The Atoll of Funafuti, Ellice group : its zoology, botany, ethnology and general structure based on collections made by Charles Hedley of the Australian Museum, Sydney, N.S.W.
Family Apidæ. — Genus Megachile, Latr. — Megachile hedleyi, sp. nov
Family Apidæ.
Genus Megachile, Latr.
Megachile hedleyi, sp. nov.
(Plate i., fig. 5.)
Long. 11 mm., lat. 4 mm.
Expanse of anterior wings—Long. 7 mm., lat. 3 mm.
Expanse of posterior wings Long. 5 mm., lat. 2 mm.
page 94Head, forehead, and cheeks black, clothed with cinerous pubescence; head closely and finely punctured; occilli prominent; antennæ black; labrum black, closely and finely punctured; ligula and mouth parts ferruginous. Thorax black, finely and closely punctured, sparingly clothed with cinerous pubescence. Abdomen cordate, dorsal surface black, segments fringed with short black hairs; anterior extremity sparingly furnished with short cinerous pubescence, and posterior extremity with black; sides clothed with ferruginous pubescence; ventral surface black, clothed with long reddish hairs, except at posterior extremity where the hairs are shorter and black. Breast black, finely and closely punctured; a few short cinerous hairs are distributed over its surface. Legs black; coxæ and underside of each ambulatory limb clothed with short cinerous hairs; underside of tibiæ and tarsi ferruginous. Wings dark fuscous; veins and nervures black.
Two specimens.
I have very great pleasure in dedicating this species to my esteemed friend and colleague, Mr, Charles Hedley.