Subgenus Melanosmia
The subgenus Melanosmia Schmiedeknecht is distributed both in the Palaearctic and the Nearctic region. It contains 136 described species, 20 of which occur in the Palaearctic.
Two brood cells of Osmia (Melanosmia) xanthomelana (Kirby, 1802) entirely made of mud and hidden between the blades of a dense grass tussock (left); the grass blades were removed to make the cells visible; female of O. xanthomelana collecting mud (right). Fotos A. Müller.
Species accounts
Osmia (Melanosmia) ephippiata Smith, 1879
1879 Osmia ephippiata Smith, Description of New Species of Hymenoptera in the Collection of the British Museum, p. 60. Type material: Holotype f, “Angara River, Siberia” [Russia], BMNH (London).
Distribution-Northern Asia: RUS(ES).
Identification-Keys, Descriptions: Rightmyer et al. (2010); Tkalcu (1983: 155). Note: Male unknown.
Nesting biology: Unknown.
Flower preferences: Unknown.
Osmia (Melanosmia) jilinensis Wu, 2004
2004 Osmia (Melanosmia) jilinense Wu, Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica, 29: 533. Type material: Holotype f, “Jilin, Changbaishan (41.4°N, 128.1°E)” [China], IZCAS (Beijing).
Distribution-Northern Asia: RC(NE).
Identification-Keys, Descriptions: Wu (2006). Note: Male unknown.
Nesting biology: Unknown.
Flower preferences: Unknown.
Osmia (Melanosmia) melanota Morawitz, 1888
1888 Osmia melanota Morawitz, Horae Societatis Entomologicae Rossicae (St. Petersburg), 22: 243. Type material: f(f), “am Atrek” [Turkestan].
Distribution-Northern Asia: Turkestan.
Identification-Keys, Descriptions: Ducke (1900). Note: Male unknown.
Nesting biology: Unknown.
Flower preferences: Unknown.
Osmia (Melanosmia) nigroscopula (Wu, 1982)
1982 Chelostoma nigroscopula Wu, Insects of Xizang, vol. 2, p. 406, p. 424. Type material: Holotype f, “Xizang: Chagyab, 3600 m” [China], IZCAS (Beijing).-Combination Osmia (Melanosmia) nigroscopula (Wu) in Wu (2006: 73).
Distribution-Northern Asia: RC(WP).
Identification-Keys, Descriptions: Wu (2006). Note: Male unknown.
Nesting biology: Unknown.
Flower preferences: Unknown.
Osmia (Melanosmia) thoracica Radoszkowski, 1874
1874 Osmia thoracica Radoszkowski, Horae Societatis Entomologicae Rossicae (St. Petersburg), 10: 192. Type material: f(f), “Erivan” [Armenia].
1905 Osmia Pentheri Kohl, Annalen des Kaiserlich-Königlichen Naturhistorischen Hofmuseums, 20: 242. Type material: Syntypes mm, “Erdschias (Ewlije-Dagh)” [Turkey].-Synonymy in Zanden (1983: 136).
Distribution-Europe: ARM. Southwestern Asia: RL, TR.
Identification-Keys, Descriptions: Rightmyer et al. (2010); Zanden (1983: 137).
Nesting biology: Unknown.
Flower preferences: Unknown.
inermis species group
Osmia (Melanosmia) bulgarica Friese, 1923
1923 Osmia bulgarica Friese, Zoologisches Jahrbuch (Jena), 46: 207. Type material: Lectotype f, by designation of G. van der Zanden (A. Müller, unpublished), “vom Pepelak, Lisec” [Macedonia], ZMHB (Berlin).-Combination Osmia inermis bulgarica Friese in Warncke (1988c: 104).
Distribution-Europe: GR(Mt. Olympus), I, MK.
Identification-Keys, Descriptions: Tkalcu (1983: 157).
Osmia (Melanosmia) disjuncta Tkalcu, 1995
1995 Osmia (Melanosmia) disjuncta Tkalcu, Entomologische Abhandlungen (Dresden), 57: 138. Type material: Holotype f, “SW-Mongolei: Bulgan-gol/Jarantaj” [Mongolia], MLUH (Halle); paratypes mm, ff.
Distribution-Europe: FIN, RUS(NR,CR), S. Northern Asia: MGL, RUS (WS,ES).
