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Species Nomia nortoni
Classification Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
No Taxon (Aculeata - Bees, Ants, and other Stinging Wasps)
No Taxon (Anthophila (Apoidea) - Bees)
Family Halictidae (Sweat Bees)
Subfamily Nomiinae
Genus Nomia
Species nortoni (Nomia nortoni)
Other Common Names Norton's Bee (1), Norton's Alkali Bee Synonyms and other taxonomic changes Member of subgenus Acunomia Cockerell. Explanation of Names Author is Cresson, 1868. Size 20-22 mm (males), 15-16 mm (females) Identification A widespread member of this genus, large and distinctively marked, so often noticed. Quoting characters from the key in Bees of Florida, for genus Nomia and the description of this species in Arnett (2):
Abdomen with conspicuous apical greenish bands
males: large (20-22 mm); hind tibiae enormously produced at apex
females: fairly large (15-16 mm); punctures of dorsum of thorax very irregular both in size and distribution
Range Widespread, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, through Southeast, including Florida, west to New Mexico, Idaho, Colorado, Arizona (1), (2)Season Late July-November (Florida) Food Noted taking pollen from a variety of flowers, including Sweetpepperbush--Clethra, Sunflower--Helenium, Privet--Ligustrum, Sumac--Rhus (Bees of Florida). Life Cycle Nest is built in soil (like other members of the genus), is irregular in shape, and contains up to 14 unlined cells. Swollen hind legs of males are somewhat translucent and likely function to carry an attractant for females (1). Like some (all?) other members of the genus, it seems the life cycle is two, or perhaps, three years. Cockerell (1934) reports that it is periodic, with about 3-year cycles, near San Antonio, Texas. Print References Taber, pp. 66-67, fig. 54--photo of male (1)
Arnett, description, p. 603 (2)
Brimley, p. 457 ( Paranomia nortoni) notes from eastern North Carolina in August (3).
Ribble, D.W., 1965. A revision of the banded subgenera of Nomia in America. Univ. Kansas Science Bull. 45:277-359 (cited in Taber above)
Cockerell, 1934. Records of Western Bees. American Museum Novitates 697, available here. Internet References North Carolina State University Entomology lists from that state, with 33 pinned specimens.
Contributed by Martin Hauser on 11 October, 2006 - 5:23pm Additional contributions by cotinisLast updated 11 October, 2006 - 10:44pm |
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