Indanthidium

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Taxonomy

Family: Megachilidae
Subfamily: Megachilinae
Tribe: Anthidiini
Genus: Indanthidium Michener and Griswold, 1994
Subgenera: none
Common name: none

Overview

Indanthidium are small bees ranging in length from 6–7.5 mm. They have black integument with yellow maculations and abdominal bands, which are divided into four spots on most of their terga (Michener 2007).

Diversity

Indanthidium contains 1 species, I. crenulaticauda (Michener 2007); none are known to occur in the U.S. or Canada.

Diagnostic characteristics

(modified from Michener and Griswold 1994 unless otherwise stated)

• Arolia absent.
• Juxtantennal carina absent.
• Maxillary palpus is a single segment (Michener 2007).
• Omaulus lacking carina.
• Preoccipital ridge lacking carina.
• Pronotal lobe carinate or lamellate.
• Stigma less than twice as broad as long (Michener 2007).
• Subantennal sutures distinctly arcuate.
• T5 with marginal zone depressed and punctured (Michener 2007).
• Male S1 and S6 are not modified and lack combs (Michener 2007).
• Male T7 is as broad as T6, and has median and lateral spines with smaller teeth in between the spines (Michener 2007).

May be confused with

Indanthidium may be confused with Anthidium due to their similar coloration: yellow abdominal bands are divided into four spots in both genera. Indanthidium can be differentiated by the punctured depressed marginal zone of T5 (Michener 2007). Indanthidium may also be confused with Pseudoanthidium due to similar arcuate subantennal sutures; however, they can be differentiated by the characteristics listed above (Michener 2007).

Known invasives

There are no known invasives.

Host associations

Nesting behavior

Distribution

Indanthidium is only known to occur in southern India.

​Distribution map generated by Discover Life -- click on map for details, credits, and terms of use.