{"id":170,"date":"2009-01-22T00:11:59","date_gmt":"2009-01-21T23:11:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpethzprd.ethz.ch\/osmiini\/?page_id=170"},"modified":"2026-03-24T20:55:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T19:55:34","slug":"nanosmia","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ethz.ch\/osmiini\/palaearctic-species\/protosmia\/nanosmia\/","title":{"rendered":"Subgenus Nanosmia"},"content":{"rendered":"

The subgenus Nanosmia<\/em> Griswold is confined to the Palaearctic region. It contains 13 described species.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Female of Protosmia (Nanosmia) minutula<\/em> (P\u00e9rez, 1896) collecting pollen on a flower of Teucrium montanum<\/em> (Lamiaceae) by rapidly seesawing the abdominal scopa against the anthers. Foto A. M\u00fcller.<\/span><\/h5>\n

Species accounts<\/h3>\n

Protosmia (Nanosmia) asensioi <\/em><\/strong>Griswold & Parker, 1987<\/span><\/h3>\n

1987 Protosmia asensioi<\/strong><\/em> Griswold & Parker, Psyche, 94: 51. Type material<\/span>: Holotype m, “San Miguel de Bernuy, 14 km N Cantalejo” [Spain], USNM (Washington); paratypes mm, ff. Type species<\/span> of Nanosmia<\/em> Griswold.<\/p>\n

Distribution-Europe: <\/strong>E<\/span>, P.<\/p>\n

Identification-<\/strong>Keys, Descriptions: <\/strong>Zanden (1994b: 1116).<\/p>\n

Nesting biology-Nesting site: <\/strong>Preexisting cavities: drilled borings in pithy stems. Nesting material: <\/strong>Cell partitions and nest plug are made of resin. (Griswold, 1985)<\/p>\n

Flower preferences: <\/strong>Probably polylectic; pollen of Sedum<\/em> (Crassulaceae) is often collected in Spain (T. Wood, personal communication).<\/p>\n

Protosmia (Nanosmia) curviseta <\/em><\/strong>M\u00fcller, 2022<\/span><\/h3>\n

2022 Protosmia (Nanosmia) curviseta <\/strong><\/em>M\u00fcller, Zootaxa, 5188: 258. Type material<\/span>: Holotype f, “2.75 km SW Ifrane Atlas Saghir, 740m” [Morocco], ETH (Zurich); paratypes ff.<\/p>\n

Distribution-Europe: <\/strong>MA<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Identification-<\/strong>Keys, Descriptions: <\/strong>No supplementary or more detailed morphological description known. Note:<\/strong> Male unknown.<\/p>\n

Nesting biology: <\/strong>Unknown.<\/p>\n

Flower preferences: <\/strong>Polylectic; pollen sources include Antirrhineae (Plantaginaceae), Boraginaceae and Zygophyllacae (M\u00fcller, 2022b). The females possess long, apically curved and capitate bristles on the labial palpi of the proboscis. Such specialized bristles of spoonlike shape are also found in females of the osmiine bee genus Haetosmia<\/em>, where they serve to scrape pollen out of the narrow-tubed flowers of Heliotropium<\/em> (Boraginaceae) (Gottlieb et al. 2014; M\u00fcller and Griswold 2017). Given the amazing similarity in shape and location of these bristles between P. curviseta<\/em> and species of Haetosmia<\/em>, Heliotropium<\/em> is most probably a further pollen host of P. curviseta<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Protosmia (Nanosmia) decipiens <\/em><\/strong>(Benoist, 1935) <\/span><\/h3>\n

1935 Heriades decipiens<\/strong><\/em> Benoist, Bulletin de la Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 Entomologique de France, 40: 278. Type material<\/span>: Holotype f, “Tafingoult, dans le Grand-Atlas” [Morocco], MNHN (Paris).-Combination Protosmia (Rhodosmia) decipiens<\/em> (Benoist) in Zanden (1988b: 127).<\/p>\n

