| Hylaeus agilis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Female | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Colletidae |
| Genus: | Hylaeus |
| Species: | H. agilis |
| Binomial name | |
| Hylaeus agilis (Smith, 1876) | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
| |
Hylaeus agilis is a bee species in the family Colletidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species is found throughout the country and visits the flowers of a wide variety of plant species, both native and introduced. [1]
This species was first described by Frederick Smith in 1876 under the name Prosopis agilis. [1] The holotype specimen of this species is held at the Natural History Museum, London. [1]
H. agilis are slender and mainly black in colour, with distinctive yellow or white markings on their face. They have sparse hairs and range in size from 7-9mm. [2]
As found in all Hylaeus bees they lack pollen-carrying hairs (scopa), and resemble wasps. [3]
Females are between 6.0 and 8.8mm in length, and 1.5 to 2.0mm long. Forewings are between 4.3 and 6mm in length. [4]
The entire body is black except for the paraocular areas [lower-greek 1] . These are yellow below an irregular line running from the opposite dorsal margin of the clypeus to an opposite point on the inner margin of the compound eye. Antennae are light brown on the ventral region to the pedicel; 1/3 to 2/5 of the outer pronotum is yellow. The pronotal lobe [lower-greek 2] is also yellow. The apex of both the mandibles and tarsal claws are dark red. Metatibial spurs [lower-greek 3] are pale, while the wing membranes are slightly darkened. [4]
The scape is slightly longer than the length of flagellar segments 1–4; the distal antennal segments are the widest. The compound eyes are 4x longer than they are wide. Antennal sockets [lower-greek 4] are 1.5x further from the apex of the clypeus than from the vertex. The frontal line extends to the median ocellus. The clypeus is characterised as flat and short; it extends for approximately 1/7th of its length below a line that runs across the lower margins of the compound eyes. The face below the antennal sockets is characterised as shiny, tessellated lightly and has small punctures that are separated by 4-8 diameters (except the lower margin of the clypeus and the supraclupeus [lower-greek 5] ). The area above the antennal sockets is dull with moderate tessellation. Medium-sized punctures are separated by 0.5-1 diameters in this upper region. The galea [lower-greek 6] is lightly tessellated. [4]
The pronotum has irregular striae on lateral areas which are angled down and back by approximately 30° and are slightly tessellated. The scutum is moderately tessellated with medium-sized punctures. The scutellum is impunctate and shows light tessellation. The propodeal triangle is evenly rounded; the anterior margin is broad with light roughening, while the lateral areas of the propodeum are lightly shagreened with medium-sized punctures. The metepisternum [lower-alpha 1] is light shagreened with fine longitudinal striae. The inner metatibial spurs [lower-greek 7] are very finely ciliate. [5]
Metasomal terga 1-5 and sterna 1-6 are lightly shagreened and shiny. The terga show extremely small and wide-spaced punctures while the sterna have medium-sized punctures. Metasomal terga 2 and 3 have post-spiracular glands, while tergum 2 has a small fovea (depression or pit) above and behind a post-spiracular gland. Sternum 1 has an apical longitudinal medium slit extending less than half of the sternum. [5]
Males are between 4.6 and 7mm in length, and between 1 and 1.3mm in width. They have a forewing length between 3.1 and 4.6mm. [5]
Males have similar colouring to females. They are predominantly black with the same yellow marking in the paraocular area and clypeus. They have a yellow labrum. Mandibles are yellow except at the base, where they are narrow, black and dark red at their apex. Antennae and pronotal [upper-alpha 1] are once again similar to females however the angle of the pronotum usually has some yellowing. The anterior face of the protibia [lower-greek 8] and probasitarsus [lower-greek 9] is light yellow. There is slightly yellowing at the apex of the profemur, [lower-greek 10] as well as on the articulations between the mesofemur, [lower-greek 11] mesotibia [lower-greek 12] and apex of the mesotibia. [5]
