Amegilla
A. cingulata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Tribe: Anthophorini
Genus: Amegilla
Friese, 1897
Species

See text.

Diversity
c. 260 species

Amegilla is a large genus of bees in the tribe Anthophorini.

Description

Amegilla are generally medium-sized to very large bees, about 10-12mm of robust form.[1] The body and legs are hairy, and the tongue and proboscis are long.[1] All Amegilla species burrow to make nests[1] and they are commonly referred to as "digger bees". Several species have blue metallic bands on the abdomen and are referred to as "blue-banded bees" Bands may differ with the sex, with males having more bands than females.[2]

Range and Habitat

The genus occurs all around the world, but very few live above 45° North.[3] Amegilla are associated with arid and subarid biomes, matorrals, steppes, sub-deserts and deserts.[4] They also commonly occur in farmlands, especially those that border their preferred habitats.

They are very fast, agile flyers, and because of this, some taxa are close to impossible to catch. This in combination with the fact that some species are known from only a few specimens means that their abundance and distribution is believed to be underestimated.[4]

Ecology and Behavior

Several Amegilla species, specifically Amegilla nigritar and Amegilla zonata, pollinate the orchid species Phalaenopsis pulcherrima.[5][6] Females are adept at buzz-pollination, and some species have proven or potential value as pollinators of greenhouse tomatoes.[7]

At a glance, they may be confused with honeybees. However, they do not produce harvestable honey or live in colonies. Amegilla bees also carry their pollen between hairs on the hind legs, whereas in honeybees the hind leg has a smooth, spoon-shaped area where pollen is collected.

Selected species

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Amegilla.
  1. 1 2 3 Houston, Terry (August 2018). A Guide to Native Bees of Australia. CSIRO Publishing. pp. 216–223. ISBN 9781486304066.
  2. ↑ "Factsheet - Amegilla bees". keys.lucidcentral.org. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  3. ↑ "Atlas Hymenoptera". www.atlashymenoptera.net. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  4. 1 2 Denis Michez, Pierre Rasmont, Michaël Terzo [et autres] (2019). Abeilles d'Europe. Vol. 1. Verrières-le-Buisson: NAP éditions. ISBN 978-2-913688-33-9. OCLC 1140375362.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ↑ Pramanik, D., Dorst, N., Meesters, N. et al. Evolution and development of three highly specialized floral structures of bee-pollinated Phalaenopsis species. EvoDevo 11, 16 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13227-020-00160-z
  6. ↑ Hu, X., Lan, S., Song, X., Yang, F., Zhang, Z., Peng, D., & Ren, M. (2021). "Genetic divergence between two sympatric ecotypes of Phalaenopsis pulcherrima on Hainan island." Diversity, 13(9), 446.
  7. ↑ Hogendoorn, K; Gross, CL; Sedgley, M; Keller, MA (2006). "Increased Tomato Yield Through Pollination by Native Australian Amegilla chlorocyanea (Hymenoptera: Anthophoridae)". Journal of Economic Entomology. 99 (3): 828–833. doi:10.1093/jee/99.3.828. PMID 16813318 – via Oxford Academic.


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