Macrotera echinocacti
(Timberlake, 1954)
barrel cactus macrotera, barrel cactus goblin bee
Macrotera echinocacti is a small solitary in the , commonly known as the barrel cactus goblin bee. The was described by Timberlake in 1954 under the basionym Perdita echinocacti. It is known from Central America and North America, with extremely limited observational records.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Macrotera echinocacti: /mæˈkroʊˌtɪərə ɛˌkaɪnoʊˈkæktaɪ/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Distribution
Central America and North America. GBIF records indicate presence in Middle America and North America.
Host Associations
- Ferocactus cylindraceus - Specimen data indicates association with barrel cactus (Ferocactus cylindraceus), suggesting the may specialize on or frequently visit this . This association is the basis for both the specific epithet 'echinocacti' and the 'barrel cactus goblin '.
More Details
Taxonomic history
Originally described as Perdita echinocacti by Timberlake in 1954, this was later transferred to the Macrotera. The basionym reflects its original placement in the genus Perdita, which is closely related to Macrotera within the subtribe Perditina.
Data scarcity
This is exceptionally poorly documented, with only a single observation recorded in iNaturalist as of the knowledge cutoff. The extreme paucity of records limits confident statements about its biology, , and status.