Gronoceras

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Taxonomy

Family: Megachilidae
Subfamily: Megachilinae
Tribe: Megachilini
Genus: Gronoceras Cockerell, 1907
Subgenera: none
Common name: none

Overview

Gronoceras are large, elongate bees ranging in body length from 17–29 mm (Michener 2007). They often have black integument with grey and black pubescence in addition to large areas of red or reddish-yellow pubescence on their thorax and head (Michener 2007). Gronoceras was previously a subgenus of Megachile (Trunz et al. 2016).

Diversity

Diagnostic characteristics

(modified from Michener 2007 unless otherwise stated)

• Arolia absent.
• Front and middle tibia with three apical spines (Fig 4).
• Preoccipital carina absent (Gonzalez 2008).
• Pronotal lobes without carina (Gonzalez 2008).
• Stigma over twice as long as broad.
• Female mandible four-toothed without cutting edges, with the two lower teeth being close together .
• Male with carina made up of long spines or lobes, partly hidden by dense long hairs (Gonzalez 2008).

May be confused with

Gronoceras may be confused with species in the subgenus Megachile (Stenomegachile) due to similar dense hairs on the male T6. Gronoceras can be differentiated by the presence of three apical spines on the front and middle tibia (Michener 2007).

Known invasives

There was a single record of Gronoceras in Jamaica that indicates it may have been introduced to the area, but there is no evidence that the genus established there (Michener 2007).

Host associations

Gronoceras have been observed pollinating Ansellia africana, Cajanus cajan, and Vanilla imperialis (FAOUNR 2008; Martin 2009).

Nesting behavior

Distribution

Gronoceras occurs throughout Africa, from Senegal to Eritrea, south to Namibia, and Natal in South Africa (Michener 2007).

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