Amphylaeus morosus
| Amphylaeus morosus | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Colletidae |
| Genus: | Amphylaeus |
| Species: | A. morosus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Amphylaeus morosus Smith, 1879
| |
Amphylaeus morosus is a species of plasterer bee, known by the common name capricious dimorphic-masked bee.[1] It is endemic to Australia.[2]
Behaviour
A. morosus is the only species of the Colletidae family that unambiguously practices social nesting.[2] Social nesting in this species is relatively simple, lacking reproductive hierarchies or morphological differences between nestmates.
Ecology
A. morosus is known to construct linear nests out of the pithy interior of the tree Cyathea australis. [2] Species of Gasteruption wasps have been observed attacking A. morosus nests.
References
- ^ "Capricious Dimorphic-Masked Bee (Amphylaeus morosus)". iNaturalist. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
- ^ a b c Hearn, Lucas R.; Stevens, Mark I.; Schwarz, Michael P.; Parslow, Ben A. (2021). "Parasitoids of the uniquely social colletid bee Amphylaeus morosus (Hymenoptera: Colletidae) in Victoria". Museums Victoria. doi:10.24199/j.mmv.2021.80.10. Retrieved 8 February 2026.