Males have a short scape [upper-alpha 1] that is approximately equal in length to the combined length of the first two flagellar segments. [upper-alpha 1] The first flagellar segment is slightly longer than it is wider, while the remaining segments are nearly twice as long as wide. The compound eyes are approximately 3x longer than they are wide; inner margins are similar to those found in females. The supraclypeus [lower-greek 13] rises from below to a small rounded point found between the antennal sockets [lower-greek 14] . The facial fovea [upper-alpha 1] is barely discernable, a short linear depression near the upper inner margin of the compound eye. The clyepus is slightly rounded in cross-section, short, and extends for approximately 1/9th of its length below a line found across the lower margins of the compound eyes. The malar space [upper-alpha 1] is lightly shagreened, and is 14 times wider than long. The galea [upper-alpha 1] is smooth and shiny. The rest of the head is similar to that found in females, however the face above the antennae shows dense tessellation. [5]
The mesosoma is similar to that found in females, however the propodeal triangle is slightly angled as opposed to rounded. Metasomal terga 1-5 [upper-alpha 1] and sterna 1-5 are close to those found in females, except show more pronounced punctuation. The post-spiracular glands are not obvious on terga 2 and 3. Metasomal terga 2 and 3 have small fovea, which is smaller on tergum 3. Sternum 7 has long and narrow basal processes. The anterior apical lobes acute anteriorly and have a lateral fringe of short hairs, while posterior apical lobes are produced laterally with a patch of short hairs. The basal process on sternum 8 is short, while the apical process is simple and rounded. Gonocoxae [upper-alpha 1] are angled laterally in the dorsal and ventral views. Gonostyli [upper-alpha 1] are short, blunt and stout with hairs from the inner, apical and lateral faces. Penis valves are stout, blunted apically and projected beyond the end of the gonostyli; in the lateral view, they project well below the gonostyle and are apically very acute. [5]
Females from Manawatāwhi / Three Kings Islands have presented with paracoluar maculae that are very faint. [5]
The area of the clypeus that is yellow in males can vary from occupying nearly the entire clypeus region to occupying less than the ventral half. [5]
The pronotal angle of males can range from black to the yellow found typically in females. [5]
H. agilis is endemic to New Zealand and found on the North, South and Stewart Islands as well as on Three Kings Island. [1] [6] H. agilis is predominantly located in vegetated areas from sea level to 1590m of elevation. [1]
H. agilis is less frequent in areas of dense vegetation such as forest interiors, and instead becomes more abundant in more exposed areas. Edge habitat is preferred by these species. [7]
This species was recorded on the Chatham Islands in 1903. Whether or not it is present is uncertain, as this finding has not been supported by additional records or specimens. [8]
The female adults of this species are on the wing from October to May while the adult males of the species have been observed from October to April. [1]
H. agilis pollinate red mistletoe ( Peraxilla tetrapetala ), an endangered mistletoe species endemic to New Zealand. This mistletoe species is explosive, meaning that requires forceful opening and was previously thought to only attract endemic birds evolved to twist the flowers open. [9] However, H. agilis was observed continuously gnawing on unopened buds until they opened. [2] [10] Thus H. agilis is ecologically important for native New Zealand plants.
