Palaearctic Osmiine Bees

Ballota undulata (Lamiaceae) is probably the main host plant of Ochreriades fasciatus (Friese, 1899). Fotos O. Fragman, G. Pisanty.

Biogeography and diversity

The genus Ochreriades has a disjunct distribution with one species occurring in the Near East and a second species known from Namibia (Michener, 2007).

Phylogeny and classification

The phylogenetic position of Ochreriades within the megachilid bees is still unclear (Praz et al., 2008b). Maximum parsimony and some Bayesian analyses placed it outside the osmiine bees, e.g. at the base of the clade Megachilini+Anthidiini+Osmiini, while other Bayesian analyses placed it as sister to all other Osmiini (Praz et al., 2008b).

Nesting biology

Nesting site and nesting material are unknown. The extremely slender and elongate body form indicates that Ochreriades might nest in insect burrows in dead wood or in hollow stems. As Ochreriades fasciatus was found to occur in areas without trees (C. Praz and C. Sedivy, personal communication), the use of hollow stems as nesting site seems to be more probable.

Flower preferences

Ochreriades fasciatus appears to be strictly oligolectic on Lamiaceae. In contrast to many bee species that regularly exploit Lamiaceae for pollen, the females of O. fasciatus lack specialized bristles on their face to remove pollen from the nototribic anthers of Lamiaceae (see Müller, 1996). Instead, pollen-collecting females of O. fasciatus climb the upper lip of Ballota undulata until the head is beyond the upper lip and pick up the pollen directly into the abdominal scopa by rapidly seesawing the underside of the abdomen against the anthers  (S. Bangerter, C. Praz and C. Sedivy, personal observation). The same method of collecting pollen is known from Protosmia (Nanosmia) minutula at flowers of Teucrium montanum (Müller, 1996).

Species accounts

Ochreriades fasciatus (Friese, 1899)

1899 Eriades fasciatus Friese, Entomologische Nachrichten (Berlin), 25: 325. Type material: Holotype m, “Jericho” [Palestine], OUMNH (Oxford). Type species of Ochreriades Mavromoustakis.

Distribution-Southwestern Asia: IL, JOR, SYR.

Identification-Keys, Descriptions: Griswold (1994b); Mavromoustakis (1956b: 226-229).

Nesting biology: Unknown.

Flower preferences: Probably oligolectic on Lamiaceae (A. Müller, unpublished, based on 14 pollen samples from 5 different localities and on flower records on labels). An important pollen source is Ballota undulata (C. Praz and C. Sedivy, personal observations in Jordan and Israel), the flowers of Moluccella laevis are also exploited (G. Pisanty, personal communication).
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