Arthropods • Earth.com

Anthophora dispar

(Anthophora dispar)

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Description

Anthophora dispar is a species of bee belonging to the family Apidae subfamily Apinae tribus Anthophorini. The adults of these long-tongued bees grow up to 14–16 millimetres (0.55–0.63 in) long and can be encountered from early Spring, feeding and collecting pollen and nectar on early flowering plants. The body is densely hairy. The middle legs of males are very elongated with long tufts of black hairs on the tarsi. Males and females have a different pattern and color so that they seem to belong to two distinct species (hence the Latin name "dispar"). In the females the brushes for collecting pollen on their hind legs are red and the abdomen shows white stripes, while it is black in males. They are present in most of France, Italy, Hungary and in North Africa. The bee genus Anthophora is one of the largest in the family Apidae, with over 450 species worldwide in 14 different subgenera. They are most abundant and diverse in the Holarctic and African biogeographic regions. All species are solitary, though many nest in large aggregations. Nearly all species make nests in the soil, either in banks or in flat ground; the larvae develop in cells with waterproof linings and do not spin cocoons. Males commonly have pale white or yellow facial markings, and/or peculiarly modified leg armature and hairs. Anthophora individuals can be distinguished from the very similar genus Amegilla by the possession of an arolium between the tarsal claws.

Taxonomic tree:

Domain:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum:
Class: Insecta
Order:Hymenoptera
Family:Apidae
Genus:Anthophora
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