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Anthophora


Photo by Hartmut Wisch

Anthophora – mining bees (family Apidae)
by Lisa Schonberg and Mace Vaughan (Xerces Society) and Gretchen LeBuhn (SFSU)

Genus summary: Anthophora is a large genus found throughout the temperate and tropical regions of the world with the exception of Madagascar and Indonesia (Michener 2000). It is abundant in the U.S., and there about 70 species, primarily in the western states (Michener 1994). Six species have been found in New York State (Danforth & Magnacca 2002), and there are about 15 in northwestern portions of both the U.S. & Canada (Stephen et al. 1969).
Floral relationships: Anthophora are floral generalists with very long tongues (0.4 to 0.8 inches) that enable them to pollinate deep flowers (O’Toole & Raw 1999).
Nesting habits: Anthophora are solitary ground-nesters; they dig tunnels down into soil banks or flat ground. Some species facilitate excavation by wetting clay with regurgitated nectar and water (Michener 2000). Brood cells are lined with an oily substance that is almost completely waterproof. Anthophora do not make a cocoon as pupae, and instead overwinter as late larval instars or adults (O’Toole & Raw 1999). .
Diagnostic characteristics: Anthophora are fast-flying, robust and hairy bees. Many species have pale hair bands on the abdomen (Michener 2000). There is a wide variety in size within the genus. Their legs appear to be very hairy but the “hair” is actually their large pollen-carrying scopa. You often hear these bees before you see them.
Similar taxa: Anthophora bomboides superficially resembles a bumble bee and nests in large aggregations on beaches around San Francisco.
Known conservation concerns:
Interesting fact: Anthophora males often form "sleeping aggregations” - several males gather on a single plant in the evening and fall asleep holding onto a plant with their jaws.
Additional resources: Cockerell (1906)

Key to Anthophora at DiscoverLife

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