Family: Megachilidae
Subfamily: Megachilinae
Tribe: Anthidiini
Genus: Anthidium Fabricius, 1804
Subgenus: A. (Anthidium) Fabricius, 1804
Species: Anthidium banningense Cockerell, 1904
Common name: none
Anthidium (Anthidium) banningense have reddish-brown to black integument with ivory or yellow-colored maculations (Gonzalez and Griswold 2013). They have white pubescence except for the limited brown hairs on the vertex, scutum, scutellum, axilla, inner tarsi, and center of S6. Females range in body length from 9.2–12.3 mm; males range in body length from 12.3–14.6 mm (Gonzalez and Griswold 2013).
(modified from Gonzalez and Griswold 2013)
Anthidium banningense females can be recognized by combination of the long, acute lateral angles of T6 and the dense punctures of the terga, punctures nearly contiguous on in the depressed marginal areas. Male A. banningense can easily be recognized by the digitiform lateral lobe of T7 and the obliquely truncate lateral lobe of S6 (Gonzalez and Griswold 2013).
Anthidium banningense adults have been recorded in flight from May to August, with peak activity occurring in June and July (Gonzalez and Griswold 2013).
Anthidium banningense is a generalist that prefers Phacelia. They have also been observed visiting a variety of species of Alliaceae, Asteraceae, Boraginaceae, Fabaceae, Onagraceae, Plantaginaceae, and Rosaceae (Gonzalez and Griswold 2013).
Anthidium banningense nest in the ground near their food sources (Jaycox 1967). Down-like plant materials from Artemisia and Cirsium are often used to line the nest (Jaycox 1967). Males exhibit territorial behavior. They maintain a territory within proximity to their preferred floral resource, Phacelia leucophylla (Jaycox 1967). Males patrol this territory, striking and chasing other male A. banningense away from the boundary of their territory (Jaycox 1967).
Anthidium banningense occur throughout the intermountain region of the U.S. in Nevada, northern Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, as well as montane California. They are commonly found in forests, woodlands, chaparral, and grasslands (Gonzalez and Griswold 2013).
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