Because H. agilis has no specialized pollen-carrying structures on its body, pollen is carried in a crop. [11] This internal pollen is regurgitated for larval food. [3] Like most bee species endemic to New Zealand, they are solitary mining bees but instead of constructing or excavating their own nests, they live in blind tunnels in branches and twigs, or in abandoned beetle holes in logs. [2] [3] [11]
H. agilis is known to nest in holes and tunnels made in wood by other invertebrates. These holes are then lined with cellophane-liked material, and cells are created inside. The cellophane-like material adheres to the hole, and so the shape of nests mimics the cavity that they are made in. Sometimes, the bees appear to double-layer this wall material. [8]
While it is likely that they will nest in any available cavities, H. agilis has been recorded nesting in the following: Muhlenbeckia australis, Ripogonum scandens , Veronica stricta , Brachyglottis reinoldii , Prumnopitys ferruginea and Rubus fruticosus . [8]
Female H. agilis can aggressively seek out both pollen and nectar. [8]
This species has been observed visiting Alepis flavida (yellow mistletoe), prying open the tips of buds and pushing down inside the tubes. They also push inside the shorter tubes of open flowers. [8]
H. agilis are also known to open Peraxilla tetrapetala (red mistletoe) flowers in order to feed from them, which has been recorded as improving fruitset. [8] [12]
This bee species has a wide variety of both native and introduced host species. [1] Native species include Olearia angustifolia, Carmichaelia species, Peraxilla tetrapetala, Leptospermum scoparium , Metrosideros excelsa , Metrosideros robusta and Veronica salicifolia .
Hylaeus is a large and diverse cosmopolitan genus within the bee family Colletidae. This genus is also known as the yellow-faced bees or masked bees. This genus is the only truly globally distributed colletid, occurring on all continents except Antarctica.
With over 850 species, the genus Nomada is one of the largest genera in the family Apidae, and the largest genus of kleptoparasitic "cuckoo bees." Kleptoparasitic bees are so named because they enter the nests of a host and lay eggs there, stealing resources that the host has already collected. The name "Nomada" is derived from the Greek word nomas, meaning "roaming" or "wandering."
Augochlora leptoloba is a species of sweat bee in the genus Augochlora and the extinct monotypic subgenus Electraugochlora.
Anthidium manicatum, commonly called the European wool carder bee is a species of bee in the family Megachilidae, the leaf-cutter bees or mason bees.
Cebrionini is a tribe of click beetles from the family Elateridae; formerly ranked as a subfamily or family, they are now considered a tribe within the subfamily Elaterinae.
Dolichovespula adulterina is a species of parasitic social wasp found in the Palearctic region. D. adulterina feeds on a variety of foods, including insects, spiders, arthropods, meat, molluscs, fruit, nectar, and larval secretions. D. adulterina was formerly considered to be synonymous with D. arctica from the Holarctic region, but more recent research indicates that D. arctica is a separate species.
Zigrasimecia is an extinct genus of ants which existed in the Cretaceous period approximately 98 million years ago. The first specimens were collected from Burmese amber in Kachin State, 100 kilometres (62 mi) west of Myitkyina town in Myanmar. In 2013, palaeoentomologists Phillip Barden and David Grimaldi published a paper describing and naming Zigrasimecia tonsora. They described a dealate female with unusual features, notably the highly specialized mandibles. Other features include large ocelli, short scapes, 12 antennomeres, small eyes, and a clypeal margin that has a row of peg-like denticles. The genus Zigrasimecia was originally incertae sedis within Formicidae until a second species, Zigrasimecia ferox, was described in 2014, leading to its placement in the subfamily Sphecomyrminae. Later, it was considered to belong to the distinct subfamily Zigrasimeciinae.
Megachile campanulae, known as the bellflower resin bee, is a species of bee in the family Megachilidae. Described in 1903, these solitary bees are native to eastern North America. Studies in 2013 placed them among the first insect species to use synthetic materials for making nests. They are considered mason bees, which is a common descriptor of bees in several families, including Megachilidae. Within the genus Megachile, frequently also referred to as leafcutter bees, M. campanulae is a member of the subgenus Chelostomoides, which do not construct nests from cut leaves, but rather from plant resins and other materials. Females lay eggs in nests constructed with individual cell compartments for each egg. Once hatched, the eggs progress through larval stages and subsequently will overwinter as pupae. The bees are susceptible to parasitism from several other bee species, which act as brood parasites. They are medium-sized bees and the female adults are typically larger than the males. They are important pollinators of numerous native plant species throughout their range.
