Volume 26, Plate XVII / Entomology (Insects)

Donovan’s Humble-Bee & Great Humble-Bee of Valparaiso

Bombus Donovanellus & B. Grandis

1. Donovan’s Humble-Bee. Donovan’s Humble-Bee, Bombus Donovanellus, scarcely exceeds seven lines in length, very hirsute and prevailingly black, with reddish hairs at the mouth, a lemon-yellow thoracic patch in front, an abdomen bearing a broad light-yellow band then black, and the three last segments red. Named in honour of the late Mr. Donovan, it is a rather scarce insect, approaching B. subinterruptus but with darker wings, a shorter wider abdomen, a narrower black band, and deeper red anal hairs.
2. Great Humble-Bee of Valparaiso. The Great Humble-Bee of Valparaiso, Bombus Grandis, is the largest species of Bombus yet discovered, drawn from a specimen in the Rev. F. W. Hope’s collection and as yet undescribed. Its whole upper side is a uniform fulvous, the eyes, mouth, antennae, underside, and legs black, the wings tinged yellowish-brown with black nervures; it measures about an inch and a quarter in length with a wing expansion of two inches and a quarter, and is a native of Valparaiso.