Centris cockerelli

Fox, 1899

Cockerell's Oil-Digger

Centris cockerelli is a of oil-collecting in the Apidae, described by Fox in 1899. As a member of the tribe Centridini, it is one of the bees specialized in collecting floral oils rather than nectar. The species occurs in Central America and North America, though specific details about its remain poorly documented in scientific literature.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Centris cockerelli: //ˈsɛntrɪs kɒkəˈrɛli//

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Distribution

Central America and North America.

Diet

Female bees of the Centris are known to collect fatty oils from specialized oil-producing flowers, particularly those in the genus Krameria. These oils are mixed with pollen to provision larval . However, specific dietary records for C. cockerelli have not been documented.

Ecological Role

As an oil-collecting , Centris serve as for plants that offer fatty oil rewards rather than nectar. Plants in the Krameria are wholly dependent upon Centris bees for pollination, though the relationship is not mutually exclusive as Centris bees utilize multiple oil-producing plant species.

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Sources and further reading