Anthidium cockerelli

Taxonomy

Family: Megachilidae
Subfamily: Megachilinae
Tribe: Anthidiini
Genus: Anthidium Fabricius, 1804
Subgenus: A. (Anthidium) Fabricius, 1804
Species: Anthidium cockerelli Schwarz, 1928
Common name: none

Overview

Anthidium (Anthidium) cockerelli are dark brown to black with yellow or cream-colored maculations (Gonzalez and Griswold 2013Gonzalez and Griswold 2013:
Gonzalez, V.H. and T.L. Griswold. 2013. Wool carder bees of the genus Anthidium in the Western Hemisphere (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae): diversity, host plant associations, phylogeny, and biogeography. Zoological Journal 168: 221ndash;425.). Females have white pubescencepubescence:
short, fine hair
except for the yellow hairs found on the vertexvertex:
the area between the ocelli and the back of the head
, scutumscutum:
the large segment on top of the thorax located between the wings and behind the head
, axillaaxilla:
the triangular or rounded point on the thorax where thoracic muscles meet the forewing of an insect
, and scutellumscutellum:
shield shaped plate behind scutum
, and the brown hairs on the inner tarsitarsi:
the group of segments at the end of the leg following the tibia
and sternal scopascopa:
modified hairs for carrying pollen; often branched and dense hairs on the hind-leg, or on the ventral surface of the abdomen in Megachilidae
. Females range in body length from 7.7–10.0 mm (Gonzalez and Griswold 2013Gonzalez and Griswold 2013:
Gonzalez, V.H. and T.L. Griswold. 2013. Wool carder bees of the genus Anthidium in the Western Hemisphere (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae): diversity, host plant associations, phylogeny, and biogeography. Zoological Journal 168: 221ndash;425.). Males have pale pubescencepubescence:
short, fine hair
on the vertexvertex:
the area between the ocelli and the back of the head
, scutumscutum:
the large segment on top of the thorax located between the wings and behind the head
, and scutellumscutellum:
shield shaped plate behind scutum
. Males range in body length from 8.5–13.1 mm (Gonzalez and Griswold 2013Gonzalez and Griswold 2013:
Gonzalez, V.H. and T.L. Griswold. 2013. Wool carder bees of the genus Anthidium in the Western Hemisphere (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae): diversity, host plant associations, phylogeny, and biogeography. Zoological Journal 168: 221ndash;425.).

Diagnostic characteristics

(modified from Gonzalez and Griswold 2013Gonzalez and Griswold 2013:
Gonzalez, V.H. and T.L. Griswold. 2013. Wool carder bees of the genus Anthidium in the Western Hemisphere (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae): diversity, host plant associations, phylogeny, and biogeography. Zoological Journal 168: 221ndash;425.)

• Female fore basitarsibasitarsi:
  the segment of the tarsus that is the nearest to the body of the bee, usually the largest of all the tarsal segments
  covered in dense white tomentumtomentum:
  a form of pubescence composed of short matted, woolly hair
  .
• Female labrumlabrum:
  part of the head abutting the clypeus, folds down in front of the mouthparts
  lacks basalbasal:
  originating at the foundation of a structure
  protuberances and has large preapicalpreapical:
  referring to a section of a bee that is physically found just before the outermost (or apical) end of the section or segment
  projections that are curved upwards.
• Female mandiblemandible:
  bee teeth, so to speak, usually crossed and folded in front of the mouth
  has 5–6 teeth.
• Female sternal scopascopa:
  modified hairs for carrying pollen; often branched and dense hairs on the hind-leg, or on the ventral surface of the abdomen in Megachilidae
  is white, at least laterally.
• Female tergaterga:
  the segments on the top side of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a specific segment to T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, or T7
  have fine, sparse punctuations that are 2–3 puncture widths apart on the discdisc:
  a generic term for the middle surface of a plate (usually in reference to an abdominal segment)
  .
• Female tergaterga:
  the segments on the top side of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a specific segment to T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, or T7
  have punctures on the depressed marginal zone that are 1–3 puncture widths apart medially.
• Female hind tibiatibia:
  the segment of the leg, between the femur and the tarsus
  without anterior carinacarina:
  a clearly defined ridge or keel, not necessarily high or acute; usually appears on bees as simply a raised line
  .
• Female T6T6:
  the segments on the top side of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a specific segment to T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, or T7
  lacks laterallateral:
  relating, pertaining, or attached to the side
  spine and is elevated along the midline.
• Male labrumlabrum:
  part of the head abutting the clypeus, folds down in front of the mouthparts
  preapical projections are tuberculate.
• Male S4S4:
  the plates on the underside of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a specific segment to S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, or S8
  has a short, pale to light reddish-brown median apicalapical:
  near or at the apex or end of any structure
  brush hidden by long, branched, pale hairs.
• Male S6S6:
  the plates on the underside of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a specific segment to S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, or S8
  laterallateral:
  relating, pertaining, or attached to the side
  lobe is absent.
• Male median lobe is truncatetruncate:
  ending abruptly, or squared off
  , and sometimes notched apicallyapically:
  near or at the apex or end of any structure
  .
• Male S7S7:
  the plates on the underside of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a specific segment to S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, or S8
  apicallyapically:
  near or at the apex or end of any structure
  rounded.
• Male S8S8:
  the plates on the underside of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a specific segment to S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, or S8
  apicalapical:
  near or at the apex or end of any structure
  process is pointed and triangular.
• Male T6T6:
  the segments on the top side of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a specific segment to T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, or T7
  laterallateral:
  relating, pertaining, or attached to the side
  spine is straight.
• Male T7T7:
  the segments on the top side of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a specific segment to T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, or T7
  laterallateral:
  relating, pertaining, or attached to the side
  lobe is rounded at the apexapex:
  end of any structure
  and 1.5 times broader than the distance between the inner margin and the median spine.