Identification-Keys, Descriptions: Rightmyer et al. (2010); Johansson and Paukkunen (2017).
Nesting biology: Unknown.
Flower preferences: Probably polylectic; the only two pollen loads available so far consisted of pollen of Vaccinium (Eriaceae) and Salix (Salicaceae), respectively (A. Müller, unpublished). Flower records: Taraxacum officinale, Vaccinium vitis-idaea (T. Levchenko, personal communication).
Osmia (Melanosmia) inermis (Zetterstedt, 1838)
1838 Anthophora inermis Zetterstedt, Insecta Lapponica, vol. 1, p. 466. Type material: Lectotype m, by designation of Tkalcu (1983: 153), “Lapponiararius; in ipso alpium Tornensium jugo (Lapponia; Gottlandia Sueciae)” [Sweden], MZLU (Lund).-Combination Osmia (Chenosmia) inermis (Zetterstedt) in Zanden (1988b: 125).
1864 Osmia globosa Cresson, Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Philadelphia, 3: 36. NOMEN PRAEOCCUPATUM [not Apis globosa Scopoli, 1763]. Type material: Holotype f, “Great Slave Lake, British America” [USA].-Synonymy in Tkalcu (1983: 153).
1869 Osmia vulpecula Gerstaecker, Entomologische Zeitung (Stettin), 30: 335. Type material: Lectotype f, by designation of Tkalcu (1983: 153), “Chur” [Switzerland], ZMHB (Berlin); paralectotype f.-Synonymy in Dalla Torre (1896: 398).
1910 Osmia globosiformis Cockerell, The Canadian Entomologist, 42: 311 [not seen]. Type material: Holotype m, [USA].-Synonymy in Tkalcu (1983: 153).
Distribution-Europe: A, B, CH, CZ, D, E, EST, F, FIN, FL, GB, HR, I, L?, LV, LT, N, PL, RUS(NR,CR), S, SK, SLO. Northern Asia: RC, RUS(WS). Extralimital: Nearctic (Canada, USA).
Identification-Keys, Descriptions: Amiet et al.(2004); Banaszak and Romasenko (2001); Benoist (1931); Ducke (1900); Medvedeva (1978); Müller (2002: 805); Rightmyer et al. (2010); Scheuchl (1996); Schmiedeknecht (1885-1886); Tkalcu (1983); Wu (2006).
Nesting biology-Nesting site: Preexisting cavities: the brood cells (up to 200) are attached to the underside of stones, to the walls of small cavities in rocks and stones or – in one case – to the underside of a discarded heat shield from a vehicle catalytic converter; overturned terracotta saucers are accepted as artificial nesting sites. Nesting material: Cells are entirely built of chewed leaves (e.g. from Vaccinium). The nest stones are sealed by a wall of sand towards the ground. Often, several females communally build their brood cells under the same stone. (Else and Edwards, 1996; Friese, 1923; Grandi, 1962; Hicks, 2009; Müller et al., 1997; Priesner, 1981; Schedl, 1982; Sheffield et al., 2015; Smith, 1851, 1852; Stoeckhert, 1933; Westrich, 1989; Zetterstedt, 1838; G. Else, unpublished manuscript; A. Müller, unpublished)
Flower preferences: Polylectic with a strong preference for Loteae (Fabaceae); additional pollen sources include Vaccinium (Ericaceae), Potentilla (Rosaceae), Salix (Salicaceae) and Lamiaceae (Amiet et al., 2004; Hicks, 2009; Müller, 2018b; Westrich, 1989).
Osmia (Melanosmia) ishikawai Hirashima, 1973
1973 Osmia (Melanosmia) ishikawai Hirashima, Journal of the Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, 18: 64. Type material: Holotype f, “Mt. Meakan, Hokkaido” [Japan], KUEC (Fukuoka); paratype f.
Distribution-Northern Asia: J, RC(NO).
Identification-Keys, Descriptions: Rightmyer et al. (2010); Wu (2006). Note: Male unknown.
Nesting biology: Unknown.
Flower preferences: Unknown.
Osmia (Melanosmia) laticeps Thomson, 1872
1872 Osmia laticeps Thomson, Skandinaviens Hymenoptera, vol. 2, p. 242. Type material: Lectotype f, by designation of Tkalcu (1983: 154), “Skane län, Ängelholms kn, Rössjöholm” [Sweden], MZLU (Lund).-Synonymy with Osmia (Melanosmia) uncinata Gerstaecker in Dalla Torre (1896: 414) and in Tkalcu (1983: 154), rejected by Nilsson (2009: 51).
