Centris (Paracentris) cockerelli - Centris cockerelli

HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp

Clickable Guide

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Registration is open for the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29

Previous events

TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData

Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Apoidea (clade Anthophila) - Bees » Cuckoo, Carpenter, Digger, Bumble, and Honey Bees (Apidae) » Honey, Bumble, Longhorn, Orchid, and Digger Bees (Apinae) » Centridine Bees (Centridini) » Centris » Subgenus Paracentris (Centris Subgenus Paracentris) » Centris cockerelli

Photo#286186

Copyright © 2009 Lynn Monroe

Centris (Paracentris) cockerelli - Centris cockerelli -

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, San Diego County, California, USA
April 23, 2009
Size: BL ~ 11.5 mm

This bee was photographed on Sweetbush on 23 Apr 2009 at Vallecito Ranch. At first I thought it might be a shabbier version of #277296 (Anthophorini) with loss of hair on the throrax. Both bees were flying in and out of the same bushes at the same time on the same date.
However, I can see the wing venation of this bee and it looks like a Centris. Also the size is smaller, only about 11.5 mm (compared to about 16 mm for the Anthophorini). Am I on the right track with wing venation?

Images of this individual: tag all

Centris (Paracentris) cockerelli - Centris cockerelli - male

tag · login or register to post comments

Contributed by Lynn Monroe on 9 June, 2009 - 3:56pm
Last updated 16 June, 2009 - 12:16am

Interesting hairs of hind leg

I've read that an unusual aspect of many Centris is that they are oil collectors (although this may be less true of the desert species). I wonder is that's part of an explanation for the unusual hairs on the hind tibia here?

… Aaron Schusteff, 9 February, 2010 - 10:49pm

Centris (Paracentris) cockerelli

male

Anthophorini come in many sizes, not just large

… John S. Ascher, 9 June, 2009 - 4:50pm

Centris (Paracentris) cockerelli

How wonderful to get this bee to species! Thank you so much, Dr. Ascher!
It's a very interesting identification! I photographed this bee just a minute or two before photographing Ericrosis lata who parasitizes Centris species, and then I photographed the Anthophorini. These shrubs were oasis shrubs, only a small group of three or four, the last of the season with an assortment of insects, only one or a couple of each kind.

… Lynn Monroe, 9 June, 2009 - 5:12pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Printer Friendly Version