Distribution-Northern Africa: <\/strong>MA<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Identification-<\/strong>Keys, Descriptions: <\/strong>Griswold and Parker (1987: 55); Griswold (2013: 6). Note: <\/strong>Male unknown.<\/p>\n

Nesting biology: <\/strong>Unknown.<\/p>\n

Flower preferences: <\/strong>Unknown.<\/p>\n

Protosmia (Nanosmia) devia <\/em><\/strong>Tkalcu, 1978 <\/span><\/h3>\n

1978 Protosmia (Rhodosmia) devia<\/strong><\/em> Tkalcu, Casopis Slezskeho Muzea Opava (A), 27: 158. Type material<\/span>: Holotype f, “Kashmir: Gulmarg” [India], BMNH (London).<\/p>\n

Distribution-Southwestern Asia: <\/strong>PAK. Extralimital: <\/strong>Oriental (India<\/span>).<\/p>\n

Identification-<\/strong>Keys, Descriptions: <\/strong>No supplementary or more detailed morphological description known. Note: <\/strong>Male unknown.<\/p>\n

Nesting biology: <\/strong>Unknown.<\/p>\n

Flower preferences: <\/strong>Unknown. The females possess curved hairs on the proboscis which probably serve to extract pollen from narrow-tubed flowers (T. Griswold, personal communication).<\/p>\n

Protosmia (Nanosmia) hamulifera <\/em>Griswold, 2013<\/strong><\/h3>\n

2013 Protosmia (Nanosmia) <\/em>hamulifera<\/em><\/strong> Griswold, Journal of Melittology, 20: 2. Type material<\/span>: Holotype f, \u201eDubai (Zabeel)\u201c [United Arab Emirates], USDA Bee Biology and Systematics Laboratory (Logan, Utah); paratypes mm, ff.<\/p>\n

Distribution-Southwestern Asia: <\/strong>UAE<\/span>, SA.<\/p>\n

Identification-Keys, Descriptions: <\/strong>No supplementary or more detailed morphological description known.<\/p>\n

Nesting biology-Nesting site: <\/strong>Preexisting cavities: reared from trap nests, suggesting that this species nests in insect burrows in dead wood or in hollow stems. Nesting material: Unknown. (Griswold, 2013.<\/p>\n

Flower preferences: <\/strong>Unknown. Probably oligolectic on <\/span>Heliotropium<\/i> (Boraginaceae) (M\u00fcller et al., 2026). The females possess hooked bristles on their labial palpi (Griswold, 2013), which are used to remove pollen from the narrow corolla tubes of <\/span>Heliotropium<\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Protosmia (Nanosmia) magna<\/strong> <\/em>M\u00fcller, 2022<\/span><\/h3>\n

2022 Protosmia (Nanosmia) <\/em>magna<\/em><\/strong> M\u00fcller, Zootaxa, 5188: 261. Type material<\/span>: Holotype m, \u201e10 km E Guelmim\u201c [Morocco], ETH (Zurich); paratypes mm, ff.<\/p>\n

Distribution-Southwestern Asia: <\/strong>MA<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Identification-Keys, Descriptions: <\/strong>No supplementary or more detailed morphological description known.<\/p>\n

Nesting biology: <\/strong>Unknown.<\/p>\n

Flower preferences: <\/strong>Unknown.<\/p>\n

Protosmia (Nanosmia) magnicapitis<\/strong> <\/em>(Stanek, 1969)<\/span><\/h3>\n

1969 Osmia (Protosmia) magnicapitis<\/strong><\/em> Stanek, Nachrichten des Naturwissenschaftlichen Museums der Stadt Aschaffenburg, 78: 7. Type material<\/span>: Holotype f, “Birecik” [Turkey], SMFD (Frankfurt).-Combination Protosmia<\/em> (Protosmia<\/em>) magnicapitis<\/em> (Stanek) in Griswold (1985) and Ungricht et al. (2008).<\/p>\n

Distribution-Europe:<\/strong> AZ. Southwestern Asia: <\/strong>TR<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Identification-<\/strong>Keys, Descriptions: <\/strong>No supplementary or more detailed morphological description known. Note: <\/strong>Male unknown.<\/p>\n

