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Photo#225363
Eucerini - Martinapis occidentalis - female

Eucerini - Martinapis occidentalis - Female
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, San Diego County, California, USA
April 28, 2008
Size: 14-16 mm
Possibly Eucera (Synhalonia)? This gorgeous bee was nestled in the last Dune Eveningprimrose (Oenothera deltoides) of the season on a day with winds 30-4- mph. She stayed on this one plant for at least 20 minutes before she dared to take off.This view shows the wing venation.

Images of this individual: tag all
Eucerini - Martinapis occidentalis - female Eucerini - Martinapis occidentalis - female Eucerini - Martinapis occidentalis - female Eucerini - Martinapis occidentalis - female

Moved
Moved from Long-horned bees.

looks like Martinapis (Martinapis) occidentalis
Zavortink and LaBerge, 1976

although its authors did not record any from San Diego, Co.

Note presence of both apical and basal hair bands, ochraceous hairs of legs, and non-protuberant clypeus (unlike Eucera)

Here's my photo of its sister species (replacement to the east) M. luteicornis:
http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20p?see=I_JSA1204&res=640

 
Martinapis occidentalis male
Thanks so much, Dr. Ascher. N. occidentalis does occur in San Diego Co. We found a dead male captured by a crab spider on 14 Mar 2006 in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. I will post our photo.

I enjoyed seeing your photos of M. luteicornis and the beautiful Psorothamnus scoparius it is on, a different species from the 3 in Anza-Borrego.

 
very glad to see the ID corroborated
An interesting bee to find. The AMNH has no female specimens of this species.

Moved

Nice series, nice detail.
Pretty specimen, too.