Edwards Melectum
Melecta edwardsii
Apidae
Melecta
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 Describe your image |  Describe your image |
Description
Melecta edwardsii are medium to large-size bees that have a thorax covered on top with cream-colored hairs and a blue-black, rather hairless abdomen. Hairs under the wings are black.These bee lack any pale hairs on the top of the first abdominal segment. They have distinctive long spines on the scutellum (a hard triangular plate between the wing bases on the thorax), and the spines can be seen sticking out above the light-colored hairs of the thorax (see photo).
Nectar/
Pollen Plants
Likely nectar generalists. They have been seen on Mount Diablo nectaring on Yerba Santa and Vetch flowers.
Habits
Cleptoparasitic, these bees dig into completed nests of Anthophora digger bees and lay an egg on the roof or cell walls of the nest. Their larvae hatch and kill the host bee egg or larva and then feed on the nest provisions.
Season
March - early June
