Xylocopa sulcatipes
| Xylocopa sulcatipes | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 12 - Dorsal view, female
13 - Lateral view, female 14 - Dorsal view, male 15 - Lateral view, male |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Apidae |
| Genus: | Xylocopa |
| Species: | X. sulcatipes |
| Binomial name | |
|
Xylocopa sulcatipes Maa 1970 |
|
13 - Lateral view, female 14 - Dorsal view, male 15 - Lateral view, male
Xylocopa sulcatipes is a large Arabian carpenter bee. These multivoltine bees are known to take part in social nesting and cooperative nesting. These metasocial carpenter bees nest in thin dead branches. One or more cooperating females build many brood cells. They have been extensively studied in Saudi Arabia and Israel.
X. sulcatipes is part of subfamily Xylocopinae within the hymenopteran family Apidae.Xylocopinae is divided into four tribes: Allodapini, Ceratinini, Xylocopini, and Manueliini. The genus Xylocopa, composed of large carpenter bees, consists of about 469 species in 31-51 subgenera. These species are distributed across the world. X. sulcatipes is part of the subgenus Ctenoxylocopa.
X. sulcatipes differs from other Arabian carpenter bees. Females are distinguishable by the presence of black pubescence -short matted hairs - on the face and the back side of the mesosoma.The mesoscutellum, or female middle body shield,does not extend over the metanotum, or middle thorax. Finally, the apical margin, the lower part of the abdomen, is rounded, as opposed to squared off. Lastly, they have a plate on their pygidium, their lowermost abdominal section.
Males are covered in a dark to black pubescence,with the exception of the face. The middle section, at the back, is mostly light or pale. The first metasomal tergum, or back, with subhorizontal dorsal surface rounds into the anterior surface.
X. sulcatipes eggs measure around 11 mm in length and 2.2 mm in diameter. Adults are approximately 22 mm in length.
X. sulcatipes is a large Arabian carpenter bee. X. sulcatipes species has been found in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Israel, Egypt, and Transcaspia.
...
Wikipedia