British Bees: An Introduction into the Studies of the Natural History and Economy of the Bees Indigenous to the British IslesShuckard, William Edward
Science
British Bees: An Introduction into the Studies of the Natural History and Economy of the Bees Indigenous to the British Isles
Shuckard, William Edward
Bees; Hymenoptera -- Great Britain
They, like _Andrena_, are exposed to parasites and enemies. The smaller
species of _Nomada_ infest their smaller kinds, and St. Fargeau tells us
that the _Sphecodes_ are also parasitical upon them. The smallest of the
genus, which is indeed an exceedingly minute insect, is subject to a
very minute strepsipterous destroyer; whether this be a genuine
_Stylops_ I am not aware, but the supporting insect being so minute, in
fact the smallest of our bees, how small must be the enemy bred within
it! Another genus of this order has been found by Mr. Dale upon them,
and which is figured as the genus _Elenchus_ in Curtis’s ‘British
Entomology.’ The smaller species are also attacked, upon their return
home laden, by spiders and ants. _Chryses_ and _Hedychra_ are bred at
their expense, and some of the _Ichneumons_ attack them, as well as the
fossorial _Hymenoptera_ of the genera _Cerceris_, _Crabro_, and
_Philanthus_, and these latter carry them off bodily to furnish their
own nests with pabulum. Several of the species exhale a rich balmy
odour, and, like all the _Andrenidæ_, they are silent on the wing, and
their sting is innocuous and not painful. The males are very eager in
their amours, and are not easily repulsed.
Some of the species vary slightly in the neuration of the wings, and
this being a rather numerous genus, although not nearly approaching the
extent of _Andrena_, it has been proposed to make use of it for its
division, but I think this is scarcely required, it not being
sufficiently abundant to cause any inconvenience, the species being so
distinctly marked in their specific differences by the aid of the
metallic brilliancy of several of them. I have therefore arranged the
species in the above list in connective order without intermission, and
have placed in juxtaposition those species which appear the closest in
affinity.
-------
b. _With two submarginal cells to the wings._
Genus 7. MACROPIS, _Panzer_.
(Plate V. fig. 2 ♂ ♀.)
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