Palaearctic Osmiine Bees

Michener (2007) included the species that were formerly attributed to the subgenus Micreriades Mavromoustakis in the subgenus Alcidamea Cresson. However, a recent molecular phylogenetic study of the osmiine bees clearly supports the view that Micreriades should be recognized as a valid subgenus of Hoplitis rather than as a synonym of Alcidamea (Praz et al., 2008b). The subgenus Micreriades is confined to the Palaearctic region. It contains 8 described species.

Female of Hoplitis (Micreriades) mazzuccoi (Schwarz & Gusenleitner, 2005) at the entrance of her nest in a dry stem of Rubus. Foto A. Gogala.

Species accounts

Hoplitis (Micreriades) antalyae Tkalcu, 2000

2000 Hoplitis (Micreriades) antalyae Tkalcu, Acta Societatis Zoologicae Bohemoslovacae (Praha), 64: 312. Type material: Holotype m, “Antalya: Beldibi” [Turkey], RMNH (Leiden); paratype m.

Distribution-Europe: GR(Chios, Ikaria, Lesvos, Rhodes). Southwestern Asia: IL, TR.

Identification-Keys, Descriptions: No supplementary or more detailed morphological description known. Note: Female unknown.

Nesting biology: Unknown.

Flower preferences: Unknown.

Hoplitis (Micreriades) haemi Tkalcu, 2000

2000 Hoplitis (Micreriades) haemi Tkalcu, Acta Societatis Zoologicae Bohemoslovacae (Praha), 64: 310. Type material: Holotype m, “Stara Planina (Sl. brjag)” [Bulgaria], Tkalcu Collection (Praha); paratypes mm.

2000 Hoplitis (Micreriades) pisidiae Tkalcu, Acta Societatis Zoologicae Bohemoslovacae (Praha), 64: 312. Type material: Holotype m, “Egridir u. Umgeb.” [Turkey], RMNH (Leiden).-New synonymy based on type material (A. Müller, unpublished).

Distribution-Europe: BG, GR. Southwestern Asia: TR.

Identification-Keys, Descriptions: No supplementary or more detailed morphological description known. Note: Female unknown.

Nesting biology: Unknown.

Flower preferences: Unknown.

Hoplitis (Micreriades) illyrica (Noskiewicz, 1926)

1926 Osmia illyrica Noskiewicz, Polskie Pismo Entomologiczne, 4: 234. Type material: Lectotype f, by designation of Tkalcu (1974b: 325), “Hercegnovi in Dalmatien” [Montenegro], UWCP (Wroclaw).-Combination Heriades (Micreriades) illyricus (Noskiewicz) in Mavromoustakis (1958: 445).

Distribution-Europe: BG, GR, GR(Aegean Islands, Cr), HR, I, I(Si), MK, SCG. Southwestern Asia: TK.

Identification-Keys, Descriptions: Mavromoustakis (1955b: 333); Tkalcu (1974b: 326-327, 1977c: 89-93, 2000a: 313); Gogala (2009b).

Nesting biology: Unknown.

Flower preferences: Polylectic with a preference for Lamiaceae (A. Müller, unpublished, based on 9 pollen samples from 7 different localities).

Hoplitis (Micreriades) lebanotica (Mavromoustakis, 1955)

1955 Chelostoma lebanoticum Mavromoustakis, The Annals and Magazine of Natural History (London), ser. 12, 8: 331. Type material: Holotype f, “Nahr el Kelb” [Lebanon], DAAN (Nicosia); paratypes mm, ff.-Combination Heriades (Micreriades) lebanoticus (Mavromoustakis) in Mavromoustakis (1958: 445).

Distribution-Southwestern Asia: JOR, RL, TR.

Identification-Keys, Descriptions: Tkalcu (2000a: 313).

Nesting biology: Unknown.

Flower preferences: Unknown.

Hoplitis (Micreriades) mazzuccoi (Schwarz & Gusenleitner, 2005)

2005 Osmia (Micreriades) mazzuccoi Schwarz & Gusenleitner, Entomofauna (Ansfelden), 26: 122. Type material: Holotype m, “Burgenland: Jois” [Austria], Schwarz Collection (Ansfelden); paratypes mm, ff.

Distribution-Europe: A, BG, CZ, GR, H, HR, MK, RO, SCG, SK, SLO. Southwestern Asia: TR.

