Family: Megachilidae
Subfamily: Megachilinae
Tribe: Megachilini
Genus: Maximegachile Guiglia and Pasteels, 1961
Common name: none
Maximegachile are large, robust bees with black and white hairs (Michener 2007). They range in body length from 14–25 mm (Michener 2007). Maximegachile had previously been considered a subgenus of Megachile, but was elevated to genus status by Gonzalez et al. (2019).
(modified from Michener 2007; Gonzalez 2008; Praz 2017)
Maximegachile share a number of features with Stenomegachile. Females of both genera have long, shiny mandibles and a posterior tooth in the hypostomal area. Males of both genera have a bilobed carina and lateral teeth on T6 (Michener 2007). Unlike Stenomegachile, female Maximegachile have a three-toothed mandible (Michener 2007). Male Maximegachile can be differentiated from Stenomegachile by their four-toothed mandible and the long, dense hair above the bilobed pre-apical carina of T6 (Michener 2007).
Maximegachile has been observed visiting Asteraceae, Amaranthaceae, and Fabaceae (Gess and Gess 2003; Gous 2017).
Maximegachile nest in pre-existing cavities and have been found in trap nests. They use sand and resin to construct their nests (Gess and Roosenschoon 2017).
Maximegachile consists of two species: M. maxillosa and M. galactogagates (Penati and Mariotti 2015; Praz 2017). Neither species are known to occur in the U.S. or Canada (Michener 2007).
There are no known invasives.
Maximegachile are found in western Asia and Africa. They have been recorded in Israel and the United Arab Emirates in western Asia (Michener 2007; Gess and Gess 2003). In Africa, they are found from Senegal to South Africa and along the northeastern coast in Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt (Michener 2007; Gous 2017).
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