Amegilla cingulata
Amegilla cingulata | |
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sleeping male | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Family: | Apidae |
Genus: | Amegilla |
Species: | A. cingulata
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Binomial name | |
Amegilla cingulata (Fabricius, 1775)
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Synonyms | |
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Amegilla cingulata is a species of blue-banded
Taxonomy
A. cingulata was first described by Danish entomologist Johan Christian Fabricius in 1775.[1] Its specific epithet cingulata is from the Latin word cingulum ("belt") referring to the bee's bands. The genus Amegilla contains over 250 additional species, but several are virtually indistinguishable from A. cingulata, so are commonly confused with it.
Description
A. cingulata has a very striking appearance similar to several other species of Amegilla. Unlike honey bees, it has pale opalescent blue stripes on its abdomen. The male can be distinguished by the number of complete bands, having five as opposed to the females' four.[2] In size, A. cingulata can grow to 10–12 mm (0.39–0.47 in).
Distribution and habitat
A. cingulata is found along the coast and inland in
Behaviour
A. cingulata can sting, but are not as aggressive as other bees. They appear to be more rapid in movement than other bees. The males cling to
Diet
A. cingulata in Australia collects the majority of its nectar from blue flowers, although others investigated include mountain devil (
Life cycle
A. cingulata builds a solitary nest, but often close to other conspecifics. A. cingulata tend to nest in burrows in dried-up river banks, old clay homes, and mortar between bricks, but may also burrow in soft sandstone, and areas of this type of rock can become riddled with bee tunnels.[7] Cells, at the end of tunnels, contain an egg with a pollen/nectar mixture for the larval food.[2]
Threats
A. cingulata is preyed upon by many animals, including birds, frogs and cane toads. Its nests are parasitized by the neon cuckoo bee Thyreus nitidulus.[2] Human activity, for example the clearing of river banks in the Caboolture River, may threaten nest sites of this bee.
References
- ^ "Species Amegilla (Zonamegilla) cingulata (Fabricius, 1775)". Australian Faunal Directory. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
- ^ ISBN 1-876307-07-2.
- ^ "Blue Banded Bees" (PDF). City of Kalamunda. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
- ^ DiscoverLife map of Amegilla cingulata records
- PMC 5345376.
- S2CID 35970905.
- ^ "Common Blue-banded Bee". Australian Museum.