Coelioxys sodalis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coelioxys sodalis |
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: |
Megachilidae
|
| Tribe: |
Megachilini
|
| Genus: |
Coelioxys
|
| Species: |
C. sodalis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Coelioxys sodalis Cresson, 1878
|
|
Coelioxys sodalis is a type of bee that belongs to the Megachilidae family. These bees are often called "cuckoo bees." This is because they lay their eggs in the nests of other bees. It's a bit like how cuckoo birds lay their eggs in other birds' nests.
Coelioxys sodalis bees usually choose the nests of other bees from a group called Megachile. These include bees like Megachile melanophaea, M. texana, and M. rotundata.
Contents
Discovering Coelioxys sodalis
This bee species was first officially described in 1878. A scientist named Ezra Townsend Cresson wrote about it in a publication called the Transactions of the American Entomological Society.
Where Coelioxys sodalis Lives
Coelioxys sodalis bees live across the northern parts of North America. You can find them from Alaska and British Columbia in the west. Their range extends eastward to Nova Scotia and the New England states.
They also live further south in higher, cooler areas of Arizona. These bees are usually active from spring until early fall. They have been seen as early as April in Arizona and as late as September in Alberta.
Coelioxys sodalis Habitats
These bees mostly live in woodland areas. They have been found in both coniferous forests (like pine forests) and deciduous forests. This includes forests both inland and along the coast.
In warmer, southern areas, they prefer pine forests. In Canada, they have been found where the tundra meets the coniferous forest. They can also live in drier places, such as sagebrush steppes.
What Flowers They Visit
Coelioxys sodalis bees have been seen on flowers from different plant groups. These include Rhodora and Rubus plants.
What Coelioxys sodalis Looks Like
.jpg)
Detailed descriptions of these bees were written by Theodore B. Mitchell. His important book is called Bees of the Eastern United States II. Coelioxys sodalis bees look similar to C. funeraria and darker C. rufitarsis bees.
Size and Color
Female Coelioxys sodalis bees are usually longer than males. Females are about 11-13 millimeters long. Males are a bit smaller, around 8-12 millimeters long. Both male and female bees are completely black. This includes their bodies, legs, and a part of their wings called the tegulae.
Eye Features
Both male and female bees have compound eyes. These eyes are positioned so they look like they come closer together at the bottom. However, the side eyes (ocelli) of females are not as close to the top of their head as they are in males.
Regional Differences
Scientists have noticed some differences in how these bees look depending on where they live. Bees from the southern parts of their range have clearer, more distinct hair bands. Also, the arrangement of parts of their abdomen can vary. Bees found in western areas look more like another species called Coelioxys quadridentata.
How Scientists Study Them
Scientists also study the tiny building blocks of these bees. They look at their nucleotide and protein sequences. This information helps us understand their biology better. You can find these details in the NCBI repository, which is a big database for biological information.