Pristomyrmex tsujii is a species of ant in the genus Pristomyrmex. Known from Fiji, where they are widely distributed but rarely encountered. The species has a discrete ergatoid queen caste that is intermediate between a worker and an alate queen.
Paraulax queulensis is a species of gall wasp. Biology of Paraulax species is unknown but given they are associated with Nothofagus forests their biology is probably associated with the pteromalid gall community. This species is named after the place where it was first collected, Los Queules National Reserve. P. queulensis closely resembles P. perplexa, bearing common traits such as colour, habitus and several morphological characters. P. queulensis differs by having a more elongate body, which in the female is 4 times longer than it is high; its mesosoma is 1.6 times longer than high, while its metasoma is 1.9 times longer than high. The mesosoma is more dorsoventrally depressed. Its pronotum s 1.5 times longer laterally than high. It possesses longitudinal costulae running from the lateral margin of its pronotal plate to its lateral surface. Its scutellar foveae is discernible even when shallow. The antenna also differs: the pedicel of the female antenna is 1.4 times longer than wide.
Lasioglossum vierecki, also known as Dialictus vierecki and Halictus vierecki, is a sand sweat bee and is part of the family Halictidae of the order Hymenoptera. It is found in the eastern half of North America from Minnesota to the New England States down to Georgia and Louisiana and up in Manitoba and Ontario. Commonly found in sandy areas, it pollinates various flowers such as grass-leaved goldenrod and rattlesnake master.
Cecinothofagus is a genus of wasps. Its name is derived from cecidium and Nothofagus, the name of the host plant genus. This genus differs from Paraulax by a median vertical carina that extends from the ventral margin of the clypeus, almost reaching the ventral margin of the antennal sockets; its facial strigae radiating from the lateral clypeus; the ventral part of its clypeus is straight; a lateral, sharp occipital carina is present; its last antennal flagellomere is 1.5 to 1.7 times longer than wide; longitudinal costulae running from the lateral margin of its pronotal plate to the lateral surface of its pronotum are very short or absent altogether; notauli are sinuate; no scutellar foveae are present; simple claws, sometimes carrying a short basal lobe.
Lasioglossum figueresi, formerly known as Dialictus figueresi, is a solitary sweat bee that is part of the family Halictidae of the order Hymenoptera. Found in Central America, it nests in vertical earthen banks which are normally inhabited by one, though sometimes two or even three, females. Females die before their larvae hatch. It was named after José Figueres Ferrer, a famous Costa Rican patriot, and studies of its behavior are now general models for social behavior studies.
Lasioglossum aeneiventre, also known as Dialictus aeneiventre, is a social sweat bee and is part of the family Halictidae of the order Hymenoptera. Found in Central America, it nests mostly on flat ground though sometimes in vertical banks. It is often compared to L. figueresi.
Lasioglossum leucozonium, also known as Lasioglossum similis, is a widespread solitary sweat bee found in North America, Europe, Asia, and parts of northern Africa. While now a common bee in North America, population genetic analysis has shown that it is actually an introduced species in this region. This population was most likely founded by a single female bee.
Ancistrocerus nigricornis is a species of potter wasp.
Lasioglossum mataroa is a bee species that is found in New Zealand.
Leioproctus boltoni is a species of bee in the family of plasterer bees. This species was first described in 1904 and is endemic to New Zealand. They are a solitary bee, small and black in appearance. L. boltoni can be found throughout the main islands of New Zealand and forages on the flowers of both native and introduced species of plants. This species nests in the soil with their life cycle lasting approximately a year.
Polistes associus is a species of paper wasps belonging to the family Vespidae.
Hylaeus relegatus is a bee species in the family Colletidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and was first described by Frederick Smith. It is the largest and most common species of this genus in that country. H. relegatus can be found throughout the three main islands of New Zealand and visits the flowers of a wide variety of plant species, both native and introduced. Although widespread, this species is not abundant at any one particular location. It has been hypothesised that human made nest sites can be used to increase its numbers.
For further explanation of terms, see: