A new bee genus and species from south-western Australia (Hymenoptera: Colletidae, Neopasiphaeinae)

WA Museum Records and Supplements | Updated 5 months ago

ABSTRACT – Mimocolletes apiculus gen. nov. and sp. nov. is described from south-western Australia. Based on morphology, this bee’s closest affinities are deemed to lie with the genus Glossurocolletes Michener. Like the two species of that genus, M. apiculus appears to be oligolectic on certain pea-flowered plants (mirbelioid Fabaceae) and exhibits some morphological adaptations in common with various other colletid bees that favour pea flowers. In particular, the proboscis is slender with a strongly compressed prementum and extended glossa.