Nesting biology: <\/strong>Unknown.<\/p>\n

Flower preferences: <\/strong>Unknown.<\/p>\n

Protosmia (Nanosmia) minutula <\/em><\/strong>(P\u00e9rez, 1896) <\/span><\/h3>\n

1895 Osmia<\/em> pumila<\/em><\/strong> P\u00e9rez, Esp\u00e8ces nouvelles de mellif\u00e8res de Barbarie, p. 18. NOMEN PRAEOCCUPATUM [not Osmia pumila <\/em>Cresson, 1864]. Type material<\/span>: Syntypes mm, f, “Marseille” [France], “Sicily” [Italy], MNHN (Paris).<\/p>\n

1896 Osmia minutula<\/strong><\/em> P\u00e9rez, Correctures: Esp\u00e8ces nouvelles de mellif\u00e8res de Barbarie, not paginated single page appendix. NOMEN NOVUM with same type specimen for preoccupied Osmia pumila<\/em> P\u00e9rez, 1896 [not Osmia pumila <\/em>Cresson, 1864].-Combination Heriades (Micreriades) minutulus<\/em> (P\u00e9rez) in Mavromoustakis (1958: 445). Combination Hoplitis (Micreriades) minutula<\/em> (P\u00e9rez) in Tkalcu (1977c: 88). Combination Heriades minutulus<\/em> (P\u00e9rez) in Zanden (1986: 67).<\/p>\n

1921 Osmia<\/em> cataniae<\/em><\/strong> Strand, Archiv f\u00fcr Naturgeschichte, 87: 321. Type material<\/span>: Holotype m, “Catania” [Italy: Sicily], DEI (M\u00fcncheberg).-Synonymy in Zanden (1986: 67).<\/p>\n

Distribution-Europe: <\/strong>CH, E, E(Ba), F<\/span>, F(Co), I, I(Si)<\/span>, P.<\/p>\n

Identification-<\/strong>Keys, Descriptions:<\/strong>Amiet et al. (2004);Benoist (1929a); Ducke (1900);Griswold and Parker (1987: 55); Zanden (1986: 67, 1994b: 1116).<\/p>\n

Nesting biology: <\/strong>Unknown.<\/p>\n

Flower preferences: <\/strong>Polylectic with a preference for small-flowered Lamiaceae (e.g. Teucrium<\/em>); additional pollen sources include Helianthemum<\/em> (Cistaceae) (Amiet et al., 2004; M\u00fcller, 1996b; A. M\u00fcller, unpublished, based on 5 pollen samples from 5 different localities). Pollen-collecting females climb the filaments of the stamina of Teucrium montanum<\/em>, the flowers of which lack an upper lip, until the head is beyond the uppermost anthers; by rapidly seesawing the underside of the abdomen against the anthers, the bees then directly pick up the pollen into the abdominal scopa (M\u00fcller, 1996b; M\u00fcller et al., 1997).<\/p>\n

Protosmia (Nanosmia) montana<\/em> M\u00fcller, 2012<\/span><\/h3>\n

2012 Protosmia (Nanosmia) <\/em>montana<\/em><\/strong> M\u00fcller, Zootaxa, 3355: 49. Type material<\/span>: Holotype m, \u201eTaygetos mountains, Toriza – Profitis Ilias, 1700-2000m\u201c [Greece], ETHZ (Zurich); paratypes mm, ff.<\/p>\n

Distribution-Europe:<\/strong> GR,<\/span> GR(Aegean Islands). Northern Asia:<\/strong> TJ, UZ. Southwestern Asia:<\/strong> TR.<\/p>\n

Identification-Keys, Descriptions: <\/strong>Griswold (2013: 8).<\/p>\n

Nesting biology:<\/strong> Unknown.<\/p>\n

Flower preferences:<\/strong> Polylectic; pollen sources known so far include Lamiaceae, Asteraceae (Cichorioideae) and Fabaceae (M\u00fcller, 2012a).<\/p>\n

