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HYMENOPTERA, Oxaeidae (Apoidea) -- <Images>
& <Juveniles> Description
Oxaeidae are large bees that have
a short glossa and the preepisternal groove below the scrobal depression is
missing.
The ocelli are positioned low on the face. There are basitibial and pygidial plates present. (Finnamore
& Michener 1993). This is often placed as the American subfamily Oxaeinae of the bee family Andrenidae, with large
13-26 mm, rapid-flying bees, frequently with large eyes. There are four
identified genera, with a total of 21 described species by 2011. They range from North America to
Argentina. The name Oxaeidae is frequently used, and treated as a family, but
they were changed to subfamily status by some specialists in 1995. A key reference is Hurd &
Linsley (1976). They can be best recognized by the extremely low
position of the ocelli on the
face, a feature not shared by any other large bees. Their nests are deep burrows
in the ground, and provisions are a soupy mixture of pollen and nectar in
cells with a waxlike waterproof lining. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = References: Please refer to <biology.ref.htm>, [Additional references
may be found at: MELVYL
Library] Finnamore, A. T.
& C. D. Michener. 1993. Chapter 9,
Superfamily Apoidea, p. 279-357. In: Goulet, H. & J. T.
Huber (eds.), Hymenoptera of the World: An Identification Guide to Families.
Research Branch, Agr. Canada, Publ. 1894/E. 668 p. Michener, C.
D. 2007. The Bees of the
World, 2nd Edition, Johns Hopkins University Press. |