1983 Osmia (Melanosmia) hyperborea Tkalcu, Vestnik Ceskoslovenske Spolecnosti Zoologicke, 47: 156. Type material: Holotype m, “N-Schweden, Abisko” [Sweden], UZIU (Uppsala); paratype m.-Synonymy with Osmia parietina Curtis in Schwarz et al. (1996: 126), rejected by Haeseler (1999: 454). Synonymy in Nilsson (2009: 52).
Distribution-Europe: D, EST, FIN, LT, N, RUS(NR,CR), S. Extralimital: Nearctic (Canada, USA).
Identification-Keys, Descriptions: Amiet et al. (2004); Haeseler (1999); Nilsson (2009: 52); Rightmyer et al. (2010); Tkalcu (1995: 140).
Nesting biology-Nesting site: Most probably preexisting cavities, such as insect burrows in dead wood. Nesting material: Unknown. Brood parasites: Most probably Chrysura hirsuta (Chrysididae). (Theunert, 2019)
Flower preferences: Oligolectic on Vaccinium (Ericaceae) (Nilsson, 2009; Theunert, 2019). In fact, two pollen loads from Sweden and Russia exclusively consisted of pollen of Vaccinium (A. Müller, unpublished). Flower records: Vaccinium myrtillus, V. uliginosum (Theunert, 2019; T. Levchenko, personal communication).
Osmia (Melanosmia) parietina Curtis, 1828
1828 Osmia parietina Curtis, British Entomology, vol. 5, [no.] 222. Type material: Syntypes ff, “near Ambleside” [United Kingdom], presumed lost (Tkalcu, 1983: 156).
1838 Anthophora angustula Zetterstedt, Insecta Lapponica, vol. 1, p. 466. Type material: Lectotype f, by designation of Tkalcu (1983: 156), “Lapponia” [Sweden], MZLU (Lund).-Synonymy in Tkalcu (1983: 156).
1887 Osmia Vankovitzii Radoszkowski, Horae Societatis Entomologicae Rossicae (St. Petersburg), 21: 283. Type material: Holotype f, “Gouvernement de Minsk” [Belarus], destroyed (Tkalcu, 1983: 156).-Synonymy with Osmia angustula (Zetterstedt) in Friese (1909: 126). Synonymy with Osmia parietina Curtis in Tkalcu (1983: 156).
Distribution-Europe: A, AZ, B, BG, BY, CH, CZ, D, DK, E, EST, F, FIN, FL, GB, GR, H, I, L, LV, LT, N, NL, PL, RO, RUS(CR), S, SK, SLO, UA; Caucasus. Northern Asia: RUS(WS,FS). Southwestern Asia: TR.
Identification-Keys, Descriptions: Amiet et al. (2004); Banaszak and Romasenko (2001); Benoist (1931); Ducke (1900); Haeseler (1999); Medvedeva (1978); Móczár (1958); Rightmyer et al. (2010); Scheuchl (1996); Schmiedeknecht (1885-1886); Tkalcu (1983, 1995: 139-140).
Nesting biology-Nesting site: Preexisting cavities: insect burrows in dead wood and drilled borings in wooden blocks; abandoned nests of other aculeates; small cavities and fissures in stones, rocks and dry-stone walls; empty borings of Hiatella (Mollusca) in limestone rocks. Nesting material: Cell partitions and nest plug are made of chewed leaves (e.g. from Fragaria or a mixture of lichens and bryophytes). (Banaszak and Romasenko, 2001; Benoist, 1931; Frey-Gessner, 1880; Friese, 1923; Grünwaldt, 1939; Stoeckhert, 1933; Westrich, 1989; G. Else, unpublished manuscript)
Flower preferences: Polylectic with a strong preference for Loteae (Fabaceae); additional pollen sources include Helianthemum (Cistaceae), Potentilla (Rosaceae), Sedum (Crassulaceae), Lamiaceae, Gentianaceae and possibly also Fragaria (Rosaceae) and Veronica (Plantaginaceae) (Amiet et al., 2004; Blüthgen, 1952; Müller, 2018b; Westrich, 1989).
