Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/345

Rh

Alt. 5800 ft. Lat. 36° 10'. Ann. precip. 9-74 inches.

This locality was entirely new ground, entomologically speaking.

The following flowers were collected, but were not observed to be visited by bees:—Nasturtium sinuatum, Campanula parryi, Melilotus indica, M. alba, Fallugia paradoxa, Amarantus palmeri, A. grcscizans, Bahia absinthifolia, Aphyllon multiflorum, Euphorbia serpyllifolia, Polygonum (perhaps pringlei). These were all determined by Prof. E.O. Wooton. In the Mesilla Valley Melilotus indica, when massed in quantity, as was not the case at Embudo, is attractive to small bees (Halictus, Sphecodes, Colliopsis, Prosapis) at the beginning of May. I have taken Nomia nevadensis at Fallugia paradoxa at Albuquerque at the end of June; it is fairly attractive to hymenoptera when occurring in quantity; when collected at Embudo it was nearly over, only an occasional flower being seen. On Aug. 13th, at Mesilla, I saw Aphyllon multiflorum, Gray, persistently visited by a Ceratina; a single honey-bee also visited the flowers. The flowers turn indigo blue when subjected to cyanide fumes.

The following flowers at Embudo were visited by bees:—

(1). Cleome serrulata. Almost over; visited by Prosapis n. sp., ♀. (2). Bigelovia (or Chrysothamnus) viscidiflora (det. E.O. Wooton). (3). Bigelovia sp.

There were two species of Bigelovia, but unfortunately when collecting I did not at first appreciate this fact, and the collections were not separated. From the lower-growing form I took Perdita rhodura, Ckll. ined. (abundant), Andrena vulpicolor, Ckll. ined. (several), Podalirius maculifrons (Cr.), Agapostemon. sp. ♂, and a ♂ Colletes new to me. On the taller species Perdita affinis, Cr. (new to N. M.) was common. The other Bigelovia bees at Embudo were Colletes americana, Cr., ♀, C. simulans, Cr., ♀ (new to N.M.), Perdita subfasciata, Ckll. ined. (one), P. townsendi, Ckll. (hitherto supposed peculiar to the White Sands), Calliopsis coloradensis, Cr. (one), and sundry females of Melissodes. The new Andrena vulpicolor is a particularly fine species, with the thoracic pubescence of a foxy-red colour.

To complete the list of Embudo bees, it may be mentioned that a female Agapostemon texanus, Cr., was taken from a hole in the ground.

This is only a few miles above Embudo. Two species of flowers were visited by bees:—

(1). Verbesina encelioides; visited by Halictoides marginatus (Cr.), Heriades variolosa (Cr.), which is new to N.M., Megachile sp. ♂, Megachile sp. ♀, and Megachile sp. ♀. (2). Bigelovia, a tall species; visited by Melissodes menuacha, Cr.,