194 Andbena. INSECTS. Apid^. 
together in perfect harmony, issuing from and entering 
into the burrows indiscriminately. It may be observed 
that between Eucera and Nomada no resemblance 
exists in general appearance, one being several times 
larger than the other, and covered with pubescence of 
a sombre colour; whereas tlie parasite is a gaily- 
coloured insect, destitute of pubescence, and readily 
observed from the brightness of its colouring. To some 
extent a constant connection between certain species 
exists; and some species of these parasites are always 
found in connection with certain species of Andrena." 
It is the opinion of some authors that when the parasitic 
bee has deposited her egg upon the store of pollen col- 
lected by the industrious bee, the latter at once deserts 
it, and proceeds to construct a fresh burrow ; and that 
the parasites, which may be seen constantly entering 
different burrows, enter them that they may find the 
requisite quantity of food, which will usually be found 
to be much less than that required for the industrious 
bee. As soon as they have found this, they deposit 
their egg, and the nest is then possibly deserted by its 
legitimate owner. 
ANDRENA HATTORPIANA is the largest species of the 
genus found in these islands. The female is eight lines 
long, while the male is a line shorter. Andrma jlorea 
is truly a summer insect, is associated with the brightest 
of all the sunny days of June, when the wild bryony is 
creeping over the hedge, the flowers of which are its 
chief delight. Andrena cineraria is an early species, 
appearing in April. It is fond of burrowing in trodden 
pathways, and may be met with abundantly in the 
walks of Hyde Park. It is deep blue-black, the head 
and thorax clothed with white pubescence. 
ANDRENA PILIPES is seldom found but in the county 
of Kent ; is very partial to thistle heads, from which it 
obtains a white pollen ; when loaded with this it has a 
very strange appearance. 
ANDRENA NITIDA may be found in the flowers of 
the common dandelion, in which they cover themselves 
with pollen. It is an early spring bee, and so is the 
Andrena albicans, a species found too by arctic travel- 
lers on the shore of Lake Winnepeg. 
ANDRENA FULVA is a bee fond of the apple blos- 
som, and appears when that bloom is out. 
ANDRENA CLARKELLA is usually the first bee which 
appears in spring. It is found all over Europe, in 
Algeria, and occurs also in Nova Scotia. 
ANDREA TRIMMERANA is very abundant on Hamp- 
stead Heath, and is frequentl}' infested by Stijlo])s. 
Among the Andrence one species is peculiarly liable 
to the attacks of St y lops ; this is the A. convexiuscula, 
some having frequently one, two, and a few even three 
specimens, projecting from the segments of the abdomen. 
Of the genus il/acTO/)is there is one species {Macropis 
labiata) occasionally found in these islands; butit would 
appear to be very rare, as it has only been met with 
thrice. 
There are two species of the genus Cilissa found 
in Britain. In habit they resemble the species of 
Andrena. Cilissa hcemorrhoidalis is found in the 
month of August “ where the blue-bells grow,” for it 
does not appear to frequent any other flower (Smith, 
Monograph, p. 110). 
The genus Dasypoda contains but one British species, 
which is perhaps the most beautiful bee fourrd in this 
country (^Dasypoda hirtipes). This bee derives both 
its generic and its specific names from the long dense 
brush of fulvous hairs on the hind legs. The appear- 
ance of the female, when loaded with pollen, is suffi- 
ciently singular to attract the attention of the most 
apathetic observer. Kirby records that she forms 
burrows, like Andrena, and sits at the mouth of them 
enjoying the warmth of the sun, while the male flies in 
circles round her. 
Family — APIDHil. 
This family is characterized by Professor Westwood 
as follows : — The mcntum is long, with the labium 
at its extremity forming an elongated slender seta, 
reflexed when at rest, and as long as, or longer than the 
mentum, with two small lateral filaments, and form- 
ing with the elbowed maxillae an elongated proboscis, 
capable of being stretched out in front of the head 
when in action, or folded up beneath it and the breast 
when at rest, in the shape of a flattened 2. 
Without alluding to sub-families, we proceed to 
give, from Mr. Smith’s Monograph, an account of the 
economy of the British genera of the family. 
Genus Panuugus.— There are two species of the 
genus Panurgus in Britain. In structure they are 
very similar to the Andrenidae; the females possess 
the brush on the tibiae and the apical fringe on the 
abdomen, and their tarsi are similar. The chief differ- 
ence lies in the tongue being folded at the tip when 
in repose. They excavate burrows, and lay up a store 
of pollen and honey, like the Andrenae. They are 
summer bees, and black in colour. The most abun- 
dant species is the Panurgus Banksianus, which forms 
large colonies in retired sandy spots on heaths, making 
its appearance in July. For years such a community 
has existed on the north side of the Vale of Health, 
Hampstead Heath, where in spring the larvae may 
be found in small cells about six inches beneath the 
surface. They do not change to nymphs many days 
before arri ving at their perfect condition. This species 
and the Panurgus calcaratus seem to prefer the flowers 
of the mouse-ear hawkweed {HieraciuTri) to those of 
any other plant. 
Genus Nomada. — The bees of the genus Nomada 
are popularly called Wasp bees, from a close resem- 
blance they have in their gay colouring to some of the 
smaller wasps. The body is elongated and smooth ; 
the legs are simple in both sexes. The maxillary 
palpi are six -jointed. The bees of this genus are 
known to deposit their eggs in the nests of other bees. 
They deposit their eggs on the provision laid up by the 
working bee, which, finding an egg deposited, com- 
mences a fresh cell for her own progeny. Mr. Smith 
thinks it probable that the parasite closes its cell, having 
frequently captured Nomadce and Melectce with masses 
of clay attached to their posterior tibiae; and in the well- 
known genus of exotic parasitic bees {Crocisa) speci- 
mens are of frequent occurrence, which have masses 
of clay or mixed earth on their tibise. Twent)^-four 
British species are described ; one of these (W. Soli- 
daginis) is often very abundant on the ragwort and 