Osmia (Melanosmia) pilicornis Smith, 1846
1846 Osmia pilicornis Smith, The Zoologist (London), 4: 1567. Type material: Syntypes m(m), f(f), “near Bristol”, “Birch Wood” [United Kingdom], not found at BMNH (London) according to Tkalcu (1983: 155).
Distribution-Europe: A, B, BY, CH, CZ, D, DK, EST, F, FIN, GB, H, L, LT, LV, PL, RO, RUS (CR,NR), S, SCG, SK, SLO, UA. Northern Asia: KZ, RUS(WS), RC(NO)?. (Prosi et al., 2016).
Identification-Keys, Descriptions: Amiet et al. (2004); Banaszak and Romasenko (2001); Benoist (1931); Ducke (1900); Medvedeva (1978); Móczár (1958); Müller (2002: 806); Rightmyer et al. (2010); Scheuchl (1996); Schmiedeknecht (1885-1886); Tkalcu (1983); Wu (2006).
Nesting biology-Nesting site: Self-excavated burrows in dead fallen branches of different tree and shrub species (Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Picea abies, Populus, Salix) and of varying wood hardness containing 1-3 linearly arranged brood cells. The dead branches that served as nesting sites had a diameter of 1.5-6.1 cm, lay on sun-exposed ground in open woodland and were in most cases partly hidden by vegetation. The females possess strong and chisel-like shaped mandibles to tunnel out nests even in rather hard wood. Nesting material: Both cell partitions and nest plug are built from chewed leaves of Fragaria vesca. Life cycle: The species overwinters most probably as imago in the brood cells. Brood parasites: Chrysura hirsuta (Chrysididae) and probably Hoplocryptus confector (Ichneumonidae). (Lemoine, 2016; Prosi et al., 2016; Westrich, 2010: www.wildbienen.info/forschung/beobachtung20100525.php)
Flower preferences: Polylectic with a preference for Pulmonaria (Boraginaceae); further important pollen sources include Fabaceae (e.g. Lathyrus, Vicia) and Lamiaceae (e.g. Ajuga, Glechoma); additional although only rarely exploited pollen hosts are Polygonatum (Asparagaceae), Taraxacum (Asteraceae), Symphytum (Boraginaceae), Lonicera (Caprifoliaceae), Potentilla and Rubus (Rosaceae) as well as Viola (Violaceae) (Prosi et al., 2016; Westrich, 1989). On flowers of Pulmonaria, the females use specialized bristles on their probosics to brush pollen out of the narrow corolla tube, they almost exclusively exploit pollen-rich flowers in the early red stage and they often steal pollen from still closed flowers by forcefully opening buds (Müller, 1995; Müller et al., 1997; Prosi et al., 2016).
Osmia (Melanosmia) steinmanni Müller, 2002
2002 Osmia (Melanosmia) steinmanni Müller, Revue Suisse de Zoologie, 109: 804. Type material: Holotype f, “Appenzell Innerrhoden, Wasserauen, Ebenalp, 1500 m” [Switzerland], ETHZ (Zürich); paratypes mm, ff.
Distribution-Europe: A, CH, D, F, I, SLO.
Identification-Keys, Descriptions: Amiet et al. (2004); Rightmyer et al. (2010).
Nesting biology: Unknown.
Flower preferences: Probably mesolectic on Fabaceae and Ericaceae with a strong preference for Loteae (Fabaceae) (Amiet et al., 2004; Müller, 2018b).
Osmia (Melanosmia) svenssoni Tkalcu, 1983
1983 Osmia svenssoni Tkalcu, Vestnik Ceskoslovenske Spolecnosti Zoologicke, 47: 154. Type material: Holotype m, “N-Schweden, Abisko” [Sweden], UZIU (Uppsala); paratypes mm, ff.-Synonymy with Osmia uncinata Gerstaecker in Schwarz et al. (1996: 128), rejected by Müller (2002: 804).
Distribution-Europe: FIN, S.
Identification-Keys, Descriptions: Müller (2002: 805, 806); Rightmyer et al. (2010).
Nesting biology-Nesting site: Individuals of the type series have been collected from a nest on the underside of a flat stone. Nesting material: Unknown. (Nilsson, 2009)
Flower preferences: Unknown. Flower records: Astragalus alpinus (J. Paukkunen, personal communication).
