220 
HYMENOPTERA. 
Parevaspis is a parasitic bee found in tbe nests of Megachile ; Pare - 
vaspis carbonaria, Sm., is tbe common Indian species. Ceratina viridis- 
sima, D. T., is tbe delightful little metallic green 
bee that tunnels in dry stems and lays up food 
there ; it is common throughout India. (Plate 
XIII, Fig. 4.) The pupa is not in a cocoon but 
simply lies free in the cell separated by a wall of 
fibre from its neighbours. (Fig. 123.) The egg 
of Ceratina (like that of some other insects) 
increases in size after it is laid, from about 2 
m.m. to over 3*5 m.m. in length; a chalcid 
parasitises the larvae, four having been found in 
one cell as pupje. The larval period is from 9 
to 13 days, the pupal from 13 to 18 days in 
October, November. G. It. Dutt has found 
a cell in a hollow twig in thatch containing two 
larvae, the cell sealed with black wax, which 
he reared to Heriades parvula, Bingh. This 
. n • Fig. 123.— Ceratina viri- 
little bee is comparatively rare but occurs m dissima pupa in cell 
. -p , AND EMPTY CELL. 
Behar as well as m Burmah. [F. M. H.J 
Coelioxys includes the black bees with rather sharply tapering ab¬ 
domen that one sees hovering around walls and buildings. C. basalis, 
Sm., is said by Bingham to be parasitic upon Megachile lanata. C. 
decipiens, Spin., is the second common species. 
Crocisa is said to be parasitic upon Anthophora and there is a resem¬ 
blance in build and colour between them; of the former, C. histrio, Fabr., 
and C. ramosa, Lep., which are conspicuously black and white are com¬ 
mon; Anthophora nests in the soil; A. zonata, Linn., and A. violacea, 
Lepel, are likely to be found. (Plate XIII, Figs. 5, 6.) 
Xylocopa includes the familiar large carpenter bees which make 
tunnels in hard dry wood ; they are large, usually black insects, with 
dark wings and are distinctly the largest of the bees in the plains. X. 
cestuans, Linn., in which the male is covered in yellow pubescence, the 
female in black, is the very common species, whose nests may be seen in 
posts and beams. (Plate XIII, Figs. 7, 8.) X. fenestrata , Fabr., X. ame- 
thystina , Fabr., and X. iridipennis, Lepr., are also common. Xylocopa 
