tiny bee? - Calliopsis andreniformis

Moved

Moved from Calliopsis.

… Beatriz Moisset, 23 October, 2006 - 7:02am

Calliopsis (Calliopsis) andreniformis Smith male

note the apical hair bands, lack of pale integumental markings, and entirely yellow legs

… John S. Ascher, 25 September, 2006 - 12:43am

C. andreniformis

i am going to call that mystery solved, thank you Mr. Ascher.

… edward trammel, 25 September, 2006 - 1:20am

Perdita sp?

I would venture that this is definitely a bee, most likely a male, and possibly one of the many species in the genus Perdita. Doug Yanega at UC Riverside, if he visits here again, could tell you for certain.

… Eric R. Eaton, 18 September, 2006 - 2:32pm

Perdita

thank you for clearing up my mystery Eric. well at least i feel better about calling it a bee... would it be safe to move it to said genus? if no, where might be an appropriate place to move it... also, if it would help i may have a picture that at least shows the wing veins to some degree, although i did not get many pictures of this little guy.

… edward trammel, 18 September, 2006 - 8:26pm

Let Doug Yanega see these.

Consider contacting Doug Yanega at UC Riverside (not disclosing his e-mail here because I don't want him to get swamped), include a link to these images, and ask if he'd mind taking a look. He is the only authority on bees that I trust (who also readily shares his knowledge with us neophytes). Doug is also a volunteer in entomology at AllExperts.com, by the way.

… Eric R. Eaton, 21 September, 2006 - 5:47pm

Tiny mystery

This Hymenopteran male (seven adbominal segments) is either a Sphecid Wasp or a bee, as indicated by the "humeral" tubercles of the pronotum.
Although the insect is very hairy like a bee, its basitarsi don't seem to be broadened nor flattened, so I can't be conclusive even at this level. I'm afraid a female is badly needed to go further. Very interesting at any rate.

… Richard Vernier, 18 September, 2006 - 2:13am

bee/wasp

i have been moving this to and from my folders for bees and Sphecids for a while. i do not think i ever found a female to go along with it... so it may remain a mystery. thanks for the information Richard.

… edward trammel, 18 September, 2006 - 9:25am