Osmia (Melanosmia) uncinata Gerstaecker, 1869
1869 Osmia uncinata Gerstaecker, Entomologische Zeitung (Stettin), 30: 336. Type material: Lectotype m, by designation of Tkalcu (1983: 154), “Umgegend Berlin’s (Brieselanger Forst, Machnow)” [Germany], ZMHB (Berlin).
Distribution-Europe: A,B, CH, CZ, D, DK, EST, F, FIN, FL, GB, I, L, LT, LV, N, NL, PL, RO, RUS(NR,CR), S, SCG, SK, SLO, UA. Northern Asia: RUS(WS,ES,FS).
Identification-Keys, Descriptions: Amiet et al. (2004); Banaszak and Romasenko (2001); Benoist (1931); Ducke (1900); Haeseler (1999); Medvedeva (1978); Rightmyer et al. (2010); Romankova (1984, 1995); Scheuchl (1996); Schmiedeknecht (1885-1886); Tkalcu (1983).
Nesting biology-Nesting site: Self-excavated nests in the outermost bark layer of living trunks or dead stumps of Pinus sylvestris or – more rarely – Larix decidua at a height of 10-220 cm above ground. The nests extend more or less vertically upwards, consist of a single straight to slightly curved burrow with rarely one to three side burrows, have a total length of 1.2-12.0 cm and contain 1-6 brood cells, which face downwards with the larval provisions being located in the upper cell half. The females possess strong and chisel-like shaped mandibles to tunnel out nests in the bark. Nesting material: The cell partitions consist of one-layered walls of chewed leaves and the nest is sealed with a plug of 2-4 closely adjacent walls of leaf pulp. Leaf pulp sources for cell walls and nest plug are Fragaria and Potentilla (Rosaceae). Brood parasites: Sapyga similis (Sapygidae), Cacoxenus indagator (Drosophilidae). Life cycle: At low elevations, the species needs one year for its development and overwinters as imago inside the nest, whereas in the subalpine zone of the Alps it has a two-year cycle passing the first winter as prepupa and the second winter as imago. (Müller et al., 2020)
Flower preferences: Polylectic with a strong preference for Fabaceae; additional pollen sources include Rosaceae, Lamiaceae and representatives of at least 12 other plant families (Amiet et al., 2004; Müller, 2018b; Quest, 2009; Stoeckhert, 1933; Westrich, 1989).
nigriventris species group
Osmia (Melanosmia) nigriventris (Zetterstedt, 1838)
1838 Anthophora nigriventris Zetterstedt, Insecta Lapponica, vol. 1, p. 465. Type material: f(f), “Lapponia rarissime; ad Bossekop Finmarkiae occidentalis (Lapponia Norvegica; in Gottlandia ad Sanda)” [Norway, Sweden], presumed lost (Tkalcu, 1995: 141).-Combination Osmia (Centrosmia) nigriventris (Zetterstedt) in Zanden (1988b: 124).-Nearctic population of this holarctic species accepted as combination Osmia (Melanosmia) nigriventris frigida Smith, 1853 with synonym Osmia hudsonica Cresson, 1864 (Tkalcu, 1995: 141).
1867 Osmia Baicalensis Radoszkowski, Horae Societatis Entomologicae Rossicae (St. Petersburg), 5: 80. Type material: Lectotype f, by designation of Zanden (1991b: 353), “Sibérie: environs du Baikal” [Russia], ZMHB (Berlin).-Synonymy with Osmia dimidiata Morawitz in Friese (1909: 126) and in Warncke (1988a: 34), rejected by Zanden (1991b: 353). Synonymy with Osmia nigriventris (Zetterstedt) in Zanden (1991b: 353).
1869 Osmia corticalis Gerstaecker, Entomologische Zeitung (Stettin), 30: 331. Type material: Lectotype f, by designation of Tkalcu (1995: 141) (but see Nilsson, 2009: 50), “Pommern, Garz, Deutschland” [Germany], ZMHB (Berlin); paralectotype m.-Synonymy in Dalla Torre (1896: 403), in Tkalcu (1995: 140) and in Nilsson (2009: 50).
Distribution-Europe: A, CH, CZ, D, EST, F, FIN, I, LT, LV, N, PL, RUS(NR,CR,SR), S, SK. Northern Asia: MGL, RC, RUS(WS,ES,FS). Southwestern Asia: TR. Extralimital: Nearctic (Canada, USA).
