Icteranthidium

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Taxonomy

Family: Megachilidae
Subfamily: Megachilinae
Tribe: Anthidiini
Genus: Icteranthidium Michener, 1948
Subgenera: none
Common name: none

Overview

Icteranthidium often have black integument with extensive yellow markings on their head and thorax, and many species have almost entirely yellow abdomens (Michener 2007). Their body length can range from 7.5–15 mm (Michener 2007).

Diversity

Icteranthidium consists of approximately 25 species (Michener 2007); none are known to occur in the U.S. or Canada.

Diagnostic characteristics

(modified from Michener 2007)

• Arolia absent.
• Axilla frequently pointed posteriorly (Fig 5, 6).
• Omaulus carinate.
• Preoccipital carina absent behind the vertex, but strong laterally and continuing down to the lower mandible.
• Propodeum with fovea defined by a carina behind spiracle present (Fig 5).
• Pronotal lobe strongly lamellate (Fig 4).
• Female mandible has four teeth separated by shallow concavities.
• Female T6 is concave in profile.
• Female T6 with margin convex and with a median notch.
• Male T7 has a mid-apical projection. Occasionally, a lateral projection is present (Fig 8).

May be confused with

Known invasives

There are no known invasives.

Host associations

Many Icteranthidium are generalists and can be found visiting up to 15 flower species (Müller 1996). Some species, including I. cimbiciforme, I. fedtschenkoi, I. laterale, I. afrum, have been found to exclusively or primarily visit Compositae (Müller 1996).

Nesting behavior

Distribution

Icteranthidium is distributed from Morocco and Portugal to Mongolia, and throughout southern Europe, northern Africa, and southeast Pakistan (Michener 2007). They also inhabit xeric habitats in Asia (Michener 2007).

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