noted on the summer squash; 
Hymenoptera — Apidae: (1) Bombus fervidus Fab. 9 ; (2) X. 
2 oruinosa, Say, 9 S; (3) Melissodes sp. ; Andrenidae: (4) Halictus 
coriaceous Sm. , 9 ; (5) H. tegularis'Roh. , 9 ; (6) H. zep^liyrusSm.. 9 ; 
(7) Halictus sp. ; (8) AugocMora similis, S ; (9) Andrena sp. 
Gitrullus vulgaris Schrad. 
The pale yellow corollas are widely spreading. The honey 
is secreted at the base of the flower. It is easy to observe how 
the honey bee obtains its nectar. It uses the petals as a rest- 
ing place, and obtains the nectar through the opening. It first 
probes one side, and then passes over the stamens to the oppo- 
site side of the flower from which the nectar is taken. When 
its work is finished it flies to another flower. Its visits are con- 
fined chiefly to one variety, but occasionally other varieties are 
visited. It was noticeable that when flies collect pollen, honey 
bees flit about the flower a moment, and then go to another. 
The flowers are open all day. 
Insect Visitors — 
Hymenoptera — Apidae: Apis mellifica Linn., chiefly. 
Hiptera — Several species of Syrphus flies. These active 
insects find a resting place on the petals, where they collect 
^Bull U. S. Geol. and Geog. Survey, Vol. V, No 3, p. 473. 
