Acedanthidium

Taxonomy

Family: Megachilidae
Subfamily: Megachilinae
Tribe: Anthidiini
Genus: Acedanthidium Michener, 2000
Subgenera: none
Common name: none

Overview

Acedanthidium are slender bees ranging from 7.5–8 mm in body length with conspicuous yellow markings on their head, thorax, and abdomen (Michener and Griswold 1994).

Diversity

Acedanthidium contains one species, A. flavoclypeatum (Michener 2007); none are known to occur in the U.S. or Canada.

Diagnostic characteristics

(modified from Michener and Griswold 1994)

Axilla are laterally produced and pointed.
Juxtantennal carina absent.
Preoccipital carina absent.
Pronotal lobes lamellate.
Propodeum without basal row of pits.
Propodeum without fovea behind the spiracles.
Scutellum rounded posteriorly, not emarginate, and only slightly overhanging metanotum.
Scutoscutellar suture forming two distinct foveae.
Male terga without lateral teeth.
Male T7 has a median point with two lobes on each side, equaling 5 apical projections total.
Male sterna without apical combs.

May be confused with

Acedanthidium may resemble Eoanthidium and Pseudoanthidium due to similar body form and size (Michener and Griswold 1994). Acedanthidium resembles Eoanthidium due to the presence of foveate scutoscutellar suture. However, Acedanthidium can be differentiated from those genera by its lack of a juxtantennal carina and the simple female S6 (Michener 2007). Acedanthidium can be differentiated from Pseudoanthidium based on the characteristics listed above.

Known invasives

There are no known invasives.

Host associations

Floral associations are unknown.

Nesting behavior

Nesting behavior is unknown.

Distribution

Acedanthidium is only known to occur in India (Michener 2007).

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

<p>Fig 1, <em>Acedanthidium</em> sp. male face, photo: C. Ritner © Division of Entomology, University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute</p>

Fig 1, Acedanthidium sp. male face, photo: C. Ritner © Division of Entomology, University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute

<p>Fig 2, <em>Acedanthidium</em> sp. male lateral habitus, photo: C. Ritner © Division of Entomology, University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute</p>

Fig 2, Acedanthidium sp. male lateral habitus, photo: C. Ritner © Division of Entomology, University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute

<p>Fig 3, <em>Acedanthidium</em> sp. male abdomen, photo: C. Ritner © Division of Entomology, University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute</p>

Fig 3, Acedanthidium sp. male abdomen, photo: C. Ritner © Division of Entomology, University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute