Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Black Amegilla bee from Canary Islands
Posted by Isidro on 15-02-2008 10:52
#1
20th January 2008. Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote, Canary Islands.
Habitat: open dry lands with volcanic stones, dominated by Launaea arborescens and Heliotropium europaeum. Size: the same than the continental Amegilla quadrifasciata, about 10 mm (variable in size). Common in the zone. Nests in small holes in the soil, between the plants and rocks.
What species can be?
Thanks.
Edited by Isidro on 15-02-2008 20:30
Posted by Christian Schmid-Egger on 15-02-2008 13:54
#2
For me, its Bombus canariensis.
Regards, Christian
Posted by Isidro on 15-02-2008 20:32
#3
Bombus? But it was small as and Amegilla, and the shape is more likely Amegilla more than Bombus, and the behaviour and the wing sound are identical to Amegilla...
But well, if you are sure... i will put this name.
Thanks!
Posted by Christian Schmid-Egger on 16-02-2008 09:51
#4
Sorry, I was wrong. From the last photo it is clearly an Anthophora or Amegilla (both genera are quite similar). I am not sure about the species. Anthophora alluaudi looks similar from color pattern, but I know only specimens from Gran Canaria and Tenerife, and in Fuerteventura occurs annother subspeces, and there is also Amegilla candens from Fu and La only, which I don't know.
Regards, Christian
Posted by Isidro on 16-02-2008 10:30
#5
Thanks Christian. It's a pity that the genus was doubty. But I thinks than Anthophora have the medium legs with very typical hairs, and this one is more probably Amegilla than Anthophora...
Posted by Christian Schmid-Egger on 16-02-2008 13:05
#6
The special medium legs is a male character only, and I am not sure about the sex in the photo.
Amegilla normally are light species with marked tergal bands. But I am not so familar with mediterranean species of both genera (nobody is working seriously with the genus for the moment, as far as I know), so I will not speculate about it. As I wrote, Anthophora alluaudi in my collection looks very similar to your species and occurs commenly on Fuerteventura.
Regards, Christian
Posted by cthirion on 16-02-2008 14:49
#7
The broad and thin head makes me think of Anthophoridae too! I asked Rasmont, I wait!:)
Posted by Isidro on 17-02-2008 11:28
#8
Thanks, then I will put Anthophora alluaudi -with doubts-.
Posted by Adrien on 17-02-2008 13:11
#9
the difference between
Anthophora and
Amegilla is that
Anthophora get Arolium and
Amegila do not.
Here, i do not see ?
i'm waiting for P. Rasmont answer
Edited by Adrien on 17-02-2008 18:47
Posted by cthirion on 25-02-2008 17:21
#10
Rasmont says Anthophora alluaudi possible!
Posted by Adrien on 25-02-2008 20:24
#11
thanks Camille (and Pierre ;))
Posted by Isidro on 25-02-2008 23:54
#12
Thanks again
Posted by Isidro on 28-02-2008 20:04
#13
I've found a very beautiful page about Canary Islands hymenoptera. There is an image of Anthophora alluaudi, I can't enlarge the images but I don't see it identical to my bee. It's possible that can be, better, Amegilla candens?
http://www.hymis.info/fotos/authors/authorpictures.php?userID=104
Posted by Christian Schmid-Egger on 29-02-2008 10:40
#14
Best you say Anthophora spec. I don't know the species from there very well, exccept alluaud, what I have in my collection, and what is the most common Anthophora species on all Canary Islands. I am also not sure if the other specimen on hymis (which was also identified by me) and your specimens is the same (but I think so, probably they belong to different sexes). On the other hand is Pierre Rasmont one of the few people working Anthophora, and he confirmed it more or less. There are two other Anthophora species described from Lanzarote in 1983, but they are surely excluded.
Regards, Christian
Posted by Isidro on 29-02-2008 18:53
#15
Well, in that case, back to Anthophora alluaudi (probably). Thanks again!!