Leioproctus fulvescens
| Leioproctus fulvescens | |
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| Species: | L. fulvescens
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| Leioproctus fulvescens (Smith, 1876)
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Leioproctus fulvescens is a species of bee native to the South Island of New Zealand. Adults are about 10 mm long with thick hair, dark orange-brown in the early summer fading to light yellow in the late summer. The bees fly primarily from November to March.
The bees nest underground in tunnels up to a half meter in length. A single egg is laid in one or more terminal, oval nesting chambers, along with a deposit of pollen and nectar. Nests can be found in any area with suitable soils and a sunny aspect. Soils in which bees nest range from sandy loam on river banks and terrace lands to light gravelly moraine.
Females forage mainly on Compositae (Asteraceae), such as Gentiana corymbifera (snow gentian), Raoulia, and some of the white flowered hebes such as Hebe alpina.[1] [2]
References
- ^ P. Quinn (1984), "Survey of native bees (Hymenoptera: Colletidae and Halictidae) in the Mackenzie Basin", New Zealand Entomologist, 8: 42–44
- ^ T.E.R.R.A.I.N."Bee (Native) Genus: Leioproctus" Retrieved on 18 January 2015.
Leioproctus.