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Photo#1198535
160228C02 - Osmia

160228C02 - Osmia
Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas, USA
February 28, 2016
Size: 6.4 mm

Images of this individual: tag all
160228C02 - Osmia 160228C02 - Osmia 160228C02 - Osmia 160228C02 - Osmia 160228C02 - Osmia 160228C02 - Osmia

Something seems strange here ... is this a male or a female?!
Two clearly visible characters in this image seem to give opposing conclusions on that question!

On the one hand, I see no indication of pollen collecting hairs (or "scopa") on the venter. Since female megachilids collect pollen on dense scopa covering the venter of their abdomens, that suggests this is a male.

On the other hand, examining the antennae (in the image above, and more clearly in the last two photos of the series), I count 12 segments, namely: a long initial scape, a short oviod pedicel, and 10 flagellomeres (the first flagellomere being somewhat elongate-conical). But 10 flagellomeres in (nearly all) bee taxa indicates a female.

So I'm puzzled! Did I make an error, or is something unusual going on here?

To cognoscenti, perhaps the structure of the visible terminal segments here makes an answer clear? Though I'm guessing the most diagnostic terminalia may be retracted in the photo.

Moved

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