Another species, Bombus lapidarius, is so called from a preference it shows for making its nests under stones. The end of the abdomen of this bee is bright orange-red.
Fig. 12.—Bombus Pratorum.
Of the solitary bees a very common black species is Anthophora acervorum, which is usually found in abundance in the spring in the neighbourhood of banks and cliffs.
The violet Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa violacea), which chiefly inhabits the south of Europe, is a very pretty insect with violet-coloured wings.
Fig. 13.—Xylocopa Violacea.
The Mason Bee (Chalicodoma muraria) builds its nest, composed of fine grains of sand, very firmly united by a salivary secretion, upon the surface of walls and similar situations. This species has hitherto not been met with in this country.
The Horned Bee (Osmia bicornis) is remarkable for the female having two little horns projecting from the front of her head. This insect usually burrows in sandy banks and cliffs. Another allied species (Osmia hirta) burrows in wood, whilst two others (Osmia bicolor and aurulenta) select ready-made nests in the shells of the common snails (Helix hortensis and H. nemoralis), within the whorls of which they build their cells of gnawed vegetable material.
