Calliopsis fracta

(Rozen, 1952)

Calliopsis fracta is a of mining bee in the Andrenidae, originally described as Nomadopsis fracta by Rozen in 1952. It belongs to the tribe Calliopsini within the Panurginae. The species is native to North America and is part of a diverse of solitary bees that nest in the ground.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Calliopsis fracta: /kæliˈɒpsɪs ˈfræktə/

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Identification

As a member of the Calliopsis, this can be distinguished from other Andrenidae by characteristics of the Calliopsini tribe, including specific genitalic and wing venation features. The species epithet "fracta" may refer to a broken or fractured morphological feature, though the original description would need to be consulted for precise diagnostic characters separating it from such as Calliopsis andreniformis or C. nebraskensis.

Distribution

North America. Specific records are sparse, with at least one observation documented in the iNaturalist database.

Life Cycle

As with other Calliopsis , females are solitary ground-nesters that excavate burrows in sandy or loose soils. Males are known to fly persistently over nesting searching for mates. This pattern has been observed in related species such as Calliopsis zebrata, but specific details for C. fracta require direct observation.

Ecological Role

As a native solitary , likely contributes to pollination of wildflowers in its North American range. Related Calliopsis are known to visit flowers of Dalea (prairie clover) and other legumes.

Similar Taxa

Calliopsis zebrataSimilar size and ground-nesting ; males of C. zebrata are noted for their large size relative to other Calliopsis and their persistent hovering over nesting sites. C. fracta would differ in specific morphological details of the male genitalia and possibly coloration patterns.
Calliopsis andreniformisAnother North American with overlapping distribution; distinguished by subtle differences in wing venation and male genitalic structure.
NomadopsisHistorical name under which this was originally described; now synonymized with Calliopsis based on revised of the Calliopsini.

More Details

Taxonomic History

Originally described as Nomadopsis fracta by Rozen in 1952, this was later transferred to Calliopsis as part of a broader taxonomic revision that synonymized Nomadopsis with Calliopsis. The basionym Nomadopsis fracta is preserved in NCBI records.

Data Availability

This is poorly represented in public databases, with only one observation in iNaturalist and minimal specimen records in GBIF. The original description by Rozen (1952) would be the primary source for morphological details.