bee - Coelioxys modestus

Just found one of there....in California

Never saw one before and I am a native Californian. Came home from vacation and there was one of these rather large black and white striped bees dying in my house.

Interesting

… ljrusso, 9 September, 2013 - 9:13am

Moved

Moved from Coelioxys.

… Beatriz Moisset, 4 July, 2008 - 2:52pm

very likely Coelioxys (Cyrtocoelioxys) modesta

based on body form and above all conspicuous basal white hair band on T1

If indeed modesta, as I very strongly suspect, then it would be a new state record for Arkansas for subgenus Cyrtocoelioxys

… John S. Ascher, 23 June, 2007 - 9:43pm

not a leafcutter

a cleptoparasite of leafcutters

… John S. Ascher, 12 October, 2006 - 9:48pm

bee

that is a fine point, i guess it does not actually do any leaf cutting of its own.

… edward trammel, 12 October, 2006 - 11:14pm

Not even close.

Have to forgive you for the assumption this is a wasp, but it is actually a female leafcutter bee in the genus Coelioxys. Check out the existing images in the guide if you don't believe me. They are parasites of other Megachilidae, so they don't have pollen brushes.

… Eric R. Eaton, 14 August, 2006 - 3:40pm

Oh hell

I could not make the wing veins work for the Sphecids at work. I don't keep the big book there. The overlapping abdominal markings seemed odd for a Sphecid. Someone has to keep you on your toes.

Shooter only lives 70 miles away from me. But I have not seen one of these.

… Herschel Raney, 14 August, 2006 - 9:21pm

Coelioxys

well i was taken in... but after having looked through said genus, i admit defeat. thank you very much Eric.

… edward trammel, 14 August, 2006 - 4:18pm

Sphecid

Lovely animal. Any other angles on the wings or face?

… Herschel Raney, 13 August, 2006 - 10:14pm

well...

nothing very good... i feel lucky i got any pictures at all as it was a very skittish wasp, if they are needed i can post some more pictures, but i would keep my expectations low as far as quality goes.

… edward trammel, 13 August, 2006 - 11:40pm

Why not post

Why not post another view or two for ID purposes, and you can later move any to frass that you aren't pleased with.

… Stephen_WV, 14 August, 2006 - 6:37am

done

done... you may decide if any are worth keeping. i hope they are good enough to help.

… edward trammel, 14 August, 2006 - 1:16pm

Thanks

I can't make out the hindocelli on your added shots. This may mean they are in fact deformed or mostly absent. This would put it in the Bembecine group. Your wing veins are good enough that once at home with the Bohart and Menke I can have a further look.

… Herschel Raney, 14 August, 2006 - 1:50pm