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Photo#10896
Mating Resin Bees - Anthidiellum perplexum - male - female

Mating Resin Bees - Anthidiellum perplexum - Male Female
Jupiter, Florida, USA
July 4, 2004
This was shot in a wetland area. I have no idea what type of bees these are, but they sure are beautifully marked.

:)
Nice shot. Cutest bee photo I've yet seen.

Moved
Moved from Anthidiellum notatum.

Anthidiellum perplexum NOT notatum rufimaculatum
misdetermined

note, e.g., the yellow pronotal lobe of the male and the shape of his metasomal spots

Anthidiellum notatum rufimaculatum
Floridian subspecies are always reddish - no one knows why

No parasitic genus - Anthidium sensu lato
The furry, yellow ventral side of the female's abdomen is the "pollen brush" typical of free-living Megachilidae. A parasitic species (which would belong tho the genus Stelis) wouldn't have such a developed one.
Therefore, it can only be a small free-living species, of the cluster of genera (or subgenera) near Anthidium. Whether this species is using resin or plant-wool (like e. g. A. manicatum) to build the cells of its nest will remain unsure unless a nest is discovered - or the female's collecting behavior observed. Forcibly mating with females visiting flowers on their "territory" is typical for males of this group - they are on average fairly bigger and stronger than females, an exception rather than the rule in Aculeate Hymenoptera. Also, note the enlarged, differently colored compound eyes, which is a part of the strong facial dimorphism.

Megachilidae.
Hm-m-m. These are in the family Megachilidae, but I am thinking they may be one of the more uncommon parasitic genera. Could also be some kind of resin bees. Any more images?

 
additional photos...
I do have one other one that shows thier faces a little more, It's a bit out of focus, so I'll email it to you as opposed to posting it here on the site...sound good?

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