Anthophora terminalis

Cresson, 1869

Orange-tipped Wood-digger

Anthophora terminalis is a solitary anthophorine in the , known for its distinctive nesting in wood and other substrates. The constructs using chewed sawdust or wood fibers, lining them with salivary secretions. It has been documented across North America and parts of Europe and Northern Asia, with specific studies in Wisconsin revealing details of its and nest architecture. have been observed foraging on several species including Stachys palustris, Nepeta cataria, and Epilobium angustifolium.

Anthophora terminalis by (c) Amy Schnebelin, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Amy Schnebelin. Used under a CC-BY license.

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Pronunciation

How to pronounce Anthophora terminalis: //ænˈθɒfərə tɜːˈmɪnəlɪs//

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Identification

Distinguished from other Anthophora by its nesting substrate preferences and geographic distribution. The species has been recorded in wooden trap-nesting blocks and dead poplar logs, using sawdust chewed from hole walls to construct . Females precede males in cell arrangement within nests—a pattern that may aid identification when nest contents are examined. The "Orange-tipped Wood-digger" suggests distinctive coloration at abdominal terminus, though specific diagnostic features require direct specimen examination.

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Habitat

Nests in pre-existing cavities in wood including sumac sticks, dead poplar logs, and wooden trap-nesting blocks. The utilizes holes drilled in trap-nests or natural cavities, modifying them with sawdust partitions and salivary linings.

Distribution

North America; Europe and Northern Asia (excluding China). Documented in Wisconsin through extensive trap-nest studies (1952-1962).

Seasonality

One per year in Wisconsin, with activity and nesting occurring during the growing season.

Diet

forage for nectar and pollen. Recorded floral include Stachys palustris (woundwort), Nepeta cataria (catnip), and Epilobium angustifolium (fireweed).

Life Cycle

(one per year) in Wisconsin. Nests contain 1-11 (mean 5.8), with cells constructed sequentially. develop within cells on provisioned pollen and nectar masses, but do not spin —this trait complicates rearing. In nests containing both sexes, females are invariably positioned in earlier cells than males.

Behavior

Females construct using sawdust chewed from the walls of the nesting hole, mixing it with salivary secretions to form partitions between cells and to cell interiors. A sawdust plug is constructed above the last cell, typically positioned a few inches from the nest entrance. The provisions stored in cells characteristically develop a "sour" odor and frequently spoil, which has hampered successful rearing of in studies.