Amegilla chlorocyanea
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Amegilla chlorocyanea | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Apidae |
| Genus: | Amegilla |
| Subgenus: | Notomegilla |
| Species: | A. chlorocyanea |
| Binomial name | |
| Amegilla chlorocyanea (Cockerell, 1914) | |
Amegilla chlorocyanea, the blue-banded bee, is a species of bee in the family Apidae. It is one of two species in the subgenus Notomegilla. The abdominal hair bands are usually white with blue-green iridescence, but in about 10% of specimens the bands are orange. The outer leg hairs also have blue-green iridescence. It is endemic to Australia, and can be found across most of the mainland. In southern parts of the country it can be found in the warmer months, and in northern Australia it is active all year round. This species will visit the flowers of both native and introduced plants. It has shown potential as an important pollinator of tomatoes and other food crops.
The species was first described by Theodore D. A. Cockerell in 1914, who placed it in the genus Anthophora.[1] It has been known by many other names, including Amegilla luteola and Amegilla tinsleyella.[1] It is one of several species commonly known as the Blue-banded bee.[1]
Amegilla chlorocyanea is one of two species in the subgenus Notomegilla.[1]
Description
Males are approximately 11mm long, with females being a little larger at around 13mm long.[1]
The eyes are large and grey-green.[2] The antennae are black and the tongue is long.[2] The labrum, mandibles and supraclypeal areas are pale yellow.[1] The clypeus has a pale yellow upside-down T-shape, creating two black facial stripes that are much wider on the female.[1] The areas around the eyes are black, with predominantly pale yellow hair.[1]
The thoracic hair is mostly ginger or brown on top and white underneath.[1] The metasoma has white hair bands with metallic blue-green iridescence, but in about 10% of specimens the bands are orange.[1] Females have a large spot of pale hair on the end of the abdomen, with a hairless black triangle just above it.[1] Males have notches of black hair on the end of the abdomen.[1]
The legs have black hair closest to the body and mostly white hair on the outer parts.[1] The outer leg hairs have a blue/green iridescence, which is a diagnostic feature of this species, however, it's not always visible in photos.[1][3] Females have a short black streak of hair on the hind leg, which is not present in males.[1]
Distribution and habitat
Amegilla chlorocyanea is endemic to Australia, where it can be found across the mainland, particularly in the arid and temperate areas.[1] It has also been recorded on several offshore islands, including Kangaroo Island, Barrow Island, Enderby Island and the Neptune Islands.[4] A specimen was collected in Tasmania in 1948, but it's believed this was part of a failed introduction.[5]
