Family: Apidae
Subfamily: Xylocopinae
Tribe: Ceratinini
Genus: Ceratina Latreille, 1802
Subgenus: Xanthoceratina Vecht, 1952
Common name: small carpenter bees
Ceratina (Xanthoceratina) have black to red integument, usually with extensive yellow markings on the head, thorax, and abdomen (Hirashima 1971a). Their body length can vary from 5.0–10.5 mm (Michener 2007).
(modified from Hirashima 1971a)
Ceratina (Xanthoceratina) looks very similar to Ceratina (Lioceratina), and it has been suggested that these subgenera may be synonymous (Michener 2007). Female Ceratina (Xanthoceratina) differ in the distinct basitibial spine and male Ceratina (Xanthoceratina) differ in the four bundles of hairs on genitalia which are absent in Ceratina (Lioceratina) (Michener 2007).
Ceratina (Xanthoceratina) are known to visit the following plant species: Saurauia nudiflora (Actinidiaceae), Rubus moluccanus (Rosaceae), Impatiens platypetala (Balsaminaceae), Persicaria chinensis (Polygonaceae), Trevesia sundaica (Araliaceae), and an undetermined Cucurbitaceae (Van Der Vecht 1952).
There are no published records on the nesting habits of Ceratina (Xanthoceratina), but as in other Ceratina, they are suspected to use pithy stems and small, hollowed branches of plants.
Ceratina (Xanthoceratina) includes seven described species (Van Der Vecht 1952; Ascher and Pickering 2020).
There are no known invasives.
Ceratina (Xanthoceratina) are found in southeastern Asia, from the southern part of China south through Indonesia (Michener 2007).
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