May be confused with

Female Anthidium cockerelli can be easily distinguished from other Anthidium (Anthidium) species by the lack of a tibial carinacarina:
a clearly defined ridge or keel, not necessarily high or acute; usually appears on bees as simply a raised line
; basitarsibasitarsi:
the segment of the tarsus that is the nearest to the body of the bee, usually the largest of all the tarsal segments
densely covered in white tomentum; white sternal scopascopa:
modified hairs for carrying pollen; often branched and dense hairs on the hind-leg, or on the ventral surface of the abdomen in Megachilidae
; tergaterga:
the segments on the top side of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a specific segment to T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, or T7
with fine, sparse punctures; and lack of a laterallateral:
relating, pertaining, or attached to the side
spine on T6T6:
the segments on the top side of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a specific segment to T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, or T7
(Gonzalez and Griswold 2013Gonzalez and Griswold 2013:
Gonzalez, V.H. and T.L. Griswold. 2013. Wool carder bees of the genus Anthidium in the Western Hemisphere (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae): diversity, host plant associations, phylogeny, and biogeography. Zoological Journal 168: 221ndash;425.). Male Anthidium cockerelli can be easily distinguished from other Anthidium (Anthidium) species by laterallateral:
relating, pertaining, or attached to the side
lobe of T7T7:
the segments on the top side of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a specific segment to T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, or T7
which is rounded at the apexapex:
end of any structure
; S6S6:
the plates on the underside of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a specific segment to S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, or S8
lacks a laterallateral:
relating, pertaining, or attached to the side
lobe and has a small, sclerotizedsclerotized:
hardened by the formation of sclerotin, specifically the exoskeleton of an insect
median lobe; and S8S8:
the plates on the underside of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a specific segment to S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, or S8
with a pointed apicalapical:
near or at the apex or end of any structure
process (Gonzalez and Griswold 2013Gonzalez and Griswold 2013:
Gonzalez, V.H. and T.L. Griswold. 2013. Wool carder bees of the genus Anthidium in the Western Hemisphere (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae): diversity, host plant associations, phylogeny, and biogeography. Zoological Journal 168: 221ndash;425.).

Phenology

Anthidium cockerelli adults have been recorded in flight from February to June, with peak activity occurring from April to mid-June (Gonzalez and Griswold 2013Gonzalez and Griswold 2013:
Gonzalez, V.H. and T.L. Griswold. 2013. Wool carder bees of the genus Anthidium in the Western Hemisphere (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae): diversity, host plant associations, phylogeny, and biogeography. Zoological Journal 168: 221ndash;425.).

Host associations

Anthidium cockerelli are generalists that have been observed visiting a variety of species within Asclepiadaceae, Asteraceae, Boraginaceae, Brassicaceae, Cactaceae, Fabaceae, Grossulariaceae, Krameriaceae, Lamiaceae, Loasaceae, Malvaceae, Nyctaginaceae, Onagraceae, Papaveraceae, Plantaginaceae, Polygonaceae, Ranunculaceae, Tamaricaceae, and Zygophyllaceae (Gonzalez and Griswold 2013Gonzalez and Griswold 2013:
Gonzalez, V.H. and T.L. Griswold. 2013. Wool carder bees of the genus Anthidium in the Western Hemisphere (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae): diversity, host plant associations, phylogeny, and biogeography. Zoological Journal 168: 221ndash;425.).

Nesting behavior

Anthidium cockerelli have been observed actively nesting in soil (Cane 1996Cane 1996:
Cane, J.H. 1996. Nesting resins obtained from Larrea pollen host by an oligolectic bee, Trachusa larreae (Cockerell). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 69: 99ndash;102.).

Distribution

Anthidium cockerelli occur throughout southern California, southern Nevada, southern Utah, Arizona, southern New Mexico, and western Texas within the U.S. (Gonzalez and Griswold 2013Gonzalez and Griswold 2013:
Gonzalez, V.H. and T.L. Griswold. 2013. Wool carder bees of the genus Anthidium in the Western Hemisphere (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae): diversity, host plant associations, phylogeny, and biogeography. Zoological Journal 168: 221ndash;425.). In Mexico, they are found in Baja California, Durango, and Coahuila. Their distribution is restricted to hot deserts, such as the Mojave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan Deserts, as well as the Colorado Plateau and the Great Basin (Gonzalez and Griswold 2013Gonzalez and Griswold 2013:
Gonzalez, V.H. and T.L. Griswold. 2013. Wool carder bees of the genus Anthidium in the Western Hemisphere (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae): diversity, host plant associations, phylogeny, and biogeography. Zoological Journal 168: 221ndash;425.).

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References

Cane, J.H. 1996. Nesting resins obtained from Larrea pollen hosts by an oligolecticoligolectic:
the term used to describe bees that specialize on a narrow range of pollen sources, generally a specific plant genus
bee, Trachusa larreae (Cockerell) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 69: 99-102.

Gonzalez, V.H. and T.L. Griswold. 2013. Wool carder bees of the genus Anthidium in the Western Hemisphere (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae): diversity, host plant associations, phylogeny, and biogeography. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 168: 221-425.