Ceratina (Malgatina)

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Taxonomy

Family: Apidae
Subfamily: Xylocopinae
Tribe: Ceratinini
Genus: Ceratina Latreille, 1802
Subgenus: Malgatina Terzo and Pauly, 2001 
Common name: small carpenter bees

Overview

Ceratina (Malgatina) are strongly punctured bees with dark, metallic blue or purple integument that is deeply punctate. The length of the forewing is 4–5 mm long (Pauly et al. 2001).

Diagnostic characteristics

(modified from Pauly et al. 2001; Michener 2007):

• Area between the eyes and the antenna insertion with a carina that curves inward towards the ocelli.
• Mid tibia with a small dorsal spine.
• Supraclypeal area convex.
• T6 of both sexes without median carina or keel.
• Female with graduli present on T1–T4 and S1–S4.
• Male with graduli present on T1–T6 and S1–S4.
• Male T7 with posterior margin slightly elongated.
• Male genitalia with the apex of gonocoxite strongly dilated and gonostylus short, wide, and hooked, and without dense pubescence.

May be confused with

Ceratina (Malgatina) can be confused with species of Ceratina (Euceratina) because of its metallic and densely punctate integument. Females of the subgenus Ceratina (Malgatina) differ by the absence of a median carina on T6. Males of the subgenus Ceratina (Malgatina) do not have an elevation or protuberance medially on T7 — a feature that is very pronounced in Ceratina (Euceratina) (Pauly et al. 2001).

Host associations

Ceratina (Malgatina) azurea have been found visiting flowers of Acacia farnesiana (Fabaceae), Emilia citrina, E. humifusa (Asteraceae), and Rubus sp. (Rosaceae) (Pauly et al. 2001).

Nesting behavior

Nests of C. azurea have been found on pithy stems of Lantana camara (Verbenaceae), a species of plant native to the American tropics and introduced in Madagascar (Pauly et al. 2001).

Diversity

Ceratina (Malgatina) is monotypic; the only known species is Ceratina azurea (Pauly et al. 2001).

Known invasives

There are no known invasives.

Distribution

Ceratina (Malgatina) has only been found in Madagascar (Pauly et al. 2001).

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