Melissodes verbesinarum explained

Melissodes verbesinarum is a species of long-horned bees found in the south western United States and central Mexico.

Description

Females are identifiable by being more robust than other Melissodes; darker hairs on inner side of basal joint of hind tarsi; flagellum, after the first two joints, bright rusty color on the underside; basal band of second abdominal (T2) segment broad and very white; hairs of thorax are paler near the head; eyes pale sea-green. Appears similar to easily be taken for an undersized M. pallidicincta, but the much narrower face at once distinguishes it.[1]

Ecology

M. verbesinarum nectars on Helianthus annuus without pollinating it.[2]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Cockerell . T. D. A. . 1908-12-31 . Notes upon Variation of Melissodes lupina Cresson . Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science . 22 . 305 . 10.2307/3624738 . 3624738 . 0022-8443.
  2. Hurd . Paul David . LeBerge . Wallace E. . Linsley . E. Gorton . 1980 . Principal sunflower bees of North America with emphasis on the Southwestern United States (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) . Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology . en . 310 . 1–158 . 10.5479/si.00810282.310.