Exoneurella lawsoni

Exoneurella lawsoni
Female
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Apidae
Genus:	Exoneurella
Species:	E. lawsoni
Binomial name
Exoneurella lawsoni (Rayment, 1946) [1] [2] [3]
Synonyms
Exoneura lawsoniRayment, 1946

Exoneurella lawsoni is a species of bee in the family Apidae and the tribe Allodapini. It is endemic to Australia. It was described in 1946 by Australian entomologist Tarlton Rayment as a species of Exoneura , but subsequently placed by American entomologist Charles Duncan Michener into the new genus Exoneurella. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Description

The body length of the holotype male is 4.5 mm. The head, thorax and abdomen are glossy black. ^[1]

Distribution and habitat

The species occurs in south-eastern Australia. The type locality is Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory. ^{[3] [1]}

Behaviour

The adults are flying mellivores. They nest in dead, dry plant stems, including those of Hydrangea and Verbena . The bees are basically subsocial, with each female founding and maintaining her own nest. All immature stages are found in the communal chamber, with the larvae fed progressively. Flowering plants visited by the bees include Wahlenbergia species. ^[3]

Male

References

1. Rayment, T (1946). "New bees and wasps—Part II. Describing two black species of Exoneura". Victorian Naturalist. 62: 230–236 [230]. Retrieved 2026-01-22.
2. Michener, CD (1963). "New Ceratinini from Australia (Hymenoptera, Apoidea)". University of Kansas Science Bulletin. 44: 257–261 [257]. Retrieved 2026-01-22.
3. "Species Exoneurella lawsoni (Rayment, 1946)". Australian Faunal Directory. Dept of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australia. 2026. Retrieved 2026-01-22.