Gray bees

Gray bees
Systematics
Order :	Hymenoptera (Hymenoptera)
Superfamily :	Apoidea
without rank:	Bees (Apiformes)
Family :	Halictidae
Subfamily :	Rophitinae
Genre :	Gray bees
Scientific name
	Rhophitoides
	Schenck , 1861

The gray bees ( Rhophitoides ) are a genus from the family Halictidae within the bees . Only 4 species are known of which one occurs in Central Europe: the alfalfa gray bee , Rhophitoides canus .

features

The gray bees are small bees about 6 to 8 mm long. The brown-black animals have light bands on their abdomen. They are similar to Halictus species, but without the longitudinal furrow on the last tergite. Proboscis short, 2 cubital cells in the fore wing, collective hair on the hind leg.

Way of life

The way of life is mainly known from the native alfalfa gray bee. The gray bees are mainly active in July, the males hatch shortly before the females. The females collect pollen from butterflies, especially alfalfa. The males sleep in the flowers of bluebells.

The females build their nests in sandy or loamy soil, mating takes place on the ground. A main passage leads vertically into the ground. The nest entrance is often surrounded by a tumulus. At its end short side passages and spherical brood cells are created. The overwintering occurs as a resting larva in its cocoon.

species

(to )

Rhophitoides anatolicus (Turkey)
Rhophitoides canus (widespread, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, South Tyrol, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Urals, Iran, Central Asia, China and other countries)
Rhophitoides epiroticus ( North Macedonia)

Rhophitoides flavicornis (Mongolia)

Rhophitoides theryi (Morocco)

Systematics

Some authors consider Rhophitoides to be a subgenus of Rophites . Like Rophites, Rhophitoides belongs to the subfamily Rophitinae of the Halictidae family. The most species-rich genus within the subfamily Rophitinae is Dufourea .

Individual evidence

^ ^A ^b K. H. Schwammberger: The previously known species of the bee genus Rophitoides Schenk (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Halictidae) . In: Senckenbergiana Biologica . tape 56 , 1975, pp. 56-63 ( atlashymenoptera.net [PDF]).
↑ ^a ^b ^c P. Westrich: The wild bees of Germany . Ulmer, Stuttgart 2018, ISBN 978-3-8186-0123-2 , pp. 210-121, 513 .
↑ ^a ^b ^c E. Scheuchl & W. Willner: Pocket dictionary of the wild bees of Central Europe . Quelle & Meyer, Wiebelsheim 2016, ISBN 978-3-494-01653-5 , p. 795-797 .
↑ J. Weissmann & H. Schaefer: Field determination aid for the wild bees of Bavaria . In: NachrBl. bayer. Ent. tape 69 , no. 2 . Munich 2020, p. 1-64 .
^ Atlas Hymenoptera - Halictidae - Rhophitoides. Retrieved April 2, 2020 .
↑ JG Rozen, HT Ötzbeck: Immatures of Rophitine Bees, with Notes on their Nesting Biology (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Halictidae) . In: American Museum Novitates . No. 3609 , 2008, p. 1-36 .

[:2-1] A ^b K. H. Schwammberger: The previously known species of the bee genus Rophitoides Schenk (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Halictidae) . In: Senckenbergiana Biologica . tape 56 , 1975, pp. 56-63 ( atlashymenoptera.net [PDF]).

[:0-2] P. Westrich: The wild bees of Germany . Ulmer, Stuttgart 2018, ISBN 978-3-8186-0123-2 , pp. 210-121, 513 .

[:1-3] E. Scheuchl & W. Willner: Pocket dictionary of the wild bees of Central Europe . Quelle & Meyer, Wiebelsheim 2016, ISBN 978-3-494-01653-5 , p. 795-797 .

[4] J. Weissmann & H. Schaefer: Field determination aid for the wild bees of Bavaria . In: NachrBl. bayer. Ent. tape 69 , no. 2 . Munich 2020, p. 1-64 .

[5] Atlas Hymenoptera - Halictidae - Rhophitoides. Retrieved April 2, 2020 .

[6] JG Rozen, HT Ötzbeck: Immatures of Rophitine Bees, with Notes on their Nesting Biology (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Halictidae) . In: American Museum Novitates . No. 3609 , 2008, p. 1-36 .