Stenotritidae
| Stenotritidae | |
|---|---|
| |
| Ctenocolletes tigris | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Clade: | Anthophila |
| Family: | Stenotritidae |
| Genera | |
The Stenotritidae is the smallest of all formally recognised
sister taxon, and deserving of family status.[1] Of prime importance is that the stenotritids have unmodified mouthparts, whereas colletids are separated from all other bees by having bilobed glossae
.
The American entomologist Ronald J. McGinley proposed their position as an independent family based on the morphology of the glossae in 1980.[2] This view quickly became established.
They are large, densely hairy, fast-flying bees, which make simple burrows in the ground and firm,
ovoid provision masses in cells lined with a waterproof secretion. The nests of some species can reach a depth of more than three metres.[3]
The larvae do not spin cocoons.
Fossil brood cells of a stenotritid bee have been found in the Pleistocene of the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.[4]
Species
The family contains two genera: Ctenocolletes and Stenotritus.
Ctenocolletes
- Ctenocolletes albomarginatus (Michener, 1965)
- Ctenocolletes centralis (Houston, 1983)
- Ctenocolletes fulvescens (Houston, 1983)
- Cockerell, 1929)
- Ctenocolletes nigricans (Houston, 1985)
- Ctenocolletes ordensis (Michener, 1965)
- Ctenocolletes rufescens (Houston, 1983)
- Ctenocolletes smaragdinus (Smith, 1868)
- Ctenocolletes tigris (Houston, 1983)
- Ctenocolletes tricolor (Houston, 1983)
Stenotritus
- Stenotritus elegans (Smith, 1853)
- Stenotritus elegantior (Cockerell, 1921)
- Stenotritus ferricornis (Cockerell, 1916)
- Stenotritus greavesi (Rayment, 1930)
- Stenotritus murrayensis (Rayment, 1935)
- Stenotritus nigrescens (Friese, 1924)
- Stenotritus nitidus (Smith, 1879)
- Stenotritus pubescens (Smith, 1868)
- Stenotritus rufocollaris (Cockerell, 1921)
- Stenotritus splendidus (Rayment, 1930)
- Stenotritus victoriae (Cockerell, 1906)
References
- JSTOR 25084069.
- ISBN 978-0801861338.