Identification-Keys, Descriptions: Amiet et al. (2004); Banaszak and Romasenko (2001); Benoist (1931); Ducke (1900); Medvedeva (1978); Radoszkowski (1874a: 193, 1887a: 281-282); Rightmyer et al. (2010); Romankova (1984, 1995); Scheuchl (1996); Schmiedeknecht (1885-1886); Wu (2006).
Nesting biology-Nesting site: Self-excavated burrows in wooden substrate, preferentially in thick bark of Larix decidua and Pinus sylvestris, which lies on the ground or adheres to dead tree stumps. The nests contain 1-26 brood cells constructed within one to several linear burrows. The females possess strong and chisel-like shaped mandibles to tunnel out nests even in rather hard wood. Nesting material: The cell partitions are three-layered and consist of an interlayer of densely packed small bark particles sandwiched between two thin walls of chewed green leaves. The nest plug is 3-11mm long and consists of one to several walls of chewed green leaves enclosing narrow interspaces filled with small bark particles. Brood parasites: Sapyga similis (Sapygidae), Anthrax anthrax (Bombyliidae). Life cycle: The species needs two years for its development in the subalpine zone of the Alps passing the first winter as prepupa and the second winter as imago.(Amiet et al., 2004; Banaszak and Romasenko, 2001; Benoist, 1931; Frey-Gessner, 1880; Friese, 1923; Giraud, 1861; Müller et al., 2019; Stoeckhert, 1933; Westrich, 1989; A. Müller, unpublished)
Flower preferences: Mesolectic on Fabaceae (e.g. Lotus, Hippocrepis), Ericaceae (e.g. Rhododendron, Vaccinium) and Helianthemum (Cistaceae); Potentilla (Rosaceae) might be an additional pollen source (Amiet et al., 2004; Müller et al., 2019; Westrich, 1989).
xanthomelana species group
Osmia (Melanosmia) alticola Benoist, 1922
1922 Osmia alticola Benoist, Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France, 91: 323. Type material: Syntypes m(m), f(f), “Pyrénées-Orientales” [France], presumed lost (Haeseler, 1999: 455).-Synonymy with Osmia maritima Friese in Stöckhert (1954: 49), rejected by Tkalcu (1983: 152).
Distribution-Europe: A, CH, E, F, I.
Identification-Keys, Descriptions: Amiet et al. (2004); Benoist (1931); Haeseler (1999); Rightmyer et al. (2010); Tkalcu (1983).
Nesting biology-Nesting site: Excavated short burrows (6-7cm deep) in the ground with 1 cell at the end. Nesting material: Cells are entirely built of chewed leaves. Fragments of rootlets are glued to the whole cell surface. (Benoist, 1922, 1931)
Flower preferences: Oligolectic on Fabaceae (Amiet et al., 2004; Müller, 2018b).
Osmia (Melanosmia) maritima Friese, 1885
1885 Osmia maritima Friese, Entomologische Nachrichten (Berlin), 11: 85. Type material: Lectotype f, by designation of Tkalcu (1983: 152), “Dünen der Ostsee bei Warnemünde (Rostock)” [Germany], ZMHB (Berlin).
Distribution-Europe: A, D, DK, FIN, N, NL, PL, RUS(NR,CR), S. Northern Asia: MGL, RUS(ES,FS). Extralimital: Nearctic (Canada, USA).
Identification-Keys, Descriptions: Banaszak and Romasenko (2001); Ducke (1900); Haeseler (1999); Medvedeva (1978); Rightmyer et al. (2010); Romankova (1984, 1995); Scheuchl (1996); Tkalcu (1983).
Nesting biology-Nesting site: Excavated burrows (1.5-3cm deep) in sandy soil of dunes with one cell (occasionally up to 4-10 cells) at the end. Nesting material: Cells are entirely built from chewed leaf pieces (e.g. from Oenothera, Viola) intermixed with sand grains. Dead rootlets are generally incorporated into the cell walls. (Banaszak and Romasenko, 2001; Friese, 1891, 1923; Haeseler, 1982; Westrich, 1989)
Flower preferences: Polylectic; pollen sources include Fabaceae, Rosaceae, Brassicaceae and Asteraceae (Westrich, 1989). Flower records: Lotus corniculatus, Lathyrus japonicus, Salix repens, Taraxacum officinale (Odegaard, 2012).
