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Photo#543279
Anthophorula - Anthophorula albicans - female

Anthophorula - Anthophorula albicans - Female
Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont, Los Angeles County, California, USA
July 8, 2011
Size: ≤ 6 mm
They arrive in the buckwheat already heavily laden with pollen. By the time I had observed these little bees nectaring in the buckwheat flowers (Eriogonum fasciculatum), and taken photos, I was too hot to search for the plants where they forage for pollen. A job for my next visit at the garden.
I wonder whether this might be A. albicans (Provancher, 1896), which was collected in Claremont, San Gabriel, etc.
Looking at my female specimen, using the key in Timberlake (1980), I'd say that:
couplet 2. yes, mesoscutum bare, shining & impunctate on at least the posterior half;
takes us to couplet 3. I go for 3' - since I see that there's black pubescence at base of T2-4, the apical bands do appear to be dense, whitish to pale ochreous, and are broader across the middle of the segments. Hence, albicans (Provancher). I have to add that I only used a hand lens, & would like to look at this also under a microscope. Update: albicans confirmed by re-examining specimen under microspcope; used key by Timberlake (1980).

Please see also another female:

Moved
Moved from Anthophorula.

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