Identification-Keys, Descriptions: Stanek (1964, as Osmia tenuispina); Tkalcu (1977c: 89-93, as Hoplitis tenuispina); Tkalcu (2000a: 313, as Hoplitis tenuispina); Gogala (2009b). Misapplication: Osmia tenuispina in Stanek (1964: 403) and Hoplitis tenuispina in Tkalcu (1977c: 89-93, 2000a: 313) is Hoplitis mazzuccoi (Schwarz & Gusenleitner), see Schwarz et al. (2005: 122-123).

Nesting biology-Nesting site: Insect burrows in dead wood and in dry stems of Rubus. Nesting material: Unknown. (Gogala, 2009b)

Flower preferences: Unknown. The females of H. mazzuccoi possess a specialized pilosity on clypeus and frons composed of apically twisted bristles (A. Müller, unpublished). Similar facial combs occur in several unrelated bee taxa where they serve to remove pollen from the nototribic anthers of Lamiaceae and Antirrhineae (Houston, 2000; Müller, 1996; Thorp, 2000). Thus, flowers of the Lamiaceae may be important pollen sources for H. mazzuccoi. Flower records: Males were observed to patrol flowers of Lotus (Gogala, 2009b).

Hoplitis (Micreriades) parnesica (Mavromoustakis, 1958)

1958 Heriades (Micreriades) parnesica Mavromoustakis, The Annals and Magazine of Natural History (London), ser. 13, 1: 445. Type material: Holotype f, “Mt. Parnes” [Greece], DAAN (Nicosia); paratypes mm, ff. Type species of Micreriades Mavromoustakis.-Combination Hoplitis (Alcidamea) parnesica (Mavromoustakis) in Michener (2000: 449).

Distribution-Europe: GR.

Identification-Keys, Descriptions: Tkalcu (2000a: 313).

Nesting biology: Unknown.

Flower preferences: Unknown.

Hoplitis (Micreriades) pungens (Benoist, 1928)

1928 Osmia pungens Benoist, Bulletin de la Société des Sciences Naturelles du Maroc (Rabat), 8: 214. Type material: Lectotype m, by designation of Tkalcu (1977c: 94), “Forêt des Zaers, aux environs de Aïn Sferguila. Grand Atlas, région du Tizi n’Test et du Djebel Imdress (2000 à 2450 m)” [Morocco], MNHN (Paris).-Combination Hoplitis (Alcidamea) pungens (Benoist) in Michener (2000: 449).

Distribution-Northern Africa: MA, TN.

Identification-Keys, Descriptions: Tkalcu (1977c: 93-94).

Nesting biology: Unknown.

Flower preferences: Unknown. The females of H. pungens possess a specialized pilosity on clypeus and frons composed of apically twisted bristles (A. Müller, unpublished). Similar facial combs occur in several unrelated bee taxa where they serve to remove pollen from the nototribic anthers of Lamiaceae and Antirrhineae (Houston, 2000; Müller, 1996; Thorp, 2000). Thus, flowers of the Lamiaceae may be important pollen sources for H. pungens.

Hoplitis (Micreriades) tenuispina (Alfken, 1936)

1936 Osmia tenuispina Alfken, Bollettino dell’Istituto di Entomologia della Università degli Studi di Bologna, 9: 107. Type material: Holotype m, “Bologna, Ronzano” [Italy], IEGG (Bologna); paratypes mm.

Distribution-Europe: F, I; A, GR,H, HR?, MK, SK, Yugoslavia. Southwestern Asia: TR.

Identification-Keys, Descriptions: Schwarz et al. (2005: 122-125). Misapplication: Osmia tenuispina in Stanek (1964: 403) and Hoplitis tenuispina in Tkalcu (1977c: 89-93, 2000a: 313) is Hoplitis mazzuccoi (Schwarz & Gusenleitner), see Schwarz et al. (2005: 122-123).

Nesting biology: Unknown.

Flower preferences: Unknown. The females of H. tenuispina possess a specialized pilosity on clypeus and frons composed of apically twisted bristles (A. Müller, unpublished). Similar facial combs occur in several unrelated bee taxa where they serve to remove pollen from the nototribic anthers of Lamiaceae and Antirrhineae (Houston, 2000; Müller, 1996; Thorp, 2000). Thus, flowers of the Lamiaceae may be important pollen sources for H. tenuispina.