Hesperapis Explained
Hesperapis is a genus of bees in the family Melittidae. There are at least 30 described species in Hesperapis.[1] [2] The genus is very uncommon and is restricted only to coastal barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico and dunes of the Great Lakes.[3] Its abdomen is flattened and its integument or "skin" is soft compared to other groups of bees.
Behavior
One species, Hesperapis rhodocerata, was recorded in one area in 2010 and 2015, appearing in those years but not the years in between. This suggests that their diapause may be prolonged over multiple years.[4]
Species
These 37 species belong to the genus Hesperapis:
- Hesperapis aliciae (Cockerell, 1932)
i c g- Hesperapis arenicola Crawford, 1917
i c g- Hesperapis arida Michener, 1936
i c g- Hesperapis braunsiana (Friese, 1911)
i c g- Hesperapis carinata Stevens, 1919
i c g- Hesperapis danforthi (Eardley, 2007)
i c g- Hesperapis elegantula Cockerell, 1898
i c g- Hesperapis eumarpha (Cockerell, 1898)
i c g- Hesperapis flavicara (Eardley, 2007)
i c g- Hesperapis flavitarsis (Friese, 1912)
i c g- Hesperapis fuchsi (Viereck, 1909)
i c g- Hesperapis fulvipes Crawford, 1917
i c g- Hesperapis gessorum (Eardley, 2007)
i c g- Hesperapis hantamensis (Michez & Kuhlmann, 2007)
i c g- Hesperapis ilicifoliae (Cockerell, 1910)
i c g
i c g- Hesperapis laticeps Crawford, 1917
i c g- Hesperapis leucura Cockerell, 1916
i c g- Hesperapis macrocephala Cockerell, 1924
i c g- Hesperapis micheneri (Michez, 2007)
i c g- Hesperapis nanula (Cockerell, 1936)
i c g- Hesperapis nigerrima (Cockerell, 1932)
i c g- Hesperapis nitidula Cockerell, 1916
i c g- Hesperapis oliviae (Cockerell, 1897)
i c g
i c g b- Hesperapis parva Michener, 1937
i c g- Hesperapis pellucida Cockerell, 1925
i c g
i c g b- Hesperapis rhodocerata (Cockerell, 1897)
i c g- Hesperapis rhodostoma (Cockerell, 1932)
i c g- Hesperapis richtersveldensis (Patiny & Michez, 2007)
i c g- Hesperapis rodecki Cockerell, 1934
i c g
i c g b- Hesperapis rufiventris (Friese, 1912)
i c g- Hesperapis semirudis Cockerell, 1910
i c g- Hesperapis trochanterata Snelling, 1987
i c g- Hesperapis wilmattae Cockerell, 1933
i c gData sources: i = ITIS, c = Catalogue of Life, g = GBIF, b = Bugguide.netNotes and References
- Michez D. (2008) Monographic revision of the melittid bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Melittidae sensu lato)
- Web site: Hesperapis -- identification guide -- Discover Life. www.discoverlife.org. 2015-10-11.
- Book: Droege, Sam . The Very Handy Manual: How to Catch and Identify Bees . September 2015 . USGS.
- Book: Embry . Paige . Our Native Bees . 72.