Amphylaeus

Amphylaeus
Amphylaeus morosus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Colletidae
Genus: Amphylaeus
Smith, 1879
Type species
Amphylaeus morosus[1]
Smith, 1879

Amphylaeus is a genus of plasterer bee in the Colletidae family and Hylaeinae subfamily.[2] The genus is endemic to Australia.[3]

Description

Amphylaeus bees are slender, less than 10 mm long, and black with pale, mask-like facial markings.[4] Some have a yellow spot on the thorax. They nest in pithy stems or preexisting holes in wood. Their brood cells are woven from a cellophane-like secretion.

Taxonomy

Amphylaeus contains the following subgenera:[2]

  • Agogenohylaeus
  • Amphylaeus

Species include:[5]

  • Amphylaeus flavicans Houston, 1975
  • Amphylaeus morosus (Smith, 1879)
  • Amphylaeus nubilosellus (Cockerell, 1910)
  • Amphylaeus obscuriceps (Friese, 1924)

References

  1. ^ Michener, Charles D. (25 July 1997). "Genus-group names of bees and supplemental family-group names". Genus-group names of bees and supplemental family-group names. 1: 6. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  2. ^ a b "Genus Amphylaeus". iNaturalist. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  3. ^ "Species: Amphylaeus (Amphylaeus) morosus (Plasterer Bee)". bie.ala.org.au. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  4. ^ Dedman, Valda (2002). "Geelong Naturalist : monthly magazine of the Geelong Field Naturalists Club". Geelong Naturalist. 38 (7). The Club: 2. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  5. ^ "Amphylaeus Michener, 1965". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 8 February 2026.