Osmia (Melanosmia) pamirensis Gussakovskij, 1930
1930 Osmia (Melanosmia) pamirensis Gussakovskij, Pamir-Expedition, 1928, Zoology, p. 71. Type material: Syntypes mm, ff , “Ridge Sary-col, the Chinese border of Pamir Mountains (4300 m)”, “Pamir Mountains, North-East shore of the lake Kara-kul” [Tajikistan].
1930 Osmia rickmersi Alfken, Mitteilungen aus dem Zoologischen Museum in Berlin, 16: 833. Type material: Syntypes ff, “Gletschertäler im Osten des Karakul (nördl. Pamire, 23), 4200-4500 m” [Central Asian Ranges], ZMHB (Berlin).-Synonymy in Gussakovskij (1936: 757).
Distribution-Northern Asia: KS, RC, TJ; Central Asian Ranges.
Identification-Keys, Descriptions: Rightmyer et al. (2010); Wu (2006).
Nesting biology: Unknown.
Flower preferences: Unknown. Two pollen samples from 2 different localities consist of pollen of Fabaceae (A. Müller, unpublished).
Osmia (Melanosmia) xanthomelana (Kirby, 1802)
1802 Apis xanthomelana Kirby, Monographia Apum Angliae, vol. 2, p. 246. Type material: Lectotype f, by designation of Tkalcu (1983: 151), [United Kingdom], BMNH (London); paralectotype f.
1811 Osmia fuciformis Latreille, Encyclopédie Méthodique, Histoire Naturelle, Insectes, vol. 8, p. 579. Type material: f(f), “Bois de Boulogne, près de Paris” [France]. Type species of Melanosmia Schmiedeknecht.-Synonymy in Tkalcu (1983: 151).
1812 Osmia chrysomelina Panzer, Faunae Insectorum Germanicae, 110: 15 [not seen]. Type material: Syntypes m(m), f(f), [Germany].-Synonymy with Osmia fuciformis Latreille in Dalla Torre (1896: 395). Synonymy with Osmia xanthomelana (Kirby) in Tkalcu (1983: 151).
Distribution-Europe: A, AND, B, CH, CZ, D, DK, E, EST, F, GB, GR, H, HR, I, L, NL, PL, RO, RUS(NR,CR), SCG, SK, SLO; S. Northern Asia: RUS?.
Identification-Keys, Descriptions: Amiet et al. (2004); Banaszak and Romasenko (2001); Benoist (1931); Ducke (1900); Haeseler (1999); Medvedeva (1978); Móczár (1958); Rightmyer et al. (2010); Scheuchl (1996); Schmiedeknecht (1885-1886); Tkalcu (1983).
Nesting biology-Nesting site: Cells are built singly or in small groups up to 13 in dense grass tussocks, between litter, in decaying stumps, below shelves or in depressions of stones and rocks. Occasionally, the cells are built in excavated burrows between grass roots in loose soil or in the sides of rabbit burrows. Nesting material: Cells are entirely built of mud. Roots or grass blades are often incorporated into the cell walls. (Banaszak and Romasenko, 2001; Benoist, 1931; Friese, 1895, 1923; Giraud, 1861; Müller et al., 1997; Smith, 1844; Stoeckhert, 1933; Westrich, 1989; G. Else, unpublished manuscript; A. Müller, personal observation)
Flower preferences: Narrowly oligolectic on Hippocrepis and Lotus (Fabaceae) (Amiet et al., 2004; Müller, 2018b; Westrich, 1989).
– subspecies clarior Tkalcu, 1983
1983 Osmia (Melanosmia) xanthomelana clarior Tkalcu, Vestnik Ceskoslovenske Spolecnosti Zoologicke, 47: 152. Type material: Holotype f, “Sierra de Cazorla, El Puerto” [Spain], Tkalcu Collection (Praha); paratypes ff.
Distribution-Europe: E, F.
Identification-Keys, Descriptions: No supplementary or more detailed morphological description known.
– subspecies xanthomelana (Kirby, 1802)
1802 Automatically established nominotypical subspecific taxon (original description and type specimen are identical with those of the species rank taxon of the same name above).
Distribution-Europe: A, AND, B, CH, CZ, D, DK, E, EST, F, GB, GR, H, HR, I, L, NL, PL, RO, RUS, SK, SLO. Northern Asia: RUS.
Identification-Keys, Descriptions: No supplementary or more detailed morphological description known.