Protosmia (Nanosmia) pulex <\/em><\/strong>(Benoist, 1935) <\/span><\/h3>\n

1935 Heriades pulex<\/strong><\/em> Benoist, Bulletin de la Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 Entomologique de France, 40: 278. Type material<\/span>: Holotype m, “Syrie: Jaffa” [Israel], MNHN (Paris).-Combination Hoplitis (Micreriades) pulex<\/em> (Benoist) in Zanden (1985: 67).<\/p>\n

Distribution-Southwestern Asia: <\/strong>IL<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Identification-<\/strong>Keys, Descriptions: <\/strong>Griswold and Parker (1987: 55); Zanden (1994b: 1116). Note: <\/strong>Female unknown.<\/p>\n

Nesting biology: <\/strong>Unknown.<\/p>\n

Flower preferences: <\/strong>Unknown.<\/p>\n

Protosmia (Nanosmia) querquedula <\/em><\/strong>Zanden, 1994<\/span><\/h3>\n

1994 Protosmia querquedula<\/strong><\/em> Zanden, Linzer Biologische Beitr\u00e4ge, 26: 1115. Type material<\/span>: Holotype m, “Sfax, 30 km S.W.” [Tunisia], Schwarz Collection (Ansfelden); paratypes mm, ff.<\/p>\n

Distribution-Northern Africa: <\/strong>TN<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Identification-<\/strong>Keys, Descriptions: <\/strong>No supplementary or more detailed morphological description known.<\/p>\n

Nesting biology: <\/strong>Unknown.<\/p>\n

Flower preferences: <\/strong>Unknown.<\/p>\n

Protosmia (Nanosmia) schwarzi <\/em>Griswold, 2013<\/span><\/h3>\n

2013 Protosmia (Nanosmia) <\/em>schwarzi<\/em><\/strong> Griswold, Journal of Melittology, 20: 5. Type material<\/span>: Holotype m, \u201eTizi-n-Tinififft, 25km NW Agdz, 1660m\u201c [Morocco], Schwarz Collection (Ansfelden); paratypes mm, ff.<\/p>\n

Distribution-Northern Africa: <\/strong>MA<\/span>, <\/em>TN.<\/p>\n

Identification-Keys, Descriptions: <\/strong>No supplementary or more detailed morphological description known.<\/p>\n

Nesting biology:<\/strong> Unknown.<\/p>\n

Flower preferences: <\/strong>Unknown.<\/p>\n

Protosmia (Nanosmia) trifida <\/em>Griswold, 2013<\/span><\/h3>\n

2013 Protosmia (Nanosmia) <\/em>trifida<\/em><\/strong> Griswold, Journal of Melittology, 20: 7. Type material<\/span>: Holotype m, \u201eHakkari: Suvari-Halil-Pass, 2500m\u201c [Turkey], Schwarz Collection (Ansfelden); paratypes mm, ff.<\/p>\n

Distribution-Southwestern Asia: <\/strong>TR<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Identification-Keys, Descriptions: <\/strong>No supplementary or more detailed morphological description known.<\/p>\n

Nesting biology:<\/strong> Unknown.<\/p>\n

Flower preferences: <\/strong>Unknown.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The subgenus Nanosmia Griswold is confined to the Palaearctic region. It contains 13 described species. Female of Protosmia (Nanosmia) minutula (P\u00e9rez, 1896) collecting pollen on a flower of Teucrium montanum (Lamiaceae) by rapidly seesawing the abdominal scopa against the anthers. Foto A. M\u00fcller. Species accounts Protosmia (Nanosmia) asensioi Griswold & Parker, 1987 1987 Protosmia asensioi […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1092,"featured_media":0,"parent":48,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-170","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethz.ch\/osmiini\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/170","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethz.ch\/osmiini\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethz.ch\/osmiini\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethz.ch\/osmiini\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1092"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethz.ch\/osmiini\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=170"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethz.ch\/osmiini\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/170\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7423,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethz.ch\/osmiini\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/170\/revisions\/7423"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethz.ch\/osmiini\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/48"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethz.ch\/osmiini\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}